 | Medical experts meet in S'pore for diabetes workshop |
| SINGAPORE: Leading international experts in type 2 diabetes are in Singapore to address specific challenges and opportunities of bariatric or metabolic surgery for Asian patients and health care systems. |
|
| WDA, TUM Asia launch S$1m scholarship programme for manufacturing industry |
| SINGAPORE: A S$1 million pilot scholarship programme aimed at building up the pool of management talents in the manufacturing industry was launched on Monday. |
|
| Australian billionaire threatens family ransom funds |
| SYDNEY: Asia's richest woman, Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart, threatened to axe her children's ransom insurance as a bitter legal dispute raged over a family trust, according to reports. |
|
| Miss Piggy to present BAFTA awards in Britain |
| LONDON - The organisers of the BAFTA film awards in Britain have unveiled Miss Piggy as one of the show's hosts, promising spiky questions for Hollywood luminaries George Clooney and Brad Pitt. |
|
| Average salary increase of 3-6% this year: Hays |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's workforce can expect an average salary increase of between three and six per cent this year, according to the 2012 Hays Salary Guide. |
|
| Four in hospital after taking illegal sexual enhancement products |
| SINGAPORE: Four men aged between 30 and 78 years have been admitted to hospital after they apparently consumed illegal sexual enhancement products. |
|
| Mahmoud Abbas to head interim Palestine govt |
| DOHA: Rival Palestinian factions have agreed to name president Mahmoud Abbas as head of an interim government that will oversee preparations for presidential and legislative elections, a Palestinian official said on Monday. |
|
| One dead, dozens trapped in Pakistan building collapse |
| LAHORE, Pakistan: A 12-year-old boy was killed and dozens of people, including women and children, were trapped Monday when a factory collapsed in Pakistan's second-largest city of Lahore, police said. |
|
| Late Dr Toh a "kind-hearted person", says S R Nathan |
| SINGAPORE: Former Singapore President S R Nathan has described the late founding chairman of the People's Action Party Dr Toh Chin Chye as a kind-hearted person who was very firm in his views. |
|
| One dead in strong Philippine quake |
| MANILA: A 6.8 earthquake hit the central Philippines on Monday, killing at least one person and causing panic in cities where buildings shook, authorities said. |
|
| EU says China may become its biggest market this year |
| BEIJING: The EU ambassador to China said Monday the Asian powerhouse could become Europe's biggest export market this year, overtaking the United States as Beijing boosts domestic demand. |
|
| Pakistan PM to Qatar to discuss Afghan peace |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani heads to Qatar on Monday to discuss Afghan peace efforts in the ultra-rich Gulf state where the Taliban and US officials have begun preliminary contacts. |
|
| S. Korea lawmakers to make rare cross-border trip |
| SEOUL: A group of South Korean lawmakers will pay a rare visit this week to a jointly-run industrial estate in North Korea despite political tensions, Seoul announced Monday. |
|
| Tennis: US defeat Belarus 5-0 in Fed Cup tennis |
| NEW YORK: The United States defeated Belarus 5-0 in their Fed Cup World Group-II tie at Worcester, Massachusetts. |
|
| Cricket: New Zealand set Zimbabwe daunting target in ODI |
| WHANGAREI: A powerful 146 off 134 balls by opener Rob Nicol led a New Zealand batting onslaught which produced 372 for six in the second one-day international against Zimbabwe in Whangarei on Monday. |
|
| Number of immigration offenders arrested drops 35% |
| SINGAPORE: The number of immigration offenders arrested dropped by 35 percent to 930 last year, from 1,430 in 2010. |
|
| Indonesia posts 6.5% GDP growth in 2011 |
| JAKARTA: Indonesia's gross domestic product grew by 6.5 percent in 2011 on the back of strong household consumption and private investment, a government official said Monday. |
|
| Sembcorp Marine unit bags US$792.5m contract |
| SINGAPORE: Sembcorp Marine's wholly-owned Brazilian shipyard, Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz has secured a contract worth around US$792.5 million to design and construct a drillship. |
|
| Strong 6.8 quake hits Philippines |
| MANILA: A strong 6.8 earthquake hit the central Philippines on Monday but there was no danger of a widespread tsunami, seismologists said. |
|
| Boeing faces new problem with Dreamliner |
| WASHINGTON: US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has discovered a manufacturing error causing delamination in a fuselage section of some 787 Dreamliners, The Seattle Times reported. |
|
| Swiber Holdings secures contracts worth US$216m |
| SINGAPORE: Service support firm for the oil and gas industry Swiber Holdings said it has secured several contracts worth a total of about US$216 million since the start of the year. |
|
| Vote for new Geylang Serai civic centre name |
| SINGAPORE: Members of the public can now cast their votes for the name for the civic centre in Geylang Serai. |
|
| Asian markets rise on strong US jobs data |
| HONG KONG: Asian shares rose Monday, tracking gains on Wall Street after strong US jobs data but worries about Greece's unresolved debt crisis -- and default fears -- weighed on markets and the euro. |
|
| Oil prices mixed in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: Crude prices were mixed in Asian trade Monday as traders weighed possible supply disruptions in the Middle East and Africa, and the unresolved debt crisis in Greece, analysts said. |
|
| Qantas chief slams 'pro-Australia' laws |
| SYDNEY: Qantas chief Alan Joyce on Monday warned the airline would be forced to slash services and expressed "grave fears" for its future if proposed laws strengthening its ties to Australia went ahead. |
|
| NFL: Giants edge Patriots 21-17 for Super Bowl title |
| INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Ahmad Bradshaw ran six yards for the deciding touchdown with 57 seconds remaining on Sunday to give the New York Giants a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 46. |
|
| Australia PM Gillard dampens leadership challenge |
| SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has insisted she will lead Labor into the next election, even as new a poll Monday showed she is less popular than predecessor Kevin Rudd. |
|
| Mitsubishi to end European production: reports |
| TOKYO: Japan's Mitsubishi Motors is to stop manufacturing automobiles in Europe by around 2013 as it shifts its focus to emerging markets, reports said Monday. |
|
| US protesters vow to return after Occupy DC sweep |
| WASHINGTON: Protesters from the Washington offshoot of Occupy Wall Street on Sunday vowed to return to their camp in the US capital, which was all but dismantled by park police during a weekend clampdown. |
|
| Britain's Queen Elizabeth II marks 60 years on throne |
| KING'S LYNN, United Kingdom: Queen Elizabeth II marks 60 years as monarch on Monday with a deliberately low-key programme of visits to eastern England, kicking off five months of diamond jubilee celebrations. |
|
| Obama says no Israel decision on Iran attack |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Sunday he did not think Israel had made a decision on whether to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear installations, a threat that has rattled the region. |
|
| China bans airlines from paying EU carbon charges |
| BEIJING: China's airlines are banned from paying charges on carbon emissions imposed by the European Union, the official Xinhua news agency reported Monday, quoting the Civil Aviation Administration of China. |
|
| Mass evacuation in Australia as flood waters rise |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Flood waters rose Monday in parts of Queensland as the Australian state raced to complete the largest evacuation in its history with police boosting their presence to prevent looting. |
|
| Obama says he "deserves second term" |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said Sunday that he deserved to be re-elected because the US economy is adding jobs and recovering, in stark contrast to the bleak monthly unemployment hikes he inherited in 2009. |
|
| Super Bowl 46 kicks off in party atmosphere |
| INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Super Bowl 46 kicked off on Sunday amid a festive fanfare as the New England Patriots and the New York Giants got down to the business of determining the National Football League champion. |
|
| Football: Atletico Madrid and Valencia finish in deadlock |
| MADRID: Atletico Madrid and third placed Valencia played out a 0-0 draw in a freezing Vicente Calderon stadium in the Spanish capital on Sunday night. |
|
| Strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake strikes off Vanuatu |
| HONG KONG: A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu on Sunday, the Hong Kong Observatory said, but there were no reports of a tsunami warning. |
|
| Greece forces overtime in critical debt talks |
| ATHENS: Greece on Sunday insisted on extending critical talks on a debt rescue into Monday, as the government's coalition backers denounced pressure from public creditors to pass harsher austerity measures. |
|
| Landslide win for new Finnish president Niinistoe |
| HELSINKI: Finland's conservative pro-European Sauli Niinistoe won Finland's presidential election on Sunday, easily defeating Green liberal challenger Pekka Haavisto as had been widely expected. |
|
| Gingrich pins hopes on 'Super Tuesday' comeback |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich looked to a "Super Tuesday" vote bonanza in March to rescue his faltering campaign after a second consecutive thumping from rival Mitt Romney. |
|
| Football: Keita spot on as Mali ruin Gabon's Cup party |
| LIBREVILLE: Mali beat Gabon 5-4 on penalties on Sunday after this finely balanced Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final ended 1-1 following extra time. |
|
| Cycling: Boonen wins first stage in Tour of Qatar |
| DOHA: Tom Boonen of Belgium won the first, 133.5-kilometre stage of the Tour of Qatar on Sunday, sprinting home ahead of Britain's Adam Blythe and Peter Sagan of Slovakia. |
|
| Tennis: Czech cruise past Germany to reach Fed Cup semi-finals |
| STUTTGART, Germany: Defending champions the Czech Republic are into the Fed Cup semi-finals after Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova led her team to a 4-1 victory over hosts Germany on Sunday. |
|
| Tennis: Youzhny on the double in Zagreb |
| ZAGREB: Third seed Mikhail Youzhny got back to winning ways on Sunday, beating unseeded Lukas Lacko 6-2, 6-3 to win the ATP Zagreb indoor title. |
|
| PM Wen says Europe stability in China's interests |
| BEIJING: China's Premier Wen Jiabao said a stable Europe was key to stability at home, in comments published on Sunday, at the end of a week that saw Germany's chancellor visit Beijing. |
|
| Football: Manchester Utd stage stunning fightback to draw at Chelsea |
| LONDON: Javier Hernandez scored a late equaliser as Manchester United staged a stunning three-goal comeback to claim a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. |
|
| Rugby: Wales win Six Nations thriller against Ireland |
| DUBLIN: Wales recorded their third successive victory over Ireland on Sunday with a last minute penalty by Leigh Halfpenny giving them a 23-21 victory in their Six Nations opener. |
|
| Tennis: Berdych topples Monfils in Montpellier |
| MONTPELLIER, France: Top seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic toppled defending champion Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to win the ATP event in Montpellier on Sunday. |
|
| Cricket: Australia thrash India in opening ODI |
| MELBOURNE: Australia drew first blood in the tri-nation one-day series with a convincing 65-run victory over India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. |
|
| Death toll from Europe cold snap nears 300 |
| KIEV: The Arctic cold snap that has hit Europe for over a week had claimed nearly 300 lives by Sunday, brought air travel chaos to London and dumped snow as far south as Rome and even North Africa. |
|
| Myanmar poll a 'key test' of reform, says UN envoy |
| YANGON: A top United Nations envoy on Sunday hailed dramatic changes in Myanmar but said by-elections would be a "key test" of the army-backed regime's commitment to reform. |
|
| Football: Little change at top of Serie A as leaders stumble |
| ROME: Juventus and AC Milan were held to draws to keep things tight at the Serie A summit as only one of the top seven teams managed to win on Sunday. |
|
| Golf: Lawrie wins Qatar Masters |
| DOHA: Paul Lawrie stroked a fluent 65 to win the Qatar Masters for the second time with a four-shot win over Jason Day and Peter Hanson at the Doha Golf Club on Sunday. |
|
| Football: Cisse bags debut winner as Newcastle down Villa |
| LONDON: Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse enjoyed a dream debut for Newcastle as his second-half strike secured a 2-1 win against Aston Villa at St James' Park on Sunday. |
|
| Clinton seeks alternatives to turn screws on Assad |
| SOFIA, Bulgaria: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed Sunday to bolster existing sanctions against the Syrian regime and seek further ones to block funding and arms shipments to Damascus. |
|
| Myanmar poll a "key test" of reform: UN envoy |
| YANGON: A top United Nations envoy on Sunday hailed dramatic changes in Myanmar but said by-elections would be a "key test" of the army-backed regime's commitment to reform. |
|
| Football: Lazio's Champions League hopes hit by Genoa loss |
| ROME: Genoa beat Lazio 3-2 in Sunday's early match to boost their own European qualification hopes while denting their visitors' prospects of securing a Champions League finish. |
|
| Football: Tampines Rovers win Great Eastern Charity Shield |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's return to the Malaysian Super League has also turned the spotlight on the S-League. |
|
| PM Lee, Cabinet host Lunar New Year garden party |
| SINGAPORE: It is now an annual event that grassroots leaders look forward to, the Prime Minister's Garden Party for the Lunar New Year at the Istana. |
|
| S'poreans can learn from old guard to secure better future: ESM Goh |
| SINGAPORE: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said it is important for Singaporeans to reflect on the values and contributions of the generation that built Singapore. |
|
| Pakistan vows to help peace efforts in Afghanistan |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will support every effort to promote reconciliation in Afghanistan, a senior government official said ahead of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to Qatar Monday to discuss peace efforts. |
|
| Short stories written by teachers to be part of primary school curriculum |
| SINGAPORE: A compilation of short stories will be used in the primary school English curriculum, starting next year. And out of 200 entries received, 12 were chosen - with many based on experiences and real life incidents. |
|
| Smaller art groups express support for review committee's recommendations |
| SINGAPORE: Some small-scale arts groups have expressed support for the recommendations by a steering committee to develop the arts and culture landscape. |
|
| New savings scheme for special needs children |
| SINGAPORE: A savings scheme to be launched on Monday will allow parents to save for the long-term care of their special needs children. |
|
| Review committee wants more S'poreans participating in arts activities |
| SINGAPORE: A high-level committee has set out a comprehensive plan to transform Singapore's arts and culture scene over the next decade, from now till 2025. |
|
| Football: Indonesia ordered to stop breakaway league |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Asian football's governing body has said Indonesia must put a stop to a breakaway league by March 22 or face suspension from world football, an official said Sunday. |
|
| Russia opposition vows new rallies to shake Putin |
| MOSCOW: The movement against Vladimir Putin was Sunday preparing new rallies to loosen the Russian strongman's 12-year grip on power after keeping up their challenge with a third mass demonstration in Moscow. |
|
| Egypt clashes rage into fourth day |
| CAIRO: Protesters and riot police fought pitched battles in Cairo Sunday as clashes sparked by the perceived failure of Egypt's military rulers to prevent deadly football-linked violence raged into a fourth day. |
|
| Outrage as Russia, China veto UN move on Syria |
| DAMASCUS: Russia and China blocked a UN Security Council resolution condemning Syria for its crackdown on protests, amid growing outrage Sunday at a "massacre" in the protest city of Homs and a spiralling death toll. |
|
| Search scaled back for PNG ferry disaster victims |
| PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea authorities scaled back their search Sunday for survivors from the sinking of a passenger ferry, saying none of the more than 100 people still missing were likely to be found alive. |
|
| Basketball: Rose leads Bulls to win as Deng returns |
| MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin: NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose scored 26 points with 13 assists Saturday, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 113-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. |
|
| Taiwan makes biggest drugs bust in 10 years |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan authorities have arrested three people and seized nearly half a tonne of narcotics in their biggest drugs bust in 10 years, local media reported Sunday. |
|
| Nepal in mass poultry cull after bird flu found |
| KATHMANDU: Health workers in Nepal are to cull thousands of chickens following the discovery of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in the southeastern part of the Himalayan country, officials said Sunday. |
|
| Call for nominations for President's Award for the Environment |
| SINGAPORE: Nominations for this year's President's Award for the Environment are open from Monday till March 16. |
|
| Gingrich vows to stay in US poll race |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Newt Gingrich said Saturday he will remain in the Republican presidential race all the way to August, adding that he hopes draw equal with frontrunner Mitt Romney in delegate numbers by April. |
|
| ECB to bide its time on rates this week: analysts |
| FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank, after two rate cuts and a series of unprecedented liquidity measures, will hold its fire this month, as it assesses the impact of those previous measures, analysts say. |
|
| Maori protesters confront New Zealand PM |
| WELLINGTON: A group of mostly Maori protesters forced New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to retreat from a national day ceremony amid rising objections to the planned sale of state assets. |
|
| Late Dr Toh was "for all races in S'pore", says Dr Yaacob |
| SINGAPORE: Cabinet ministers, members of parliament and the public continue to visit the residence of the late Dr Toh Chin Chye to pay their last respects to one of Singapore's founding fathers. |
|
| Keeping Singapore's traditional arts alive |
| SINGAPORE: The National Arts Council is planning a slew of marketing initiatives for the next five years, hoping the make-over can help sustain the traditional arts in these modern times. |
|
| Nightlife chain St James Holdings eyes overseas expansion |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore nightlife chain St James Holdings is looking at expansion plans into the region, specifically China. |
|
| US to move 4,700 Marines from Japan to Guam |
| TOKYO: Tokyo and Washington have agreed to move 4,700 Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa to Guam in a bid to revive a stalled plan for the realignment of US forces in Japan, reports said Sunday. |
|
| Bitter exchanges highlight Hong Kong, China divide |
| HONG KONG: A bitter family feud between Hong Kongers and their northern neighbours sparked by mainland China's increasing financial and political clout has led to an awkward debate about the former British colony's identity. |
|
| Sanctions-hit Iran turns increasingly to Asia |
| TEHRAN: Grappling with US and EU sanctions that have become progressively tougher over the past 18 months, Iran is increasingly turning to Asia -- in particular to China, now its top trading partner. |
|
| Malaysia plant threatens China grip on rare earths |
| GEBENG, Malaysia: China's chokehold on the rare earths vital for everything from iPods to missiles is widely expected to end soon, thanks in large part to a contentious new plant in Malaysia. |
|
| With job spurt, US economy races ahead of Europe |
| WASHINGTON: The latest surge in US job creation suggests the world's biggest economy is gathering momentum -- in contrast with the recession taking hold in parts of Europe. |
|
| China snubs debt in European spending spree |
| BEIJING: Chinese companies and funds have ramped up investment in crisis-hit Europe, buying utilities, energy firms and even luxury yacht makers, but are steering clear of eurozone debt. |
|
| Safari Zoo Run 2012 raises nearly S$80,000 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's award-winning parks the Singapore Zoo & Night Safari were transformed into a race course for Safari Zoo Run 2012, an annual event that takes participants through its scenic paths and animal exhibits. |
|
| New roles for nine veteran union leaders |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Labour movement has announced new roles for nine veteran union leaders who have stepped down to make way for leadership renewal. |
|
| US to keep forces after Afghan pullout: report |
| WASHINGTON: The United States plans to maintain special forces in Afghanistan after it winds down its combat operations in the country, using them to hunt down insurgent leaders and train local troops, The New York Times reported. |
|
| China water project to 'begin operating in 2013' |
| BEIJING: A massive project to divert water from China's south to its drought-prone north -- which has seen hundreds of thousands of people relocated -- will become partly operational next year, state media reported. |
|
| Rising Australian floodwaters spark mass evacuation |
| SYDNEY: Mass evacuations were under way in northern Australia as record flooding that has cut off thousands of people threatened to engulf areas devastated by wild weather last year. |
|
| Europe cold snap claims 260 lives, disrupts travel |
| ROME: The death toll from the vicious cold snap across Europe has risen to more than 260, with the winter misery set to hit thousands of those seeking to escape it Sunday as air traffic was hit. |
|
| Not all civilisations equal, French minister says |
| PARIS: French Interior Minister Claude Gueant, who also holds the immigration portfolio, caused political uproar by claiming that not all civilisations are equal, with some more advanced than others. |
|
| NS registration from February 7-28 |
| SINGAPORE: National service registration for male Singapore citizens and permanent residents born between August 27, 1994 and December 5, 1994 will be conducted between February 7-28. |
|
| Asia expected to do better than rest of the world: Ng Eng Hen |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen said Asia's expected to do better than the rest of the world and will increase in strategic weight. |
|
| Radio: A tool for social change in India |
| INDIA: Much of the talk today about the media being used for social change focuses on new, Internet-driven platforms like Twitter or Facebook. |
|
| New blast hits Egypt's gas pipeline to Israel |
| CAIRO, Egypt: Saboteurs on Sunday blew up a pipeline that supplies gas to Israel, the 12th such attack in a year, security officials said. |
|
| Occupy DC protesters arrested |
| WASHINGTON: Police moved in Saturday to clear the Washington offshoot of Occupy Wall Street, arresting at least seven protesters in a sometimes chaotic day-long raid on the tent colony near the White House. |
|
| Romney tipped to win big in Nevada |
| LAS VEGAS: Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney looked set to romp to victory in the Nevada caucuses Saturday, cementing his position as frontrunner four days after his crushing Florida win. |
|
| Football: City go clear, Arsenal thrash Rovers |
| LONDON: Manchester City opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League with 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday as Arsenal returned to form with a 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn. |
|
| New Tibetan self-immolations in China |
| WASHINGTON: Three more Tibetans have set themselves on fire, with one dying, in the latest protests against Chinese rule amid a clampdown on protests, an exile group and US-based broadcaster said Saturday. |
|
| Football: Levante stay 4th of table |
| MADRID: Levante drew 1-1 at home to struggling Racing Santander on Saturday to remain in fourth place in La Liga, worth a potential Champions League place, as Athletic Bilbao drew with Espanyol 3-3 in the clash between their two closest rivals. |
|
| Football: Forest owner found dead |
| LONDON: Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty was found dead in the gym of his Lincolnshire home, the Championship club revealed on Saturday. |
|
| Tennis: Berdych, Monfils in Montpellier final |
| MONTPELLIER, France: Top seed Tomas Berdych set up a meeting with third-seeded defending champion Gael Monfils of France in Sunday's final of the ATP event in Montpellier. |
|
| Italy man throws son into river |
| ROME: An Italian man on Saturday threw his 16-month-old son off a bridge into the river in Rome in a fit of rage following a custody row, and was arrested by police as he fled, reports said. |
|
| US vows Europe commitment |
| MUNICH, Germany: The United States said Saturday Europe remains Washington's "partner of first resort" despite a US strategic pivot to Asia, but it urged Europe to pull its weight. |
|
| Football: Swansea beat Bromwich |
| WEST BROMWICH, United Kingdom: Swansea came from behind to defeat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at The Hawthorns on Saturday, recording just their second win away from home this season. |
|
| Russia, China veto UN's Syria vote |
| UNITED NATIONS: Russia and China on Saturday vetoed for the second time a UN Security Council resolution condemning the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on protests. |
|
| Europe cold snap sparks ferry drama |
| ROME: Hundreds of people were rescued Saturday after a ferry caught in a snow storm hit a breakwater off Italy, as a vicious cold snap that has claimed over 260 lives across Europe maintained its grip. |
|
| Palestinian PM urged to quit |
| HEBRON, Palestinian Territories: About 1,000 Palestinians, some calling on premier Salam Fayyad to quit, marched in the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday in protest against his austerity plans. |
|
| Football: Van Persie treble puts Arsenal in seventh heaven |
| LONDON: Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Arsenal recorded their first Premier League win of the year by thrashing Blackburn 7-1 at the Emirates Stadium here Saturday. |
|
| Cricket: Ton-up Younis helps Pakistan thwart England |
| DUBAI: Experienced batsman Younis Khan proved his class with a superb hundred to put Pakistan in a good position on the second day of the third and final Test against England played here on Saturday. |
|
| 6.0-magnitude quake hits off Philippines |
| MANILA: A 6.0-magnitude quake struck off the eastern coast of the Philippines on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was immediately issued. |
|
| India court rejects bid to prosecute home minister |
| NEW DELHI: An Indian judge on Saturday threw out a petition to prosecute the country's powerful home minister over a huge telecom corruption scandal, bringing some relief to the embattled government. |
|
| S'pore Hokkien Huay Kuan event attracts 29 Fujian-related clan associations |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan organised its Lunar New Year get-together on Saturday evening. |
|
| More young people holding credit cards |
| SINGAPORE: Credit Bureau Singapore said the number of credit card holders aged 21 to 29 have shot up by nearly 50 per cent over the past four years. They now total 150,667. However, this group is also seeing a bigger jump in those not paying in full. |
|
| MediaCorp throws Lunar New Year party for HCA Hospice Care |
| SINGAPORE: It was a Lunar New Year celebration for the beneficiaries of HCA Hospice Care, MediaCorp's adopted charity. |
|
| Demand for ECs to stay despite economic outlook: analysts |
| SINGAPORE: Property analysts said subscription rates for executive condominiums (ECs), remain healthy in spite of the uncertain economic outlook. And it is also precisely because of the economic climate that analysts said demand for such housing is likely to stay. |
|
| Sailing: Clipper yachts depart for Qingdao |
| SINGAPORE: After a week long stop-over, the fleet taking part in the Clipper Round the World Race has departed for their next destination, Qingdao in China. |
|
| Outgoing Turf City master tenant seeks to set aside High Court order |
| SINGAPORE: In the latest twist to the tenancy woes at Turf City mall, sub-tenants may have to vacate their shops despite an earlier High Court order, which allows them to stay while the mall's master tenancy change hands. |
|
| Rugby: New Zealand seal Sevens win with 24-point burst |
| WELLINGTON: A withering burst of 24 unanswered points in five minutes set New Zealand up for a 24-7 win over arch-rivals Fiji in the final of the fourth leg of the IRB Sevens World Series on Saturday. |
|
| Europe remains Washington's "essential partner": Clinton |
| MUNICH, Germany: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday that Europe remains Washington's "partner of first resort," even as the United States marks a strategic pivot to Asia. |
|
| More than a thousand hopefuls turn up for First XI trials |
| SINGAPORE: More than a thousand hopefuls turned up at the trials for MediaCorp TV's first reality show on football, First XI. |
|
| We'll project strong, independent voice: NMPs |
| SINGAPORE: With more opposition MPs in Parliament, there are concerns debates will become more partisan. |
|
| Thousands mass in Moscow for rival Putin rallies |
| MOSCOW: Tens of thousands massed on Saturday for rival rallies in Moscow opposing or supporting Russian strongman Vladimir Putin's political domination ahead of presidential polls, police said. |
|
| Death toll rises to 13 in China coal mine blast |
| BEIJING: The death toll from a gas explosion in a southwest China coal mine rose to 13, Xinhua news agency said on Saturday, in the latest accident to hit the nation's dangerous mining industry. |
|
| Adviser to Philippine President in piracy shame |
| MANILA: A senior aide to Philippine President Benigno Aquino was reprimanded but allowed to keep his job after being photographed buying counterfeit movie discs, a government spokeswoman said Saturday. |
|
| Car overturns following collision at Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 |
| SINGAPORE: Police are investigating an accident involving two cars, which occurred at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and Avenue 8 on Saturday afternoon. |
|
| Army attacks Syria's Homs, 200 killed |
| DAMASCUS: The Syrian army unleashed a massive attack on the city of Homs early Saturday, bombing the protest hub and killing at least 260 people in a bloody "massacre", activists and witnesses said. |
|
| Egypt clashes enter third day as death toll mounts |
| CAIRO: Police fired tear gas and birdshot at protesters on Saturday in the third day of deadly clashes in Cairo, as anger at the ruling military boiled over after 74 people died in football-related violence. |
|
| India cricket team loses chief sponsor |
| NEW DELHI: Indian cricket was hit by a major crisis on Saturday when the long-time sponsor of the national team pulled out over its differences with the Board of Control for Cricket in India. |
|
| Basketball: Nowitzki's strong start can't save Mavs |
| DALLAS, Texas: Dirk Nowitzki got off to a hot start, but it was not enough as the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks faded in the second half en route to a 98-87 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday. |
|
| Micron CEO dies in plane crash |
| LOS ANGELES: Steve Appleton, the chief executive of leading semiconductor maker Micron Technology, died at the age of 51 when a small plane he was piloting crashed at an Idaho airport, his company said. |
|
| Eurozone ministers to discuss Greece |
| ATHENS: Eurozone finance ministers were to confer by telephone on Saturday after 12 hours of talks in Athens failed to produce a breakthrough on a Greek bailout deal, the Greek finance minister said. |
|
| Bodies pulled from water after PNG ferry accident |
| PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinean authorities Saturday began retrieving the bodies of those killed when a crowded ferry sank two days ago in what is thought to be among the nation's worst sea accidents. |
|
| Singaporeans pay respects to Dr Toh Chin Chye |
| SINGAPORE: Members of the public have started paying their respects to the late Dr Toh Chin Chye who died at the age of 90 on Friday. |
|
| Russians brave big freeze to challenge Putin |
| MOSCOW: Tens of thousands of Russians are set to march through Moscow Saturday, braving freezing temperatures to challenge Vladimir Putin's grip on power a month before the premier stands in presidential elections. |
|
| Over 19,000 buildings & offices wired up for Next Gen NBN |
| SINGAPORE: As of December 2011, over 19,000 commercial buildings and offices have been wired up to receive ultra-high speed fibre network. |
|
| Sri Lanka frees 1,400 prisoners on freedom day |
| COLOMBO: Sri Lanka freed 1,414 convicts on Saturday to mark the country's 64th anniversary of independence from Britain, a prisons official said. |
|
| President Tony Tan hosted tea reception for first-term MPs & NCMPs |
| SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam hosted tea for 21 first-term Members of Parliament (MP), including Non-Constituency MPs (NCMP), at the Istana on Friday. |
|
| Football: Manchester City aim to steal march on rivals |
| LONDON: Manchester City will aim to turn the pressure back on their title rivals on Saturday by re-establishing their slender lead at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Fulham. |
|
| Arrests as protesters breach Syrian embassy in London |
| LONDON: Five people were arrested Saturday after gaining entry to the Syrian embassy in London as protesters demonstrated at the building, police said. |
|
| Pakistan serves up first-class rail luxury |
| ABOARD THE BUSINESS EXPRESS, Pakistan: A security guard pointing a gun at your chest may not be a perk of first-class travel in the West, but it's all part of the service on Pakistan's gleaming Business Express. |
|
| Hackers eavesdrop on FBI, Scotland Yard phone call |
| WASHINGTON: Hacker group Anonymous, in an embarrassment for law enforcement, released a recording of a conference call between the FBI and Scotland Yard discussing operations against the hacking collective. |
|
| Three nabbed for allegedly stealing bicycles |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested three suspects aged between 35 and 47 who are believed to have stolen bicycles in Jurong West. |
|
| Romney aims to romp home in Nevada caucus |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Mitt Romney looks set to romp to victory in the Nevada caucus Saturday, cementing his position as Republican presidential frontrunner four days after his crushing Florida win. |
|
| Strong US jobs growth spurs recovery hopes |
| WASHINGTON: US businesses shifted into hiring gear in January, creating jobs at the fastest clip in nine months, official data showed Friday amid signs the recovery from deep recession is gaining traction. |
|
| Australia flood crisis deepens |
| SYDNEY: Australia's flood crisis deepened Saturday with the weather bureau warning of a possible catastrophe in one region, as authorities continued to search for a woman swept away by the deluge. |
|
| Cycling: Armstrong probe dropped |
| LOS ANGELES: US prosecutors said Friday they had dropped their investigation into seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and other cyclists without bringing criminal charges. |
|
| Security Council to vote on Syria |
| UNITED NATIONS: Members of the UN Security Council will meet Saturday morning for a vote on a resolution condemning the violent repression in Syria, a diplomat said. |
|
| Homs mortar fire kills 105 |
| NICOSIA: Mortar fire killed 105 people and left hundreds more injured in a "massacre" in the central Syrian city of Homs late Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. |
|
| Christchurch quake death toll revised |
| WELLINGTON: The death toll from the devastating earthquake in the New Zealand city of Christchurch last February has been increased to 184, it was reported Saturday. |
|
| Football: Dortmund top after beating Nuremberg |
| BERLIN: Defending champions Borussia Dortmund went top of the German league on Friday night with an impressive 2-0 win at Nuremberg in sub-zero temperatures. |
|
| US stocks cheer strong jobs data |
| NEW YORK: US stocks rallied sharply Friday after a strong jobs report for January that showed the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in nearly three years. |
|
| Syria army "nears collapse" |
| BEIRUT: The Syrian army is slowly disintegrating as troop morale plummets and more soldiers defect to join rebels fighting a regime crackdown against dissent, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army said Friday. |
|
| Egypt clashes enter 2nd day |
| CAIRO: A second day of clashes with Egyptian police left two protesters dead in Cairo on Friday as anger against the ruling military boiled over amid fury at the deaths of 74 people in football-related violence. |
|
| New York sues major banks |
| WASHINGTON: The state of New York sued major US banks on Friday for fraudulently foreclosing on thousands of homeowners in the state, in the wake of the nationwide housing crash. |
|
| French aviation unions urge strike |
| PARIS: Unions representing French aviation workers, including pilots, flight attendants and baggage handlers, voted Friday for strike action on February 6-9 that is expected to disrupt air travel. |
|
| Europe cold-snap death toll rises |
| KIEV: Temperatures plunged to new lows in Europe where a week-long cold snap has now claimed more than 220 lives and forecasters warned Friday the big freeze would tighten its grip at the weekend. |
|
| "The Lady" makes HK debut |
| HONG KONG: Actress Michelle Yeoh said Friday that playing the role of Aung San Suu Kyi in the "The Lady" was an opportunity of a lifetime, as the film about the Myanmar democracy leader made its debut in Hong Kong. |
|
| Motor Racing: Ferrari unveil new car |
| ROME: Ferrari on Friday unveiled their new car to contest the 2012 season, describing it as being "fundamentally revised" from last year's model and capable of winning from the start. |
|
| Romney "misspoke" in gaffe |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney attempted to row back comments he made this week on being "not concerned" about poor people in America, saying in an interview broadcast Friday that he "misspoke." |
|
| Earthquake evacuation drill held in Tokyo |
| TOKYO : A major quake in Japan last March left many stranded when public transport came to a standstill. |
|
| More pressure on TSE after computer glitch |
| TOKYO: There is growing pressure on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to take measures to prevent a recurrence of the trading glitch on Thursday. |
|
| Social stigma of autism remains strong in China |
| BEIJING : China is a relatively latecomer to the diagnosis and treatment of autism, a developmental disorder. |
|
| Euro finance ministers scrap talks |
| BRUSSELS: Eurozone finance ministers scrapped plans to meet on Monday as talks on a deal to restructure Greece's massive debt dragged on, but could gather later next week if agreement is reached. |
|
| Documentation of Bukit Brown graves progressing well: Tan Chuan-Jin |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin said the documentation work at Bukit Brown Cemetery is progressing well. |
|
| Jobs gains show US economy is healing: White House |
| WASHINGTON: The jump in new jobs and fall in the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent in January shows the US economy is continuing to climb back from the 2008-2009 recession, the White House said on Friday. |
|
| CSX to receive boost with listing of state-owned companies |
| SINGAPORE: The Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) has been launched more than six months now but it remains very quiet. |
|
| SingTel Innov8 launches boot camp for tech start-ups |
| SINGAPORE : A unit of SingTel is taking technology and mobile innovation to another level. SingTel Innov8 has launched a 100-day boot camp for technology start-up firms globally. |
|
| Merkel's popularity soars to two-year high: poll |
| BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has surged to a two-year high in Germany as voters cheered her management of the national economy and the eurozone crisis, a poll published on Friday showed. |
|
| Philippines hunts for proof of slain militants |
| MANILA: The Philippine military said Friday it had not been able to obtain proof that it killed three of Southeast Asia's most-wanted terror suspects, but insisted the trio had died in a US-backed airstrike. |
|
| CapitaLand reshuffles senior management |
| SINGAPORE : Property giant CapitaLand Group has reshuffled its senior management with a string of key appointments. |
|
| Small cap stocks take centre stage on SGX |
| SINGAPORE: Small cap stocks has taken centre stage on the Singapore Exchange. |
|
| Second Chance Properties' Q2 net profit rises 20% |
| SINGAPORE : Second Chance Properties has reported a 20 per cent on-year rise in net profit to S$3.5 million for the second quarter ended December 31. |
|
| Eurozone private sector rebounds: PMI survey |
| BRUSSELS: Eurozone private sector activity bounced back in January after four months of contraction, a key survey showed on Friday, with notable increases in the two biggest economies, Germany and France. |
|
| Securities turnover volume at SGX rises in January |
| SINGAPORE : The upbeat market showing in the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has boosted its securities turnover volume by 62.74 per cent in January. |
|
| Lee Kuan Yew calls for understanding towards immigration policy |
| SINGAPORE: Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has called for the understanding of Singaporeans towards the government's decision to continue taking in immigrants. |
|
| S'pore to step up efforts to prevent money laundering |
| SINGAPORE : There is growing speculation that Singapore will attract more deposits from high-net worth individuals. |
|
| US jobless rate falls to 8.3% as jobs surge |
| WASHINGTON: The US unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January, its lowest level in more than two years, thanks to an unexpected surge in hiring, government data showed on Friday. |
|
| Eight die in Cambodia anti-tank mine blast |
| PHNOM PENH: Eight Cambodian farmers were killed and one was critically injured on Friday after their truck hit two old anti-tank mines in northwestern Cambodia, police said. |
|
| Climate Science Experts Network launched |
| SINGAPORE : A new platform to engage local and overseas researchers on climate research has been launched. It is called the Climate Science Experts Network (CSEN). |
|
| Football: Terry stripped of England captaincy, say news reports |
| LONDON: John Terry was stripped of the England captaincy for the second time in two years on Friday after concern his ongoing racism court case had made his position untenable, reports said. |
|
| Cold snap tightens grip in Europe, kills 218 |
| KIEV: Temperatures plunged to new lows in Europe where a week-long cold snap has now claimed more than 200 lives as forecasters warned that the big freeze would tighten its grip at the weekend. |
|
| Dr Toh made "great contributions" to S'pore: Lee Kuan Yew |
| SINGAPORE: Former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has described the death of Dr Toh Chin Chye as the passing of an old guard. |
|
| British energy minister resigns over speeding charges |
| LONDON: British Energy Secretary Chris Huhne resigned on Friday after prosecutors announced he would be charged over allegations that he dodged a speeding penalty, but vowed to prove his innocence. |
|
| Taiwan pilots rescued after plane crash |
| TAIPEI : Two military pilots were rescued after their twin-seat trainer aircraft went down in the south of Taiwan during a routine training mission, the island's defence ministry said on Friday. |
|
| President Tony Tan pays tribute to the late Dr Toh Chin Chye |
| SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam has paid tribute to the late Dr Toh Chin Chye. |
|
| Crisis-hit Greeks moved 16b euros abroad: minister |
| ATHENS : Greeks have moved at least 16 billion euros (US$21 billion) in funds to foreign banks in the last two years, about a third of which went to Britain, the finance minister said on Friday. |
|
| Motor Racing: Karthikeyan signs on for HRT |
| PARIS: Spanish Formula One outfit HRT announced on Friday that Indian driver, Narain Karthikeyan, will complete the team's line up for the 2012 Formula One season alongside Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa. |
|
| Former MPs, NUS pay tribute to Dr Toh Chin Chye |
| SINGAPORE: Various individuals and organisations, including former MPs and the National University of Singapore (NUS), have expressed their condolences on the passing of Dr Toh Chin Chye. |
|
| Singapore stocks close 0.6% higher |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore closed 0.6 per cent higher in cautious trade on Friday following a mixed performance by US stocks overnight. |
|
| URA to launch tender for Rangoon Rd/Farrer Park site |
| SINGAPORE : A developer has committed to bid not less than S$56,500,000 for a land parcel on the Reserve List of the Government Land Sales Programme. |
|
| Suu Kyi postpones major election rally |
| YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has postponed a major political rally in the central city of Mandalay because the venue offered by the authorities is too small, her party said Friday. |
|
| More than 100 missing feared trapped in PNG ferry |
| PORT MORESBY : Over 100 missing passengers were feared to have been trapped inside an overloaded ferry when it sank off Papua New Guinea, an official said on Friday, as rescuers scoured the seas for more survivors. |
|
| Football: FA poised to decide Terry's future |
| LONDON: John Terry's future as England captain was in the balance on Friday as Football Association chiefs were poised to decide whether he should be stripped of the armband over his racism court case. |
|
| Motor Racing: Honda to join WTCC |
| TOKYO: Japanese auto manufacturer Honda is to enter a team in the FIA World Touring Car Championship from October, the company announced Friday. |
|
| Cancer can be prevented, says SCS |
| SINGAPORE: Cancer is the most common cause of death in Singapore, responsible for one in every four deaths. But cancer prevention information and regular cancer screenings are messages the Singapore Cancer Society wants to disseminate on World Cancer Day on Saturday. |
|
| Dasmond Koh: "I don't want to pinpoint who is right, who is wrong" |
| SINGAPORE: He is a close friend. |
|
| Basketball: Bulls hold on to beat Knicks |
| NEW YORK: Derrick Rose's Chicago Bulls edged the New York Knicks 105-102 on Thursday thanks to a balanced attack that saw five players reach double figures. |
|
| PM Lee, Cabinet express condolences on Dr Toh's death |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Cabinet colleagues are sad to learn of the passing of Dr Toh Chin Chye and wish to convey their condolences to his family. |
|
| Megaupload boss' bail appeal rejected |
| WELLINGTON: Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom on Friday failed to overturn a ruling that he remain behind bars in New Zealand while US officials seek his extradition for alleged copyright piracy, reports said. |
|
| Rise in number of drug abusers in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: The number of drug abusers arrested in 2011 rose 13 per cent compared to the year before. |
|
| Taliban attack kills "seven Pakistani soldiers" |
| PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and three more wounded in a Taliban attack on their check post in the country's northwestern tribal belt, security officials said Friday. |
|
| Assange in final countdown after UK top court hearing |
| LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange made what could be his last appearance in any British court Thursday as Swedish authorities warned that opposing his extradition could turn European law on its head. |
|
| Famine over in Somalia, but emergency remains: UN |
| NAIROBI: Famine conditions have ended in war-torn Somalia six months after they were declared, but the situation remains dire with nearly a third of the population needing emergency support, the UN said on Friday. |
|
| Foreign Affairs Minister Shanmugam reaffirms S'pore-US ties |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam has reaffirmed the long-standing and excellent bilateral ties between Singapore and the United States. |
|
| Iran launches observation satellite |
| TEHRAN: Iran on Friday launched an observation satellite into orbit above Earth, its third since 2009, the official IRNA news agency reported. |
|
| Taiwanese man dies playing video games |
| TAIPEI: A Taiwanese man died while playing video games at an Internet cafe as dozens of other patrons carried on for hours afterwards apparently unaware that they were sitting near a corpse, according to police. |
|
| Germany's Merkel holds talks with China's president |
| BEIJING: German Chancellor Angela Merkel met China's president on Friday as she seeks to lift Beijing's confidence in Europe where the sovereign debt crisis threatens to tip the region into recession. |
|
| Man fined for breaching Personal Protection Order |
| SINGAPORE: A man has been fined S$2,000 for breaching a Personal Protection Order imposed by the court. |
|
| PetroChina buys stake in Canada shale gas project |
| SHANGHAI: State-owned PetroChina said it has agreed to take a 20 percent stake in a Canadian shale gas project owned by Royal Dutch Shell, China's latest acquisition of North American natural resources. |
|
| Philippines battles rebels after air strike |
| MANILA: Philippine troops battled Muslim extremists on a remote southern island on Friday where a day earlier three of Southeast Asia's top terror suspects were killed in a US-backed air strike, the army said. |
|
| Gingrich camp to challenge Florida poll results |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Newt Gingrich announced Thursday a challenge to how many delegates were won in the Republican Party's Florida primary, in which he was soundly beaten by frontrunner Mitt Romney. |
|
| Khmer Rouge jailer gets life on appeal |
| PHNOM PENH: A former Khmer Rouge jailer who oversaw the deaths of some 15,000 people will spend the rest of his life in jail, Cambodia's UN-backed court ruled in a final appeal verdict on Friday. |
|
| Remembering Dr Toh Chin Chye |
| SINGAPORE: The founding chairman of the People's Action Party - and a founding father of modern Singapore - Dr Toh Chin Chye, has died. |
|
| Oil up in Asia as traders await US jobs report |
| SINGAPORE: Crude prices were up in Asia on Friday amid nervous trade ahead of a closely-watched US jobs report to be released later in the day, analysts said. |
|
| PAP founding member Toh Chin Chye dies |
| SINGAPORE: One of the founding members of the People's Action Party, Dr Toh Chin Chye has died. |
|
| 164 dead as cold snap grips Europe |
| WARSAW: Europe's cold snap has claimed 164 lives, as countries from Ukraine to Italy struggle with temperatures that plunged to record lows in some places and with more cold weather forecast. |
|
| Man charged with outrage of modesty |
| SINGAPORE: A Malaysian man has been charged with outraging the modesty of a 46-year-old woman. |
|
| Qantas plane in 'priority landing' |
| SYDNEY: A Qantas plane carrying 74 passengers was forced to make a "priority landing" on Friday in Canberra after experiencing engine problems shortly after take-off. |
|
| Asian shares down ahead of US jobs results |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets fell on Friday in edgy trade ahead of the release of US jobs data while Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke warned the labour market still had a long road to recovery. |
|
| Two shot dead as Egyptian protesters, police clash |
| CAIRO: Two men were killed Thursday as Egyptian police and protesters clashed in the northeastern city of Suez, medical sources said, amid growing anger over the deaths of 74 people in post-football violence. |
|
| US decries 'worsened' Myanmar violence |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday urged Myanmar to address what it called worsened ethnic violence and to accept international monitors to ensure the fairness of closely watched upcoming by-elections. |
|
| Westpac to cut 550 jobs in Australia |
| SYDNEY: Australian banking giant Westpac Friday confirmed it will axe up to 550 jobs in order to protect its big profits, which are being hit by slowing global growth. |
|
| Search on for more than 100 missing from PNG ferry |
| PORT MORESBY: Rescuers scoured the ocean for more than 100 people, many of them believed to be university students, still missing Friday after a ferry sank in the Pacific off Papua New Guinea. |
|
| Thousands stranded by Australian floods |
| SYDNEY: More than 10,000 Australians were Friday stranded by flooding in the country's east, with thousands ordered to leave their homes or businesses and the military called in to airlift supplies. |
|
| UN diplomats draft new resolution on Syria |
| UNITED NATIONS: UN diplomats said Thursday they had come up with a new draft resolution condemning deadly violence in Syria that would now be sent back to their respective governments for further deliberations. |
|
| Radcliffe leaves Potter behind with horror film |
| LOS ANGELES: For more than a decade, Daniel Radcliffe was known the world over as the owlish waif in the massively successful "Harry Potter" films - based on the equally popular book series by JK Rowling. |
|
| Brains of addicts are inherently abnormal, says study |
| WASHINGTON: Drug addicts have inherited abnormalities in some parts of the brain which interfere with impulse control, said a British study published in the United States on Thursday. |
|
| US defence secretary says Israel could strike Iran in spring |
| BRUSSELS: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a "strong possibility" that Israel will strike Iran's nuclear installations this spring, the Washington Post said on Thursday in an editorial. |
|
| Dollar edges up in quiet forex trade |
| NEW YORK: The dollar edged up against major currencies in quiet trade on Thursday, ahead of the release of monthly jobs data for January. |
|
| UN leader hit by shoe protest in Gaza |
| GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Protesters threw shoes at UN chief Ban Ki-moon as he entered Gaza on Thursday, condemning Israel's blockade and Ban's refusal to meet the families of Palestinian prisoners. |
|
| Jobs fears leave US stocks mixed |
| NEW YORK: US stocks ended the session mixed on Thursday after weekly jobless claims fell but Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke told Congress the jobs market had a long road to recovery. |
|
| Global oil prices mixed on US demand, Iran |
| NEW YORK: World oil prices traded mixed on Thursday as traders balanced ongoing Iranian tensions with stubborn concerns over the outlook for global energy demand. |
|
| Iran has material for four nuclear bombs, says Israeli general |
| JERUSALEM: Iran has enough radioactive material to produce four nuclear bombs, Israel's chief of military intelligence, General Aviv Kochavi, asserted at a security conference on Thursday. |
|
| Groundhogs clash over US weather prognosis |
| NEW YORK: Hollywood star and weather seer Punxsutawney Phil used to be the only groundhog that mattered in weather predicting, but Phil's shock decision on Thursday that spring is still six weeks away put him out on a limb. |
|
| Biathlon: Garanichev sprints to World Cup win |
| OSLO: Russia's Evgeny Garanichev claimed his first World Cup victory in the men's 10-kilometre sprint on Thursday. |
|
| Prince William arrives in Falklands on RAF mission |
| LONDON: Prince William arrived in the Falkland Islands on Thursday for a six-week deployment with the Royal Air Force (RAF), British officials said, a move Argentina has condemned as a "provocation". |
|
| North Korea again rebuffs South Korean call for talks |
| SEOUL: North Korea's top ruling body on Thursday again rebuffed South Korea's call for talks, saying Seoul's conservative leaders should first "repent of their crimes" and honour past summit agreements. |
|
| Britain: Emotional Redknapp battles court prosecutor |
| LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp engaged in a heated exchange with a prosecutor at his tax evasion trial on Thursday as he angrily denied telling jurors "a pack of lies". |
|
| NYSE Euronext, Deutsche Boerse cancel merger deal |
| NEW YORK: Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext cancelled their mega-merger on Thursday after European regulators vetoed the deal. |
|
| Anger mounts in Egypt after football disaster |
| CAIRO: Egypt's government sacked the nation's football bosses on Thursday as it struggled to contain mounting anger over post-match violence that killed 74 people, and hundreds marched through Cairo in protest. |
|
| Romney opens big poll lead in Nevada |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney holds a huge lead two days before Nevada's caucuses, a poll showed on Thursday, as he looked to build on a Florida win to lock up his party's nomination. |
|
| Singapore property developers cautious about market outlook |
| SINGAPORE : Property developers seem pessimistic about the outlook for Singapore's real estate market in 2012, with some analysts foreseeing a five to ten percent drop in property prices this year. |
|
| GLP's Japan project to start June |
| SINGAPORE: Global Logistic Properties (GLP) said the construction of its 79,023 square-metre large-scale multi-tenant logistics facility in Soja city, Japan will start in June this year and finish by February 2013. |
|
| Electric cars boost auto sales market |
| SINGAPORE: A new wave of plug-in electric vehicles hitting the market is giving the auto sales industry a boost. |
|
| Shopping mall owners act to meet rising competition |
| SINGAPORE : More than a decade's supply of retail space is under construction in Singapore. |
|
| SMEs' budget wishlist |
| SINGAPORE: Businesses are urging the Singapore government to provide relief to counter expected delays in projects and credit payments as the economy slows. |
|
| Golf: Trio shares lead in Myanmar Open |
| YANGON: Ben Fox of the United States reaped the benefits of extra hours slogging it in the gym as he shot a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to share the first-round lead at the Zaykabar Myanmar Open on Thursday. |
|
| Golf: Daly surprise early leader in Qatar Masters |
| DOHA: American John Daly gave a rare glimpse of his supreme natural talents by shooting a five under par 67 to share the early lead with Englishman Richard Finch at the 2.5-million-dollar Qatar Masters on Thursday. |
|
| SCDF chief formally appointed |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has formally appointed its new Commissioner Eric Yap Wee Teck. |
|
| Sustainable budget should be top US priority: Fed |
| WASHINGTON: US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Thursday that achieving a sustainable budget and debt balance should be a "top priority" for the government. |
|
| Negotiations with banks on Greece 'ultra difficult': Juncker |
| LUXEMBOURG : Negotiations to fix a massive write-down with private investors of Greek sovereign debt are at an "ultra difficult" stage, eurozone chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday. |
|
| Khmer Rouge victims await prison chief verdict |
| PHNOM PENH: Dozens of Khmer Rouge victims held a sombre vigil at Cambodia's notorious torture jail Thursday on the eve of the final verdict in the trial of the prison chief who oversaw the deaths of thousands. |
|
| Motor Cycling: Stoner sizzles in Sepang 1,000cc bike tests |
| SEPANG, Malaysia: World champion Casey Stoner broke the Sepang circuit MotoGP lap record - albeit unofficially - on Thursday as he once again set the pace on the final day of testing of the new 1,000cc bikes. |
|
| Private condo plot at Jervois Road attracts 17 bids |
| SINGAPORE : The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said a 99-year leasehold private condo plot at Jervois Road has attracted 17 bids from developers. |
|
| Football: Calls for Terry to be axed as England skipper |
| LONDON: England captain John Terry faced mounting calls to be stripped of the armband on Thursday after the Chelsea star's trial on racial abuse charges was delayed until July. |
|
| Team S'pore athletes get cash reward |
| SINGAPORE: A total of S$525,000 was given out to medal-winning athletes from Team Singapore who competed at the 2011 SEA Games. |
|
| Starhub posts 15% rise in Q4 net profit |
| SINGAPORE : Telecom firm StarHub Ltd has reported a 15 percent jump in its fourth-quarter net profit from the same period a year earlier. |
|
| Shell's annual profit jumps to US$30.9b |
| LONDON: Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday that its 2011 net profit jumped by 54 percent to $30.92 billion (23.5 billion euros) on the back of higher energy prices. |
|
| Over 150 dead as cold snap grips Europe |
| WARSAW: A cold snap kept Europe in its icy grip on Thursday, pushing the death toll past 150 as countries from Italy to Ukraine struggled to cope with temperatures that reached record lows in some places. |
|
| Thai govt to spend US$10b on flood prevention |
| THAILAND: The Thai government will spend nearly US$10 billion on a water management plan to prevent a repeat of last year's floods that killed hundreds and caused billions of dollars in economic damage. |
|
| Contraband cigarettes seized |
| SINGAPORE: More than 4,300 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes have been seized by officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). |
|
| AstraZeneca to axe 7,300 jobs despite bumper profit |
| LONDON: The Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca said on Thursday that it would axe 7,300 jobs by the end of 2014 in a new cost-cutting drive, despite delivering bumper annual profits. |
|
| Japan Airlines posts profit of $1.92b |
| TOKYO : Japan Airlines, which went bankrupt two years ago in one of the country's biggest-ever corporate failures, reported a nine-month profit of almost $2.0 billion Thursday, in part thanks to the strong yen. |
|
| Miner Xstrata says Glencore wants a merger |
| ZURICH : The Swiss mining company Xstrata said Thursday that raw materials giant Glencore is seeking a merger that media reports say could be worth $80 billion. |
|
| China's Premier Wen says resolving European debt crisis 'urgent' |
| BEIJING : China's Premier Wen Jiabao said Thursday it was "urgent" to solve the European debt crisis and called on the international community to cooperate, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
|
| So you want to be an entrepreneur? |
| SINGAPORE: Budding entrepreneurs in Asia will get a chance to pitch to top investors their business ideas, on a new business reality TV series, Angel's Gate, which will premiere on Channel NewsAsia on Monday night. |
|
| SIA reports 53% drop in Q3 net profit |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore Airlines said Thursday its third-quarter net profit tumbled 53 percent from a year ago due to the impact of "persistently high" jet fuel prices. |
|
| Korean actress Song Ji-hyo now dating head of CJes Entertainment |
| SEOUL: Korean actress Song Ji-hyo's management agency, entertainment giant CJes Entertainment, announced in a statement on Wednesday that she is currently dating Baek Chang Joo, the head representative of the agency, reported Korean media. |
|
| Lynas shares surge after Malaysia approves plant |
| SYDNEY: Shares in Australian miner Lynas soared almost 20 percent after Malaysia approved a controversial rare earths plant to be built despite fears it could produce harmful radioactive waste. |
|
| Nine NMPs selected |
| SINGAPORE: The government has selected nine Singaporeans as Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs). |
|
| US study finds Alzheimer's spreads like infection |
| WASHINGTON: A new US study has found that Alzheimer's disease spreads from one part of the brain to another like an infection, a discovery that could aid the development of treatments to slow its progress. |
|
| Singapore shares close mixed after losing early gains |
| SINGAPORE : Share prices in Singapore closed mixed on Thursday after losing early gains in afternoon dealings. |
|
| S'pore "JI member" killed in Philippines |
| MANILA: The Philippines said Thursday it killed three of Southeast Asia's most-wanted Islamic militants including a Malaysian bomb maker with a $5-million US government bounty on his head and a Singaporean who is said to be a top name in Jemaah Islamiyah. |
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| Asian markets rise on upbeat manufacturing data |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets rose on Thursday as upbeat manufacturing data from across the globe lifted spirits, while traders were also confident Greece would soon reach a deal with creditors to slash its debt. |
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| Chingay road closures unveiled |
| SINGAPORE: Several roads will be closed to facilitate this year's Chingay Parade. |
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| Pakistan court to indict PM for contempt on Feb 13 |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top court said Thursday it intended to indict Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for contempt on February 13 over his refusal to pursue corruption cases against the president. |
|
| Philippines says 3 top regional Islamic militants killed |
| MANILA: The Philippine army said it killed three senior leaders from the Al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah militant organisations in an air raid on a remote southern island on Thursday. |
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| MPA invests S$19m to enhance coastal response capabilities |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority has invested S$19 million to enhance coastal response capabilities. |
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| Indian court scraps 122 telecom licences over graft |
| NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court on Thursday scrapped 122 telecom licences awarded in a 2008 sale that has become a major corruption scandal rocking the government. |
|
| Death toll climbs as heavy snow grips Japan |
| TOKYO: Heavy snow that has blanketed northern Japan for weeks, triggering avalanches and affecting transport networks, has left at least 55 people dead, officials said Thursday. |
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| Demand for S'pore graduates remains strong, say employers |
| SINGAPORE: Employers and recruiters said demand for Singapore graduates remains strong. |
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| Stories written by local teachers to be part of school curriculum |
| SINGAPORE: A compilation of short stories written by Singaporean teachers will become part of the primary school English curriculum, starting next year. |
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| S. Korea's embattled ruling party changes its name |
| SEOUL: South Korea's conservative ruling party changed its name Thursday to try to shore up sagging support in a key election year, but sceptics called it a cosmetic measure which would fail to impress voters. |
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| Eight executives detained in China pollution case |
| SHANGHAI: China has detained another company official, bringing the total to eight, over a massive river pollution case in the country's south, the government and state media said Thursday. |
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| Merkel urges China to press Iran over nuclear programme |
| BEIJING: German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Beijing Thursday to put pressure on Iran to be more "open and transparent" over its nuclear programme. |
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| Merkel seeks to ease eurozone fears in China |
| BEIJING: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday the euro had "made Europe stronger", as she sought to reassure Beijing that the eurozone crisis is under control on the start of a three-day visit to China. |
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| Star Awards 2012 nominees revealed: Could Rui En win Best Actress again? |
| SINGAPORE: The annual Star Awards has officially arrived once more, with the release of the Star Awards 2012 nominee list on Thursday. |
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| Mandatory time-stamping for all pre-packed meals |
| SINGAPORE: Caterers will have to time-stamp all buffet meals and packed meals from February 15. |
|
| Trump to endorse Gingrich in US poll race: reports |
| LAS VEGAS, Nevada: Donald Trump will make a "major announcement" Thursday about the US presidential race, according to his aides, as media reports said he will endorse Newt Gingrich. |
|
| Deaths mount as Russia resists UN drive on Syria |
| DAMASCUS: Fresh bloodshed swept Syria as the West and Arab League kept up their push for quick UN action to stop the regime's "killing machine," but holdout Russia vowed to veto any "unacceptable" proposal. |
|
| Germany's Merkel in China for eurozone talks |
| BEIJING: German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in China on Thursday for a three-day visit that will focus on the eurozone crisis, Iran, and Syria. |
|
| Bird flu claims second victim this year in Vietnam |
| HANOI: A woman in southern Vietnam has died after contracting the bird flu virus, health authorities said Thursday, in the country's second human death from the virulent disease in less than a month. |
|
| Man charged with rioting with a deadly weapon |
| SINGAPORE: A man has been charged with rioting with a deadly weapon on January 31 this year. |
|
| Faceless despite Facebook is still the choice for many |
| LOS ANGELES: Facebook's 800 million users have made it a household name but some holdouts -- technophobes and privacy zealots among them -- are still refusing to join the social networking party. |
|
| Crude prices mixed in Asia |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices were mixed in Asia Thursday as positive global manufacturing data and Iranian tensions were weighed by the unresolved talks on Greece's debt and higher US inventories, analysts said. |
|
| PNG ferry with some 350 aboard believed sunk |
| SYDNEY: A ferry is believed to have sunk in bad weather off Papua New Guinea with as many as 350 people on board, its operator said, adding that Australian rescuers were at the scene. |
|
| Ex-tactical ranger accused of accepting S$20 bribe |
| SINGAPORE: A former tactical ranger at the National Parks Board faces a maximum fine of S$100,000, or a jail term of up to five years, or both, for allegedly getting S$20 as a bribe. |
|
| Asian markets rise on manufacturing data |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets rose on Thursday as upbeat manufacturing data from across the globe lifted spirits, while traders were also confident Greece would soon reach a deal with creditors to slash its debt. |
|
| DR Congo leader's camp wins parliament majority |
| KINSHASA: President Joseph Kabila's ruling PPRD party and its allies won a parliamentary majority in November elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to official results released Thursday. |
|
| Philippine search fails to find kidnapped Europeans |
| ZAMBOANGA, Philippines: Philippine authorities said Thursday they had failed to find two European birdwatchers in the crucial few hours after their abduction, and warned Islamic militants may be holding them. |
|
| Facebook to test market hunger for IPOS |
| WASHINGTON: After a deep slump that soured many investors on tech stocks last year, Facebook is launching its IPO into a market that looks ready to greet the social networking giant with open arms. |
|
| Singapore, US enhance bilateral relationship |
| SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have noted the excellent state of the long-standing bilateral relationship, and have agreed to broaden and deepen current areas of bilateral cooperation. |
|
| "Some progress" in UN talks on Syria resolution |
| UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council made "some progress" Wednesday in talks aimed at persuading Russia to back a tough resolution condemning deadly violence in Syria, the British envoy said. |
|
| Romney says he's "not concerned about the very poor" |
| WASHINGTON: Republican Mitt Romney said Wednesday he was seeking to be president to help struggling middle-class Americans, but he was "not concerned about the very poor" who have a safety net to help them. |
|
| Taiwan official expects smooth times with China |
| WASHINGTON: A Taiwanese official predicted Wednesday that China would maintain a conciliatory stance with Taipei, saying that likely next leader Xi Jinping has experience dealing with the self-ruling island. |
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| Train services on North-South Line resume after delay |
| SINGAPORE: Train services on the North-South Line were delayed on Thursday morning. |
|
| US to end combat role in Afghanistan in 2013 |
| ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT: The United States plans to end its combat mission in Afghanistan as early as mid-2013 and shift to a training role, more than a year before most American troops are due to withdraw, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Puyol grabs Barcelona draw in Spanish Cup clash |
| MADRID: A header from Barcelona veteran central defender Carles Puyol saw the Spanish champions come from behind to draw 1-1 with Valencia in their Spanish Cup semi-final first leg match on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Marseille on course for French League cup hat-trick |
| PARIS: Holders Marseille reached their third straight French league cup final on Wednesday, goals from Loic Remy and Brandao in either half seeing off Mediterranean neighbours Nice 2-1 to give Didier Deschamps' side an eighth straight win in all competitions. |
|
| Football: AC Milan stumble at Lazio as Inter Milan held |
| ROME: AC Milan handed Juventus the advantage in the Serie A title race as they lost 2-0 at Lazio on Wednesday, with Inter Milan held to a draw in an eight-goal thriller against Palermo. |
|
| Football: Newcastle climb as Arsenal falter in top four bid |
| LONDON: Newcastle moved up into fifth place in the English Premier League with a 2-0 win away to strugglers Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday as Arsenal lost ground in their bid for a top four finish. |
|
| Facebook seeks to raise US$5b in IPO |
| WASHINGTON: Facebook filed paperwork to go public on Wednesday, seeking to raise $5 billion on Wall Street in the largest flotation ever by an Internet company. |
|
| Motor Racing: McLaren confident as new car unveiled |
| LONDON: McLaren vowed to avoid a repeat of last year's troubled winter testing as they unveiled the car which will carry the hopes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button into the new Formula One season on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Cisse scores on QPR debut in Aston Villa draw |
| LONDON: Djibril Cisse marked his return to English football by scoring on his Queens Park Rangers debut in a 2-2 Premier League draw away to Aston Villa on Wednesday. |
|
| US stocks rally on growth data, Facebook fever |
| NEW YORK: US stocks scored gains on Wednesday after manufacturing data showed growth and the market buzzed with speculation that Facebook would soon announce its market debut. |
|
| US oil price slips as data shows lower consumption |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices in New York slipped on Wednesday as new government data showed a slower pace of petroleum consumption. |
|
| Football: Mali secure Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final spot |
| LIBREVILLE: Mali secured their first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final spot in eight years after a 2-1 win over Botswana on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Egypt violence kills 73 |
| CAIRO: At least 73 people were killed on Wednesday in fan violence after a football match in the city of Port Said, the health ministry said, as Egypt struggled with a wave of incidents linked to poor security. |
|
| Nigeria arrests suspected Boko Haram spokesman |
| KANO, Nigeria: Nigerian authorities have arrested a man believed to be a spokesman for Islamist group Boko Haram, which has claimed responsibility for scores of deadly attacks, security sources said on Wednesday. |
|
| Obama, Romney set for White House clash |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney set their sights on Wednesday on an epic clash for the White House after the Republican tightened his grip on his party race with a crushing Florida primary win. |
|
| Malaysia approves Australian rare earths plant |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia gave the green light on Wednesday for a controversial rare earths plant being built by Australian miner Lynas despite fears its could produce harmful radioactive waste. |
|
| China says trained separatists behind Tibetan unrest |
| BEIJING: China has blamed "trained separatists" for a wave of unrest in Tibetan-inhabited areas last week that left at least two people dead and dozens injured, state press reported on Wednesday. |
|
| Australia - land of the koala, kangaroo... and elephant |
| PARIS: Elephants and maybe rhinoceroses could be introduced to Australia to chomp on an invasive African grass that also causes wildfires, according to an idea reported in a scientific journal on Wednesday. |
|
| Bankrupt American Airlines in union talks |
| NEW YORK: American Airlines, operating under bankruptcy protection, was holding talks with union representatives on Wednesday amid speculation that massive job cuts are in the pipeline. |
|
| Indonesia jails 10 Islamist extremists for mosque bombing |
| JAKARTA: An Indonesian court on Wednesday sentenced 10 Islamist extremists to jail terms of between five and eight years over a suicide bomb attack on a police mosque last April. |
|
| Radioactive 'water leak' at Japan nuclear plant |
| TOKYO: Some 8.5 tons of radioactive water leaked from a reactor at Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant but it had not flowed outside the reactor building, Kyodo News said on Wednesday, quoting the plant's operator. |
|
| Chrysler leads US auto sales growth in January |
| CHICAGO: Chrysler led US auto sales growth in January with an impressive 44 percent jump that far outpaced a modest gain at rival Ford and a loss at General Motors, industry data showed on Wednesday. |
|
| Pfizer recalls 1 million packets of US birth control pills |
| WASHINGTON: US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Tuesday recalled one million packets of birth control pills over a packaging error that could put women at risk of unintended pregnancy. |
|
| Football: Redknapp loses cool at tax evasion trial |
| LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp shouted angrily at a police detective on Wednesday as tempers flared during his tax evasion court case. |
|
| Football: Newcastle's Cabaye banned for three games |
| LONDON: Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye was hit with a three-match suspension on Wednesday after being charged with violent conduct following an incident in the Magpies' FA Cup defeat by Brighton. |
|
| Silicon Valley braces for Facebook millionaires |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Even before Facebook goes public, Silicon Valley is buzzing in anticipation of the "instant millionaires" that may soon be looking for ways to spend their newfound wealth. |
|
| Tennis: Wozniacki parts company with coach |
| COPENHAGEN: Former women's world number one Caroline Wozniacki has parted company with her Spanish coach Ricardo Sanchez after only two months of collaboration, the Ekstra Bladet daily reported on Wednesday. |
|
| US businesses hire fewer workers in January |
| WASHINGTON: US businesses slowed the pace of hiring in January after a December surge, payrolls firm ADP said on Wednesday in a closely watched report ahead of the government's jobs data. |
|
| Football: Leeds sack Grayson after Birmingham rout |
| LEEDS: Championship side Leeds United fired manager Simon Grayson on Wednesday following the Yorkshire club's 4-1 home drubbing by Birmingham City. |
|
| Motorcycling: MotoGP champion Stoner bounces back in Sepang tests |
| SEPANG, Malaysia: MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner shrugged off an ailing back to post the fastest time on Wednesday in pre-season tests on the sport's new 1,000cc bikes at Malaysia's Sepang circuit. |
|
| US manufacturing sector expands in January |
| WASHINGTON: The US manufacturing sector picked up its pace in January, pulled along by a surge in the growth of new orders, according to a closely-watched index released on Wednesday. |
|
| S'pore Sports School inks new deals |
| SINGAPORE: A supportive environment is needed to help develop world-class athletes, and to do just that, the Singapore Sports School has signed new partnership agreements with 10 National Sports Associations. |
|
| Singapore's manufacturing PMI contracts in January |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's manufacturing sector contracted for the seventh straight month in January as new orders and exports continued to shrink. |
|
| Loanshark syndicate smashed, six arrested |
| SINGAPORE : Police smashed a loanshark syndicate and arrested six people in a six-hour operation on Tuesday. |
|
| Cricket: Australia score 171 for 4 in T20 against India |
| SYDNEY: Matt Wade blasted 72 off 43 balls and David Warner hit a switch hit six to lift Australia to 171 for four in their opening Twenty20 international with India at the Sydney Olympic stadium on Wednesday. |
|
| Cricket: World cricket body recommends split role for president |
| DUBAI: The Board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday recommended to split the role of president with a new chairman's post from 2014, and deferred the nomination of Bangladesh's Mustafa Kamal as vice-president. |
|
| Ionescu planned to leave S'pore long before accidents |
| ROMANIA: Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu said he had planned to leave Singapore long before the accidents of December 2009. |
|
| Football: Terry court date set for after Euro 2012 |
| LONDON: England captain John Terry's court case on racial abuse charges was adjourned on Wednesday until July 9, leaving the Chelsea star free to lead his country at Euro 2012. |
|
| Lukewarm response to Tampines Trilliant |
| SINGAPORE : Applications for recently-launched Executive Condominium, Tampines Trilliant, hit about 1,000 at the close of its first launch on Tuesday. |
|
| Residents upset over planned elder day care centre |
| SINGAPORE: Residents in Woodlands Street 83 are up in arms over the proposed construction of an elder day care centre in the neighbourhood. |
|
| Telcos may spend more too boost network capacity |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore telecom operators are expected to invest between S$1.3 billion and S$1.4 billion this year to boost their network capacity.on expectation of a surge in mobile data volumes. |
|
| Turbulent year for shipping firms? |
| SINGAPORE: Shares of shipping firms rallied in Asia on Wednesday, on hopes of a possible increase in freight rates as well as the expansion in China's Purchasing Managers' Index. |
|
| Wikileaks founder takes case to Britain's top court |
| LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange took his 13-month fight against extradition to Sweden to England's highest court on Wednesday. |
|
| ICA foils illegal-departure attempt |
| SINGAPORE: A man who tried to smuggle an overstayer out of Singapore has been nabbed. |
|
| 24,000 ducks destroyed in Australia after bird flu |
| SYDNEY: Some 24,000 Australian ducks were being destroyed Wednesday after testing positive for a low pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus, an outbreak which has prompted poultry export bans in parts of Asia. |
|
| S'pore, M'sia set to co-produce more films |
| MALAYSIA: Malaysia and Singapore hope to break into the global entertainment and media market with their jointly developed content. |
|
| Japanese emperor to undergo heart test |
| TOKYO: Japan's ageing Emperor Akihito is to undergo another heart exam next week, a palace official said on Wednesday, amid increasing worries about the monarch's health. |
|
| Cold snap claims more lives in eastern Europe |
| WARSAW : Europe shivered in some of the coldest temperatures seen in decades on Wednesday as a cold snap claimed more lives overnight and countries battled to clear roads and railways. |
|
| Pakistan denies hidden agenda in Afghanistan |
| KABUL: Pakistan said on Wednesday it had no hidden agenda in Afghanistan, following top-level talks in Kabul after a NATO report accused Islamabad of secretly aiding Taliban insurgents. |
|
| Anthrax parcel sent to Pakistani PM's house: police |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police said on Wednesday they were investigating how and why a parcel containing anthrax was sent to the prime minister's official residence in the capital Islamabad last month. |
|
| Eight dead, five missing in boat accident off Malaysia |
| KUALA LUMPUR : Eight men have drowned and five others are missing after a boat loaded with 25 people believed to be from Afghanistan and Iraq overturned off southern Malaysia, police said on Wednesday. |
|
| Job opportunities at S'pore Airshow |
| SINGAPORE: One thousand new jobs are opening in Singapore's aerospace and aviation sectors. |
|
| IAEA inspector says still "a lot of work" to do with Iran |
| VIENNA: The chief UN nuclear inspector returned from a visit to Tehran on Wednesday saying there was still "a lot of work" to do, with Iran's foreign minister saying the team did not visit any atomic sites. |
|
| Sony's Stringer steps down as president, CEO |
| TOKYO : Howard Stringer, the Welsh-born American head of Japanese games, music and electronics giant Sony, is to step down as its president and CEO, the company said on Wednesday. |
|
| Japan's Mitsubishi banking group's profit soars |
| TOKYO: Japan's top banking group Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) said Wednesday its net profit for the nine months to December leapt by almost half on a one-time gain. |
|
| Sri Lanka culls chickens after bird flu scare |
| COLOMBO : Sri Lanka on Wednesday ordered the culling of thousands of chickens amid fears that a flu strain discovered at a farm could mutate into the more virulent bird flu virus. |
|
| Disney to take controlling stake in India's UTV |
| NEW YORK: US media giant Disney announced it will take a controlling interest in India's leading television producer, UTV, and delist the Indian media and entertainment group. |
|
| Thai economy expected to grow 5% |
| BANGKOK: Thailand's economy will grow roughly five percent in 2012, rebounding from the impact of months of devastating floods last year, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday. |
|
| Singapore stocks close flat |
| SINGAPORE: Stocks in Singapore ended flat in cautious trade on Wednesday after a mixed performance by US stocks overnight. |
|
| Fewer return to prison within 2 years of release |
| SINGAPORE: The percentage of local inmates getting out and going back in to prison for a new offence within two years of their release has gone down. |
|
| New CNB director outlines immediate priorities |
| SINGAPORE : The new director of Singapore's anti-drug enforcement agency, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), has identified some of his immediate priorities as he assumes office. |
|
| NATO leak overshadows Afghan-Pakistan talks |
| KABUL: A leaked NATO report accusing Pakistan of secretly aiding Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan overshadowed a fence-mending visit by Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Kabul on Wednesday. |
|
| Hsieh Fu Hua steps down as Temasek board member |
| SINGAPORE: Mr Hsieh Fu Hua has stepped down as a member of the Board of Temasek Holdings with effect from February 1, the Singapore investment company said in response to MediaCorp's query. |
|
| Hong Kong warns of first-quarter contraction |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong's economy could shrink in the first quarter of 2012 due to weak export markets, before rebounding to post growth of 1.0-3.0 percent over the year, the finance secretary said Wednesday. |
|
| Lee Hyori returns to Korean music scene years after plagiarism controversy |
| SEOUL: Korean singer Lee Hyori's management company B2M Entertainment announced on Tuesday that Lee is in the midst of preparations for her new album, which will be released later this year, reported Korean media. |
|
| Japan's Sharp forecasts $3.8 billion loss |
| TOKYO: Japanese electronics maker Sharp said Wednesday it expected a full-year net loss of $3.8 billion, blaming falling prices, a high yen and the global economic slowdown. |
|
| "Not enough" training in pain management |
| SINGAPORE: Advocates for palliative care said there is a lack of emphasis on training in pain treatment for medical professionals in Singapore. This is a key barrier to reducing pain amongst patients who suffer from incurable diseases, such as cancer. |
|
| Singaporean former singer Stella Ng announces pregnancy |
| TAIPEI: Singaporean singer-turned-actress Stella Ng, who married Taiwan businessman Armstrong Yeh in August last year, announced Monday that she is three months pregnant, reported Taiwan media. |
|
| LG's net loss narrows in fourth quarter |
| SEOUL: LG Electronics, the world's third-largest mobile phone maker, said Wednesday its fourth-quarter net loss narrowed sharply from the previous year due to increased sales of phones and televisions. |
|
| LTA to purchase more trains for NEL, CCL |
| SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the contracts to purchase 18 North East Line (NEL) trains and 16 Circle Line (CCL) trains to enhance rail capacity in the coming years. |
|
| Still chance for diplomacy with Iran: US officials |
| WASHINGTON: Sanctions and diplomacy may yet persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program, as its leaders have shown a rational "cost-benefit approach" in their calculations, senior US officials said. |
|
| Basketball: Knicks welcome Anthony back with win |
| NEW YORK: Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game injury absence to score 25 points as the New York Knicks secured a convincing 113-86 NBA victory over Detroit on Tuesday. |
|
| US says open to diplomacy with new N. Korea rulers |
| SEOUL: The United States is open to diplomacy with North Korea's new leaders but they must improve frosty ties with South Korea and show seriousness about nuclear disarmament, a senior US diplomat said Wednesday. |
|
| Fala Chen returns to work after month-long hiatus |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actress Fala Chen, who had been on hiatus since late November to recover from partial facial paralysis caused by problems with her nerves, revealed that her condition has improved and that she has gone back to work, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| Vivian Balakrishnan to attend US Rio+2.0 Conference |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, will be attending the US Rio+2.0 Conference in Palo Alto, California in the United States from February 2 to 4. |
|
| Pakistan helping Taliban: secret NATO report |
| LONDON: Pakistan's security services are secretly aiding Afghanistan's Taliban, who assume their victory is inevitable once Western troops leave, a secret NATO document says, according to reports Wednesday. |
|
| DPP pushes for restitution in embezzlement case |
| SINGAPORE: For more than 20 months after a former staff of Terra Holdings and Ritz Corp Private Limited embezzled money, no restitution has been made. This issue was raised in court on Wednesday, after submissions were made by the Deputy Public Prosecutor and the defence lawyer. |
|
| Germans, Moroccan face death in Malaysia drug case |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Two Germans and a Moroccan man are facing the death penalty on charges of smuggling more than 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) of methamphetamine into Malaysia, known for its strict anti-drug laws. |
|
| China expects WTO action over rare earths: report |
| BEIJING: China is bracing for renewed calls to ease its rare earths controls after the World Trade Organization ruled Beijing's limits on key raw material exports broke trade rules, the China Daily said Wednesday. |
|
| China's manufacturing rises again in January |
| SHANGHAI: China's manufacturing activity continued to improve in January, official figures showed Wednesday, despite weaker demand for exports amid global economic turmoil. |
|
| Israel PM claims victory in party primary |
| JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in Tuesday's primary of his right-wing Likud party over his sole rival, the hardline settler Moshe Feiglin. |
|
| Football: N. Korea quits match with S. Korea |
| SEOUL: A North Korean youth football team refused to play a South Korean side in a tournament held in China, citing cross-border tension after the death of leader Kim Jong-Il, an official said Tuesday. |
|
| Aviation Leadership Summit to address long-term growth, sustainability issues |
| SINGAPORE: The Aviation Leadership Summit and Business Forums return this year as part of the Singapore Airshow 2012. |
|
| Doctor censured by SMC for misconduct |
| SINGAPORE: A 35-year-old doctor has been censured by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for having engaged in an improper act or conduct that brought disrepute to the medical profession. |
|
| Romney wins big in Florida |
| TAMPA, Florida: Mitt Romney trounced main rival Newt Gingrich in Florida's primary on Tuesday, putting himself in a commanding position to win the Republican nomination and take on President Barack Obama. |
|
| MCYS to build specialised homes for vulnerable children and youths |
| SINGAPORE: MCYS is pumping in S$13 million to build specialised homes for vulnerable children and youths in the next four years. |
|
| All 25 Chinese workers kidnapped in Egypt freed |
| BEIJING: China said Wednesday that 25 Chinese workers captured by Egyptian locals demanding the release of their Islamist relatives had been released, state media reported. |
|
| Russia resists UN drive to halt Syria "killing machine" |
| UNITED NATIONS: Western powers and the Arab League on Tuesday demanded immediate United Nations action to stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's "killing machine," but Russia refused to give its support. |
|
| US urges Indonesia due process on Papua |
| WASHINGTON: The United States called Tuesday on Indonesia to ensure due process and address grievances in the restive Papua region after a court indicted five activists for treason. |
|
| S. Korea posts rare trade deficit, inflation eases |
| SEOUL: South Korea posted its first trade deficit in two years in January as falling overseas demand hit exports but inflation eased, official figures showed Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Gabon maintain perfect run, Morocco deny Niger |
| LIBREVILLE: Gabon continued their charmed run at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, toppling Tunisia to emerge from the first round with a perfect nine points. |
|
| Romney wins big in Florida: projections |
| TAMPA, Florida: Mitt Romney trounced main rival Newt Gingrich in Florida's Republican primary on Tuesday, putting himself in a commanding position to win the nomination to take on President Barack Obama in November, US media projections showed. |
|
| New light on Kennedy assassination from lost audio tapes |
| WASHINGTON: Long-lost audio recordings of the aftermath of president John F. Kennedy's assassination have been made public, captivating historians and stirring fascination about that fateful day. |
|
| Football: Chelsea can close gap, says Villas-Boas |
| SWANSEA, Wales: Andre Villas-Boas believes Chelsea are capable of closing the gap on the top three despite slipping seven points behind third-placed Spurs. |
|
| Simpsons leak on WikiLeaks' Assange appearance |
| LOS ANGELES: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to make a guest appearance as himself on the 500th episode of the Simpsons, producers of the irreverent US television show said Tuesday. |
|
| Biden: "Osama is dead, and GM is alive" |
| WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden spelled out a blunt re-election message for his boss President Barack Obama on Tuesday -- "Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive." |
|
| New drug for rare cystic fibrosis gets US approval |
| WASHINGTON: US regulators on Tuesday approved Kalydeco, a new, gene-targeted drug treatment for people who have a rare kind of the incurable lung disease cystic fibrosis. |
|
| Adele to make comeback at Grammys |
| LOS ANGELES: British soul singer Adele is to make her much-awaited comeback after throat surgery at the upcoming Grammys show, organizers of the music industry awards bash said Tuesday. |
|
| South Korean inflation slows in January |
| SEOUL: South Korea's inflation slowed in January as the government battled rising prices, official figures showed Wednesday. |
|
| Romney roars to early lead in Florida |
| TAMPA, Florida: Mitt Romney was poised Tuesday to take a commanding lead in the Republican White House race, as the early count showed him well ahead of rival Newt Gingrich in Florida's presidential primary. |
|
| Football: Flurry of transfers as January window closes |
| LONDON: Last-minute transfers were brokered across English football on Tuesday as analysts reported a sharp fall in overall spending as a low-key January window drew to a close. |
|
| Football: Lyon stun Lorient to reach French League Cup final |
| PARIS: Lyon fought back from two goals down to win 4-2 at Lorient in a pulsating French League Cup semi-final on Tuesday and reach their first domestic final since their French Cup success in 2008. |
|
| Football: Swansea agony as Chelsea leave it late |
| SWANSEA, Wales: Ten-man Chelsea scrambled an injury-time equaliser to deny Swansea a famous victory as the Londoners battled to a 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Everton's Gibson sinks Manchester City |
| LIVERPOOL: Darron Gibson provided former club Manchester United with a vital boost in the title race to extend Everton's remarkable hoodoo over Roberto Mancini. |
|
| Football: Spot on Manchester Utd as Stoke pay penalty |
| MANCHESTER, England: Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov each claimed a penalty as Manchester United's 2-0 victory over Stoke drew them level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. |
|
| Football: Happy anniversary for Carroll as Liverpool maul Wolves |
| WOLVERHAMPTON, United Kingdom: Andy Carroll boosted Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as he scored his fifth goal of the season to help his side to a convincing 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday. |
|
| US stocks mixed after economic data |
| NEW YORK: US stocks closed mixed on Tuesday after the release of data showing continuing weakness in home prices and slumping consumer confidence. |
|
| Oil prices fall in New York after weak US data |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices fell on Tuesday in New York as markets fretted about weaker-than-expected economic data from the United States, the world's biggest consumer of crude. |
|
| Mossad chief held talks on Iran in US visit: CIA |
| WASHINGTON: The head of Israel's intelligence service paid a secret visit to Washington last week to discuss Iran's nuclear programme, the CIA director and a top US lawmaker said on Tuesday. |
|
| Race to fix Greek debt relief gathers pace |
| BRUSSELS: Officials took the first steps on Tuesday in a high-pressure bid to wrap up a massive debt relief deal for Greece within a week. |
|
| Syria opposition urges action ahead of UN showdown |
| DAMASCUS: Syria's opposition urged the international community to act and deplored its failure to stop "massacres" amid spiralling violence ahead of a UN Security Council showdown on Tuesday. |
|
| Divers abandon search on Italy cruise ship wreck |
| ROME: Italian divers on Tuesday gave up their search on the wreck of the Costa Concordia, in which 32 people are feared to have died, as workers prepared to start pumping out fuel to avoid an oil spill. |
|
| US diplomat says North Korea must boost ties with South |
| SEOUL: The top US diplomat for East Asia told North Korea's new leaders on Tuesday that they must improve relations with South Korea if they want better ties with the wider world. |
|
| Deadly European cold snap spreads |
| KIEV: A cold snap that killed 30 people in Ukraine over the past five days spread on Tuesday to swathes of eastern and central Europe with record lows in Bulgaria and heavy snow in Switzerland and parts of Italy. |
|
| Chinese epic vies for gold at Berlin film festival |
| BERLIN: A sweeping Chinese epic, "White Deer Plain", will round out the list of 18 films vying for gold at the 62nd Berlin film festival, organisers said on Tuesday. |
|
| Expansion of university sector will not dilute value of degrees: minister |
| SINGAPORE : Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said the expansion of the university sector would not lead to a dilution in the value of degrees. |
|
| ExxonMobil Q4 profit beats forecasts |
| NEW YORK: ExxonMobil, the world's largest energy company, on Tuesday posted slightly better-than-expected profit for the fourth quarter, despite easing high oil prices. |
|
| Pfizer profit skids on Lipitor loss |
| NEW YORK: US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer on Tuesday reported profit and sales fell in the fourth quarter, hit hard by the loss of exclusivity on its blockbuster anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor. |
|
| Football: Flurry of transfers as deadline looms |
| LONDON: A flurry of last-minute transfers were being brokered across English football on Tuesday as clubs moved to bolster their squads in the final few hours of the January window. |
|
| T3 electric vehicles set to ply Changi Airport |
| SINGAPORE: T3 Motion says it has been awarded Singapore Police Department's contract for 12 T3 Electric Stand-up Vehicles. |
|
| China's goodwill ambassadors |
| CHENGDU: They are black and white and attract hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world to China's Sichuan province each year. |
|
| US consumer confidence down in January |
| WASHINGTON : US consumer confidence fell in January after a pickup in December that had encouraged hopes for a broader turnaround in the economy, according to the Conference Board index released Tuesday. |
|
| Budget 2012: Businesses hope to see measures to help contain operating costs |
| SINGAPORE : Businesses in Singapore are hoping that the upcoming Budget 2012 will help them contain operating costs. |
|
| Mixed Martial Arts contest in March |
| SINGAPORE: The first major Mixed Martial Arts event was successfully hosted in September 2011 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. |
|
| EU opens antitrust probe against Samsung |
| BRUSSELS: European regulators opened on Tuesday an antitrust probe against Samsung Electronics to determine whether the South Korean group has distorted competition in European mobile device markets. |
|
| More green roofs installed in buildings |
| SINGAPORE: More commercial buildings are installing green roofs to help reduce the rainwater flowing into canals and drains. |
|
| Two residential sites in Balestier up for collective sale |
| SINGAPORE: Two freehold residential redevelopment sites in Balestier are up for collective sale by tender. |
|
| SMRT posts 13.9% drop in Q3 net profit |
| SINGAPORE : Public transport operator SMRT Corp has posted a 13.9 percent decline in net profit for its third quarter. |
|
| Hawker centre feedback panel to submit proposal on Feb 9 |
| SINGAPORE: The hawker centre public consultation panel, tasked to gather views on 10 new hawker centres that will be built over the next decade, will submit its proposal to the government on February 9. |
|
| Rich turning to the seas for the high life |
| SINGAPORE: The number of billionaires in Asia is growing. In 2011, the figure jumped by almost 100 from the year before to 332. |
|
| Singapore December bank lending up 1.1% on-month |
| Singapore : Bank lending in Singapore continued to climb in most sectors in December despite the slowdown in economic growth, says a report from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. |
|
| Clipper race heads to China next |
| SINGAPORE: Sailors taking part in the world's longest yacht race are gearing up to head to their next destination - Qingdao, China - on Saturday. |
|
| Florida polls open for biggest US primary yet |
| TAMPA, Florida - Polling booths opened in Florida on Tuesday, the largest state so far in the Republican White House race, with Mitt Romney holding a solid lead over Newt Gingrich in the latest polls. |
|
| SIA says wing cracks found in six Airbus A380 planes |
| SINGAPORE : Following the inspections on six of its Airbus A380 aircraft, as mandated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, Singapore Airlines (SIA) confirmed that cracks in the wing brackets have been discovered in all six of the inspected airplanes. |
|
| France's Dassault wins Indian 126 jet contract: report |
| NEW DELHI : French firm Dassault has won a multi-billion dollar contract to provide 126 fighter jets to the Indian military, the Press Trust of India news agency said on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources. |
|
| Ethan Ruan begins serving national service |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan actor Ethan Ruan revealed Tuesday that he has officially begun serving his compulsory national service, reported Taiwan media. |
|
| Cebu Pacific to launch long-haul flights |
| MANILA : Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific announced Tuesday it would next year launch long-haul flights to destinations beyond East Asia, targeting millions of Filipinos working abroad. |
|
| Eurozone unemployment hits record 10.4% |
| BRUSSELS: Eurozone unemployment hit a record 10.4 percent in November and December, provisional official figures showed on Tuesday. |
|
| Europe races to secure Greek debt relief |
| BRUSSELS : Europe raced Tuesday to finalise a deal that would cut Greece's massive debt after EU leaders set a weekend deadline for a last-chance bailout to save the country from financial collapse. |
|
| S'pore PR fined for operating unlicensed employment agency |
| SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old Singapore Permanent Resident has been fined S$50,000 for operating as an unlicensed employment agency. |
|
| Elva Hsiao and Ko Chen-tung speak out against dating rumours |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan singer Elva Hsiao denied rumours that she is dating "You Are the Apple of My Eye" star Ko Chen-tung, during a promotional event on Sunday, reported Taiwan media. |
|
| Singapore manufacturers still pessimistic about business prospects |
| SINGAPORE : Manufacturers in Singapore remain pessimistic about business prospects in the first six months of 2012, given the continued uncertainty over the global outlook. |
|
| S'pore Embassy official to attend Ionescu trial |
| SINGAPORE: The Deputy Chief of Mission at the Singapore Embassy in Brussels, Ms Jasmine Tan, will attend Wednesday's hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore. |
|
| Man jailed for molesting woman on bus |
| SINGAPORE: A former security officer has been sentenced to four months' jail for molesting a woman on a public bus. |
|
| Qantas says cashed-up despite Moody's downgrade |
| SYDNEY: Australian carrier Qantas on Tuesday said it remains in a strong funding position with a cash balance of more than A$3.0 billion (US$3.2 billion) after it was downgraded by Moody's Investors Service. |
|
| Shanmugam visits US for introductory visit |
| SINGAPORE: Foreign Affairs and Law Minister, Mr K Shanmugam, will be in Washington DC for an introductory visit to the United States from 1-8 February. |
|
| Striking MBC unionists cause cancellation of the Korean broadcaster's popular shows |
| SEOUL: Some 500 unionists of Korean broadcaster MBC have gone on strike since Monday, to demand the resignation on MBC president Kim Jae-chul over alleged biased coverage of major social issues, reported Korean media. |
|
| 15 arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities |
| SINGAPORE: Ten men and five women, aged between 24 and 68 years, were arrested on Monday for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. |
|
| Italy unemployment hits 8.9% |
| MILAN: Italy's unemployment rate rose to 8.9 percent in December -- its highest level since 2004, preliminary data showed Tuesday, as the government struggles to rein in public finances and boost growth. |
|
| Singapore shares end firmer after recovering from early losses |
| SINGAPORE : Share prices in Singapore closed firmer on Tuesday after recovering from early losses. |
|
| Showdown at UN as violence surges in Syria |
| UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council braced for a showdown over Syria on Tuesday, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leading a Western charge pressing Russia to back action to stop the violence. |
|
| Job vacancies decline, but outlook remains rosy |
| SINGAPORE: Recruitment agencies have said they are seeing fewer employers actively hiring through job advertisements. |
|
| N.Korea restricts Chinese currency in markets: reports |
| SEOUL: North Korea has banned the use of China's yuan and other foreign currency in its markets, saying this was part of the last instructions of late leader Kim Jong-Il, according to a Seoul-based aid group. |
|
| Industrial land at Serangoon North for sale |
| SINGAPORE: Industrial property developer JTC Corporation has launched an industrial land site at Serangoon North Avenue 4 for sale by public tender. |
|
| Asian markets end mostly higher, traders remain cautious |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday after European leaders agreed on a treaty aimed at ending huge deficits, but traders |
|
| Finance heavyweight named Taiwan's new PM |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Tuesday named a former top financial regulator as the new premier in the hope that he can lead the island through economic trouble caused by the European debt crisis. |
|
| UN atomic watchdog green lights Japan's reactor tests |
| TOKYO: The UN's nuclear watchdog on Tuesday gave its seal of approval to Japan's reactor safety checks, but said utilities should beef up plans for managing disasters in the wake of the Fukushima meltdowns. |
|
| China has room for stimulus: IMF |
| WASHINGTON: China could easily boost domestic consumption to stimulate its economy if its slowdown is too sharp, the International Monetary Fund said Monday. |
|
| Nominations now open for President's Award for Teachers |
| SINGAPORE: The public can now nominate outstanding teachers for this year's President's Award for Teachers. |
|
| British business hits back at 'vilification' of RBS chief |
| LONDON: British politicians are damaging the reputation of the City of London financial district by vilifying RBS chief Stephen Hester, the president of the Confederation of British Industry said Tuesday. |
|
| Myanmar President gets health check on sidelines of S'pore visit |
| SINGAPORE: Myanmar President Thein Sein was at Mount Elizabeth Hospital Tuesday for a health examination. |
|
| Myanmar taps on Singapore's experience in education |
| SINGAPORE: Myanmar is keen to tap on Singapore's experience to enhance the quality of its teachers. |
|
| Khmer Rouge court unable to pay Cambodian salaries |
| PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal has run out of money to pay the wages of hundreds of workers as contributions from donor countries have dried up, a court spokesman said on Tuesday. |
|
| S. Korea envoy to discuss N. Korea with Russia |
| SEOUL: South Korea's nuclear envoy will visit Russia next week amid fresh efforts to restart long-stalled six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament, an official said Tuesday. |
|
| Woman jailed for theft and credit card fraud |
| SINGAPORE: A Peruvian was Tuesday jailed 15 months for theft and credit card fraud during her multiple one-week visits to Singapore. |
|
| Mumbai gunman death penalty appeal adjourned |
| NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court adjourned an appeal hearing on Tuesday into the death sentence handed down to the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks. |
|
| China detains seven over river pollution scandal |
| SHANGHAI: China has detained seven company executives after suspected industrial waste discharges polluted a river with toxic cadmium, threatening drinking supplies for millions, state media said Tuesday. |
|
| Australia PM flags budget cuts despite boom |
| SYDNEY: Australia's embattled Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Tuesday said she was determined to bring the national budget back to surplus, flagging cutbacks even as the country enjoys a huge mining boom. |
|
| Gerard Ee re-appointed chairman of Public Transport Council |
| SINGAPORE: Accountant Gerard Ee has been re-appointed as chairman of the Public Transport Council for a further two years. |
|
| Teen gets probation for forcing friend to perform oral sex |
| SINGAPORE: An 18-year-old has been sentenced to 21-months' probation for forcing his female friend to perform oral sex on him. |
|
| Myanmar denies trying to obtain N. Korean nukes |
| SINGAPORE: Myanmar President Thein Sein has denied his country is trying to obtain nuclear weapons from North Korea, describing allegations of an illicit programme as "unfounded", in remarks published Tuesday. |
|
| China recruiting 8,000 police for restive Xinjiang |
| BEIJING: Authorities in China's volatile Xinjiang region plan to recruit 8,000 extra police officers, a government official said Tuesday, as they beef up security in the remote area. |
|
| Two top Chinese banks to open branches in Taiwan |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan has allowed two major state-controlled Chinese banks to set up branches on the island, the first mainland lenders to do so, officials said Tuesday. |
|
| Romney striding toward nomination but pitfalls abound |
| TAMPA: With a victory in Florida's key primary within striking distance, Mitt Romney can look ahead to a favorable series of contests, but with rival Newt Gingrich wounded and angry, the path is replete with pitfalls. |
|
| IMF urges Japan to triple consumption tax |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said Monday that Japan ought to triple its consumption tax to help bring down some of its huge debt. |
|
| Oil higher in Asia on positive Japanese data |
| SINGAPORE: Oil rose in Asia Tuesday as traders reacted to better than expected economic data from Japan, analysts said. |
|
| IMF sees low impact on Asian finance from EU crisis |
| WASHINGTON: The eurozone financial crisis has had only a limited impact on Asia, and in fact has created opportunities for Asian banks, according to a top IMF official. |
|
| Truckloads of Chinese rice enter N.Korea |
| SEOUL: Long convoys of Chinese lorries laden with rice were seen entering North Korea after Beijing reportedly agreed to provide major food aid to Pyongyang's new regime, according to a South Korean activist. |
|
| Asian markets up, but traders nervous over Greece |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Tuesday after European leaders agreed a treaty aimed at ending huge deficits, although traders remained nervous as Greece continued talks to slash its debt mountain. |
|
| ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office opens in S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) was opened in Singapore on Monday. |
|
| Damascus slams 'aggressive' statements by West |
| DAMASCUS: Damascus has slammed what it termed "aggressive" statements made by the United States and other Western nations ahead of a UN Security Council session on the spiralling violence in Syria. |
|
| Brain 'hears' from different location than earlier thought |
| WASHINGTON: Now hear this! The part of the brain used for speech processing is in a different location than originally believed, according to a US study Monday that researchers said will require a rewrite of medical texts. |
|
| Singapore's unemployment rate hits 14-year low in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Supported by strong employment creation, Singapore's unemployment rate declined to a 14-year low last year. |
|
| SpongeBob hero, David Hasselhoff takes romance sky-high |
| SYDNEY: Kids know him as the hero of SpongeBob SquarePants while adults will recall David Hasselhoff in TV series "Baywatch" and "Knight Rider". |
|
| US lawmakers to take up new Iran sanctions |
| WASHINGTON: Frustrated by Iran's defiance of global pressure to halt its nuclear program, key US lawmakers on Monday unveiled plans for more punishing economic and political sanctions aimed at Tehran. |
|
| East Timor's Ramos-Horta to seek second term |
| DILI: East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta will seek another five-year term in March elections, his office said Tuesday. |
|
| Obama confirms US drone strikes in Pakistan |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Monday confirmed that US drone aircraft have struck Taliban and Al-Qaeda targets within Pakistan -- operations that until now had not been officially acknowledged. |
|
| S. Korea industrial output growth slows in December |
| SEOUL: South Korea's industrial output grew at a much slower rate in December on an annualised basis amid global economic uncertainty, official figures showed Tuesday. |
|
| Japan output down in 2011, up in December |
| TOKYO: Japan's annual industrial output fell 3.5 percent in 2011 overall but rose by more than expected in December, a mixed bag of official data from the world's third-biggest economy showed Tuesday. |
|
| Golf: NZ teen eyes US major debut after record win |
| WELLINGTON: New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko, who at the weekend became the youngest player to win a pro golf tournament, hopes to compete at a US major this year, her coach said on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Newcastle's Cabaye charged by FA |
| LONDON: France midfielder Yohan Cabaye has been charged with violent conduct following an incident during Premier League side Newcastle's FA Cup defeat by Brighton on Saturday. |
|
| Euro slips against dollar amid caution |
| NEW YORK: Cautious traders let the euro slip lower on Monday as the nervous wait for a Greek debt deal continued. |
|
| Football: Mancini frets over referees as Tevez saga continues |
| MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez, who last played for Manchester City in September,continues to dominate off-field matters for the Premier League leaders but, ahead of Tuesday's visit to Everton, manager Roberto Mancini was more concerned with the club's problems with referees. |
|
| Football: Atletico Madrid remain unbeaten under Simeone |
| MADRID: Atletico Madrid continued their good recent form since former Argentinian international midfielder Diego Simeone took over as coach with a 1-0 away win over Osasuna on Monday. |
|
| Football: Park issues Manchester Utd rallying cry |
| MANCHESTER: Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung has urged his team-mates to get over their FA Cup disappointment and concentrate on securing a domestic and European double. |
|
| Asian stars woo Western record market |
| CANNES, France: Asian stars flew into the French Riviera resort of Cannes at the weekend for the global music industry's annual MIDEM pow-wow, in a state-backed bid to woo Western markets. |
|
| Air New Zealand CEO to stand down at year's end |
| WELLINGTON: Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe will stand down at the end of 2012 after seven years in charge of the national carrier, the airline said on Tuesday. |
|
| US stocks rebound from early losses |
| NEW YORK: US stocks clawed back from early losses on Monday, showing resiliency despite Greece's stalled bid to obtain a crucial debt writedown from private creditors to avoid default. |
|
| Oil prices lower over eurozone debt worries |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices fell on Monday with the demand outlook uncertain as Europe's leaders met on containing the eurozone debt crisis and Greece was locked in debt reduction talks with its creditors. |
|
| Football: Sudan pip Angola to reach Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals |
| BATA, Equatorial Guinea: Sudan consigned Burkina Faso to a 2-1 defeat on Monday to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals at the expense of Angola. |
|
| Football: Ivory Coast reserves too strong for Angola |
| MALABO, Equatorial Guinea: A virtual reserve Ivory Coast side cruised to a 2-0 win over Angola on Monday in a lacklustre Group B match at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. |
|
| Freeze kills dozens in eastern Europe |
| WARSAW: Freezing weather has killed dozens of people in central and eastern Europe over the past few days and temperatures are set to drop even further, authorities warned on Monday. |
|
| Salvage delay worries residents of Italy's shipwreck island |
| ROME: Residents of the Italian island of Giglio voiced concern for their livelihoods on Monday after officials said it could take 10 months to remove the wreck of a cruise ship blighting the tourist hot-spot. |
|
| Football: Juventus hit with another racism fine |
| ROME: Juventus have been fined once again for racist chanting by their fans during Saturday's 2-1 victory against Udinese in Serie A. |
|
| Football: Terry out of Swansea match |
| LONDON: John Terry is to miss Chelsea's Premier League match away to Swansea on Tuesday - less than a day before a court case begins into allegations he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. |
|
| West increases pressure for UN action on Syria |
| DAMASCUS: Western governments prepared to send their top diplomats to lobby for a UN resolution condemning the Syrian regime's deadly crackdown as Russia said on Monday that it opposes the proposed text. |
|
| EU leaders split over Greek crisis |
| BRUSSELS: European leaders faced a damaging split on Monday as a German plan to strip Greece of budget sovereignty overshadowed EU plans to focus on a deal on deficits and talk about jobs. |
|
| Football: Bolton reject Sunderland's bid for Davies |
| LONDON: Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill confirmed on Monday that the club have had a bid for Bolton striker Kevin Davies rejected. |
|
| African tablet to rival iPad? |
| BRAZZAVILLE: Africa has its first handheld tablet to rival the iPad and similar western inventions, which went on sale in the Republic of Congo on Monday, its inventor Verone Mankou said. |
|
| Football: Kuyt wants Cup springboard for league success |
| LIVERPOOL, England: Dirk Kuyt is hoping for an extended run in Liverpool's side after admitting he has found it "very difficult" not being a regular starter in Kenny Dalglish's plans. |
|
| Greek debt woes send US stocks skidding |
| NEW YORK - US stocks slid Monday as Greece still lacked a crucial debt writedown from private creditors and traders awaited the outcome of an EU summit to contain financial turmoil. |
|
| Indian film star Shah Rukh Khan in scuffle row |
| MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was embroiled in an ugly row on Monday after a female director accused him of assaulting her husband at a late-night party. |
|
| Myanmar's president vows "healthy democracy" |
| SINGAPORE - Myanmar's president on Monday pledged to establish a "healthy democracy" after nearly half a century of iron-fisted military rule as he sought Singapore's help to modernise the country's economy. |
|
| Romney surges to double-digit lead in Florida |
| FORT MYERS: Mitt Romney stormed on Monday towards a likely Florida primary victory that would all but lock up the Republican presidential nomination, as rival Newt Gingrich promised a bitter fight all the way to the August convention. |
|
| SMEs expected to contribute over S$4b over next 3 years |
| SINGAPORE : Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not slowing down in upgrading their businesses, according to a review conducted by SPRING Singapore last year. |
|
| Starbucks to open outlets in India this year |
| MUMBAI: Starbucks plans to open outlets in India for the first time under a deal announced on Monday with Tata Global Beverages, billed as the world's second-largest tea company. |
|
| Troubled retail giant Carrefour replaces CEO |
| PARIS: Troubled French supermarket giant Carrefour, the world's second biggest retailer, said on Monday that Georges Plassat would take over as chief executive from outgoing chairman Lars Olofsson. |
|
| Harder for SMEs to get loans as economy slows? |
| SINGAPORE : It may become harder for small businesses to get loans as banks become more cautious about lending. |
|
| Doctors should check blood pressure on both arms: study |
| PARIS: Measuring blood pressure on both arms rather than only one can reveal an elevated risk of heart disease or even death, according to a study released on Monday. |
|
| Olam to invest US$75m for stake in Rusmolco |
| SINGAPORE : Commodity trading group Olam International plans to invest US$75 million for a 75 per cent stake in Russian Dairy Company (Rusmolco). |
|
| Football: De Bruyne set to sign for Chelsea, say reports |
| BRUSSELS: Belgian international attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is poised to quit RC Genk to sign a five-year deal with Premier league side Chelsea, according to reports here on Monday. |
|
| Ultrasound zaps could be used as male contraceptives: study |
| WASHINGTON: Zapping testicles with ultrasound can reduce sperm counts and might be used in the future as an inexpensive, reliable and reversible male contraceptive, according to US researchers. |
|
| Electronics giant Philips posts 2011 losses |
| THE HAGUE: The Dutch global electronics giant Philips on Monday reported a 1.3 billion euro loss for 2011, and forecast a "cautious year" ahead as a result of world-wide economic uncertainty. |
|
| RBS boss waives 1m pound bonus |
| LONDON: The chief executive of Britain's state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland has bowed to intense political pressure and waived his annual bonus worth almost £1.0 million, the lender said on Monday. |
|
| The driving truth: women are better at parking, says study |
| LONDON - After decades of male taunts over their driving skills, women can take heart from a new study on Monday revealing that they are actually the better sex when it comes to parking. |
|
| Syrian forces tighten grip on Damascus outskirts |
| DAMASCUS: Syrian forces tightened their grip on Damascus' outskirts on Monday, as the Arab League pushed a UN resolution drawn up with Western powers condemning President Bashar al-Assad's regime. |
|
| S&P downgrades Japan's NEC |
| TOKYO: Standard & Poor's on Monday downgraded the credit rating of Japanese electronics giant NEC, in a further blow to the company after it announced thousands of job losses last week. |
|
| UBS trader pleads not guilty to London 'rogue trading' |
| LONDON: A trader at Swiss bank UBS pleaded not guilty on Monday to losing $2.25 billion (1.7 billion euros) in fraudulent trades in London, clearing the way for a trial later this year. |
|
| Marvel Studios to hold "Marvel's The Avengers" Twitter Q & A session on Feb 1 |
| SINGAPORE: The upcoming blockbuster film "Marvel's The Avengers", ties together a number of hit superhero film franchises like "Iron Man", "Captain America" and "Thor", but very little information regarding the film has been released. |
|
| Japan's Fujifilm seeks tie-up with Olympus |
| TOKYO: Japanese film and camera maker Fujifilm has offered scandal-hit Olympus a capital and business tie-up, it said Monday as it announced a slump in third-quarter profits. |
|
| "Dragon Tattoo" cancelled in India over nudity |
| MUMBAI - Sony Pictures will not release its blockbuster movie "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo" in India after censors demanded that scenes showing "bare bottoms" be blurred. |
|
| Canada basks in role as global special effects hub |
| VANCOUVER: Canada's westernmost province of British Columbia, one of the top regions for filmmaking outside of Hollywood, is rapidly gaining prominence as a world leader in animation and special effects. |
|
| Lorry crane catches fire, no one injured |
| SINGAPORE : A lorry crane caught fire near the junction of Jalan Buroh and Jurong Port Road on Monday afternoon. |
|
| Singapore stocks close 1% lower |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore ended 1% lower on Monday, in line with most regional markets, following weak US data and amid lingering concerns about the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| Japan megabank SMFG sees 9-month profit fall 20% |
| TOKYO: Japanese megabank Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) said Monday net profit dropped 20.2 percent for the nine months to December due to a corporate tax revision. |
|
| "The Help" wins big at SAG awards |
| LOS ANGELES: "The Help", a big-screen drama focusing on race relations in America, was the big winner at the Screen Actors Guild awards ceremony on Sunday, sweeping the top prizes for best actress, best supporting actress and best ensemble. |
|
| Asia stocks end down on weak US growth data |
| HONG KONG - Asia's first full day of trading following the Lunar New Year holiday saw markets mostly slip on Monday after US growth data came in below expectations and profit-takers cashed in recent gains. |
|
| South Korea says it needs more time to join Iran sanctions |
| SEOUL: South Korea's finance minister called on Monday for more time to diversify oil sources amid pressure on Seoul to join US-led sanctions on Iranian oil over Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons programme. |
|
| Risk of a banking crisis is high: survey |
| SINGAPORE : The risk of a banking crisis is high, according to a survey by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). |
|
| Residential property prices down 0.8% in December: NUS index |
| SINGAPORE : Prices of residential property in Singapore fell by 0.8 per cent on-month in December, according to flash estimates of the Singapore Residential Property Index (SRPI) by the National University of Singapore (NUS). |
|
| Thailand welcomes Twitter censorship tool |
| BANGKOK - Thailand, which regularly cracks down on Internet content deemed critical of its revered monarchy, on Monday welcomed social media giant Twitter's controversial new censorship policy. |
|
| A Dangerous Method: Unsettling and thought-provoking |
| SINGAPORE: "A Dangerous Method" is a provocative film that manages to impress and unsettle at the same time, all while skillfully keeping the audience emotionally detached from the story to make them think about the events in the film. |
|
| Moses Chan 'reports' to Aimee Chan before accepting intimate scenes |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Moses Chan revealed during a promotional event for his new drama serial "4 in Love", in which he has a number of intimate scenes with Charmaine Shek, that he had already informed his girlfriend about these scenes before taking on the role, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| China says currency reform to boost Shanghai |
| SHANGHAI - China on Monday pledged to increase the use of the yuan in international trade and encourage foreign investment in Shanghai markets, as it seeks to build the city into a major global financial centre. |
|
| S. Korea minister calls trade pact with China necessary |
| SEOUL: South Korea's finance minister called on Monday for early negotiations on a free trade pact with China so Seoul can compete against Taiwan in the lucrative Chinese market. |
|
| China media blasts West, Dalai Lama |
| BEIJING: Chinese state media on Monday accused Western governments of distorting the truth about deadly clashes in Tibetan-inhabited regions, and said the Dalai Lama was "abusing his religious reputation." |
|
| Singapore's Tiger Airways buys Indonesia carrier stake |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore budget airline Tiger Airways said on Monday it had bought a 33 percent stake in beleaguered Indonesian carrier PT Mandala Airlines as part of its regional expansion plans. |
|
| S. Korean leader to visit Turkey and Middle East |
| SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak will make a week-long visit to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as Seoul seeks to diversify its oil sources, it was announced Monday. |
|
| Chinese fugitive millionaire appeals sentence |
| BEIJING: A Chinese millionaire who fled to Canada and was jailed for fraud after he was deported back to China has lodged an appeal against the sentence, his son and lawyer said Monday. |
|
| EU drafts law "to respond to Chinese protectionism" |
| FRANKFURT: The European Union is drafting a law in response to Chinese protectionism in public markets, EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht told the German Focus magazine in an interview to appear Monday. |
|
| Indonesian court indicts Papuan activists for treason |
| JAYAPURA, Indonesia: An Indonesian court on Monday indicted five Papuan activists for treason for raising an outlawed Papuan flag and declaring the region independent. |
|
| Strong quake strikes off Peru coast |
| WASHINGTON: A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 shook an area in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of central Peru early Monday, US government researchers said. |
|
| S. Korea prosecutors raid ministry over gems scandal |
| SEOUL: South Korean state prosecutors on Monday raided the foreign ministry as part of a probe into allegations that a senior diplomat was involved in share-rigging linked to a diamond mine in Cameroon. |
|
| Sudan army frees 14 "kidnapped" Chinese |
| KHARTOUM, SUDAN: The Sudanese military has freed 14 Chinese workers "kidnapped" by rebels in the country's South Kordofan state, the official SUNA news agency reported on Monday. |
|
| Singapore and Myanmar sign MOU |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore and Myanmar have paved the way for greater cooperation, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. |
|
| T-ara's Ryu Hwa Young distraught after wardrobe malfunction on music show |
| SEOUL: Korean girl group T-ara's Ryu Hwa Young has caused a stir online after Korean netizens started circulating a screen capture from a recent episode of a Korean music programme, which showed Ryu suffering a wardrobe malfunction, reported Korean media. |
|
| Former cabby jailed for molesting neighbour's maid |
| SINGAPORE: A former taxi driver was jailed two weeks on Monday after he molested his neighbour's maid in July last year. |
|
| PUB to spend S$750m to improve drainage capacity |
| SINGAPORE: Over the next five years, water agency PUB will be spending S$750 million to improve the capacity of Singapore's drains by 30 to 40 per cent. |
|
| Man accused of groping stewardess during flight acquitted |
| SINGAPORE: A Ukrainian man accused of groping the buttocks and breasts of a Singapore Airlines stewardess in an aircraft has been acquitted. |
|
| China decided on N.Korea aid after Kim death: report |
| TOKYO: China decided to give North Korea a large amount of aid the day after Kim Jong-Il's death was announced, in a gesture of support for the incoming regime of his son, according to a Japanese newspaper. |
|
| TriCom encourages responsible outsourcing |
| SINGAPORE: The Tripartite Committee for Low-Wage Workers and Inclusive Growth (TriCom) has updated the Tripartite Advisory on Best Sourcing Practices to encourage service buyers to outsource responsibly and adopt best practices when doing so. |
|
| Donnie Yen shares old breakdancing photo over micro blog |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen gave a rare peek into his past when he posted a set of old photos on his micro blog on Monday. |
|
| Search goes on for thousands of Japan's tsunami missing |
| ISHINOMAKI, Japan: Leaden winter skies lour on a coastguard boat as it cuts its way through the seas off Japan's tsunami-wrecked shores. |
|
| UBS 'rogue trader' due to enter plea |
| LONDON: A trader accused of a $2.25 billion fraud at Swiss bank UBS is due to enter his plea in a London court on Monday. |
|
| Philippine growth slows to 3.7% in 2011 |
| MANILA: The Philippine economy grew a "feeble" 3.7 percent last year amid lacklustre government spending and bleak global conditions, authorities announced Monday. |
|
| China govt debt "controllable", says PM Wen |
| BEIJING: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said government debt was "overall safe and controllable" and key projects would continue to receive funding to avoid "systemic risks", state media said on Monday. |
|
| Asian markets lower after weak US growth data |
| HONG KONG: Asia's first full day of trading following the Lunar New Year holiday saw markets mostly slip on Monday after US growth data came in below expectations and profit-takers cashed in recent gains. |
|
| Oil prices lower over eurozone debt worries |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices were lower in Asian trade Monday as the market awaited the outcome of a European Union summit on containing the eurozone debt crisis, analysts said. |
|
| Belgium on strike as EU leaders ready to open summit |
| BRUSSELS: Belgian rail workers launched a national strike in protest at EU-ordered austerity cuts just as European leaders were to gather for a Brussels summit on the debt crisis. |
|
| North Korea planning big military parade: reports |
| SEOUL: North Korea plans a massive military parade including missiles and other weaponry to mark major anniversaries early this year after its leader's death, South Korean media reports said Monday. |
|
| Senegal opposition to rally against Wade third term |
| DAKAR: Senegal's opposition readied Monday for mass resistance to President Abdoulaye Wade's controversial third term bid, which a court validated in a late-night ruling despite violent dissent. |
|
| Santorum abandons Florida campaign |
| FORT MYERS, Florida: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum appeared to concede defeat in Florida's primary on Sunday, announcing that he would begin campaigning in other states. |
|
| SMRT to divert some bus services on Feb 5 |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT will temporarily divert some bus services on Sunday, February 5 from 3.00 pm to 11.00 pm. |
|
| NBS MBA ranks 34th in FT global rankings |
| SINGAPORE: Nanyang Business School (NBS) has been placed in the 34th position in the Financial Times annual ranking of the top 100 MBA programmes around the world in 2012. |
|
| NUS MBA retains place in global rankings |
| SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's Master of Business Administraion (MBA) has retained its place at 23rd for the second year running. |
|
| Nine dead in Florida smoke cloud crashes |
| MIAMI: At least nine people died in a series of crashes in northern Florida Sunday after a forest fire created a cloud of smoke that reduced visibility, officials said. |
|
| Ill daughter forces Santorum off US campaign trial |
| FORT MYERS, Florida: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum put campaigning in Florida on hold Sunday, as his daughter, Bella, was hospitalized just days before a key primary vote. |
|
| Football: Libya enjoy bittersweet win as Zambia top Group A |
| LIBREVILLE: Fairytale qualifiers Libya enjoyed a bittersweet day on Sunday, defeating Senegal for their first Africa Cup of Nations win since 1982, yet missing out on the quarter-finals. |
|
| Second front for Afghan peace talks in Saudi Arabia |
| KABUL: Afghanistan and Pakistan plan to open a second front in negotiations with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia as US-brokered talks get under way in Qatar, officials said on Sunday. |
|
| More shadow teachers for special needs pupils |
| SINGAPORE: Seven-year-old Jeremy Lim has two teachers in his classroom, one of whom provides daily feedback to his parents on his progress at school. |
|
| London celebrates Year of the Dragon |
| LONDON: Thousands of people packed into London's Trafalgar Square on Sunday to celebrate Chinese New Year, with pyrotechnics and dancers in dragon costumes entertaining the crowds. |
|
| Football: Inter Milan and Napoli slip to surprise defeats |
| ROME: Inter Milan's run of seven successive Serie A wins came to an abrupt end on Sunday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by relegation strugglers Lecce. |
|
| Sarkozy announces rise in sales tax to 21.2% |
| PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday announced a hike of 1.6 percentage points in value-added sales tax - to 21.2 percent - as part of new measures to boost France's ailing economy. |
|
| Football: Valencia gain deserved point in Santander |
| MADRID: Valencia substitute Aritz Aduriz came on from the bench to score twice and help his side earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Racing Santander on Sunday. |
|
| Russian opposition takes protest to Moscow's ring road |
| MOSCOW: Thousands of opposition activists took to their cars on Sunday to protest Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's bid to return to the presidency, in a rally held on a Moscow ring road. |
|
| Pneumonia bug evolves to evade vaccine |
| PARIS, France: Bugs that cause childhood pneumonia and meningitis have evolved to evade vaccines by swapping bits of their genome with other bacteria, according to a study published on Sunday. |
|
| Football: Tight at the top as Gladbach down Stuttgart |
| BERLIN: Borussia Moenchengladbach ensured just one point separates the top four teams in the German league after their impressive 3-0 win over VfB Stuttgart on Sunday. |
|
| Five possible buyers for bankrupt Saab, says administrator |
| STOCKHOLM: Up to five companies are keen to buy Saab, one of the bankrupt Swedish carmaker's three administrators said on Sunday. |
|
| Greek premier says 'total' consensus on austerity drive |
| ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos said on Sunday there was "total convergence" among political allies on new austerity measures needed for a second bailout and debt cuts to avert default. |
|
| Geithner hails strength of US business sector |
| WASHINGTON: The US business sector is surprisingly strong, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said on Sunday, cautioning that it will still take a "long time" for the wider economy to fully recover from the financial crisis. |
|
| Football: Arsenal fight back to sink Aston Villa |
| LONDON: Arsenal staged a stunning comeback to reach the FA Cup fifth round as the Gunners recovered from two goals down to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win against Aston Villa on Sunday. |
|
| Romney roars into double-digit lead in Florida: polls |
| MIAMI: White House hopeful Mitt Romney has opened up a commanding double-digit lead in Florida against main rival Newt Gingrich in their Republican nomination battle, the latest two polls showed on Sunday. |
|
| Athletics: Japan's Shigetomo wins Osaka marathon |
| OSAKA, Japan: Japan produced a new Olympic hopeful on Sunday when Risa Shigetomo won the Osaka international women's marathon in only her second such event. |
|
| Football: Returning Campbell rescues Sunderland in FA Cup |
| SUNDERLAND, England: Fraizer Campbell brought an end to 17 months of injury frustration in fairytale style as Sunderland came from behind to earn an FA Cup fourth round replay with a 1-1 draw against north-east rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. |
|
| Embattled Sarkozy seeks poll boost with TV speech |
| PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy takes to the airwaves Sunday to unveil reforms aimed at lifting France out of the economic doldrums and boosting his credibility ahead of elections he is tipped to lose to a Socialist. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic wins epic Australian Open final |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic battled past Rafael Nadal in an epic, five-set Australian Open final which clocked in at 5hr 53min -- the longest title match in grand slam history -- early Monday. |
|
| River Hongbao attracts some 880,000 visitors over eight days |
| SINGAPORE: The annual River Hongbao 2012 will come to a close at 11.30pm on Sunday evening. |
|
| Israel plans overland Asia-Europe train route |
| JERUSALEM: Israel's government on Sunday began examining a plan for a rail link between its Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, offering a new route for Europe-Asia trade that could compete with the Suez Canal. |
|
| Golf: Rock rolls as Woods comes up short |
| ABU DHABI: Unheralded Englishman Robert Rock won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship here on Sunday to deny Tiger Woods the win he was seeking to end a two-year winless drought in full tournaments. |
|
| Accident along Andrew Road leaves luxury car in a ditch |
| SINGAPORE: An accident occurred on Sunday morning, at 9.25am along Andrew Road, leaving a luxury car in a ditch. |
|
| More S'porean brides going online for wedding gowns |
| SINGAPORE: More brides-to-be in Singapore are going online for their wedding gowns, and online bridal businesses are growing with the demand. |
|
| Israel proposed "impossible" borders: Palestinians |
| RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Israel laid out a vision for an "impossible" border during exploratory talks with the Palestinians in Amman this month, a Palestinian official told AFP on Sunday. |
|
| Football: Man City refused Carroll-Tevez switch |
| LONDON: Manchester City refused an offer from Liverpool that would have seen unsettled Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez move to Anfield in a straight swap for misfiring Reds striker Andy Carroll, reports said Sunday. |
|
| China calls for calm after Philippine offer to US |
| BEIJING: China on Sunday called for greater efforts towards "peace and stability" in the region, after the Philippines offered to allow more US troops on its territory. |
|
| Boko Haram rejects talks, threatens fresh attacks |
| KANO, Nigeria: Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists have ruled out talks with the government and threatened new attacks in Africa's most populous country, rocked by an insurgency that has killed more than 200 already this year. |
|
| Iran hosts IAEA, lashes out over oil sanctions |
| TEHRAN: IAEA officials began a three-day visit to Iran on Sunday to discuss the Islamic republic's suspect nuclear programme, amid a backlash by furious Iranian lawmakers at a looming EU oil embargo. |
|
| Sudan rebels say they captured 29 Chinese workers |
| KHARTOUM: Rebels in Sudan's South Kordofan state have captured 29 Chinese workers after a battle with government forces, a spokesman for the insurgents said on Sunday. |
|
| FighterZone Kickboxing World Series MAX to kick off in February |
| SINGAPORE: The martial art scene in Singapore is heating up, with kickboxing being the latest to jump into the ring. The inaugural FighterZone Kickboxing World Series MAX 2012 will kick off next month. |
|
| SYFC to give Temasek Poly students a chance to fly high |
| SINGAPORE: Temasek Polytechnic has tied up with the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC), to allow some of its students in their Aviation Management & Services course a chance to obtain a basic flying licence. |
|
| S'pore "serious" games sector goes global |
| SINGAPORE: Games are hardly considered "serious", but there are in actual fact many that don't just serve to entertain. Some are created to educate, train or even simulate. |
|
| Managing bed crunch in hospitals |
| SINGAPORE: Despite having the highest bed occupancy rate (BOR) in Singapore, both the Changi General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital say measures are in place to ease patient load. |
|
| Don't be afraid to tell litter bugs off, says Public Hygiene Council |
| SINGAPORE: Establishing a new social norm where people are not afraid to tell litter bugs off. That is what the Public Hygiene Council hopes to do in its upcoming outreach efforts to inculcate good hygiene practices. |
|
| Finance veteran to be Taiwan's next premier: report |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has picked a former top financial regulator as his next premier, the state news agency and several other media reported over the weekend. |
|
| Tie-up with NYSE Euronext not vital for Deutsche Boerse |
| FRANKFURT: The proposed merger of Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext -- which now looks almost certain to fail -- is not vital for the German company's survival, say analysts and industry experts. |
|
| Indonesian storm death toll rises to 14 |
| JAKARTA: The death toll from heavy rains and strong winds in Indonesia has risen to 14, an official said Sunday, with the victims of a tropical cyclone crushed by falling trees. |
|
| SPP elects new CEC at party conference |
| SINGAPORE: The opposition Singapore People's Party (SPP) held its Ordinary Party Conference (OPC) on Sunday, and has elected a new Central Executive Committee (CEC). |
|
| Golf: Woods in pole position in Abu Dhabi |
| ABU DHABI: Tiger Woods was poised to win his first full tournament in over two years at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Sunday. |
|
| Thousands greet Suu Kyi on Myanmar campaign trail |
| DAWEI, Myanmar: Huge crowds lined the streets to greet Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she hit the campaign trail Sunday ahead of by-elections seen as a key test of the government's commitment to reform. |
|
| Mendaki to mark 30th year with Learning Festival |
| SINGAPORE: The Malay-Muslim community's self-help group Mendaki will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. |
|
| British charm offensive targets Chinese cash |
| LONDON: Britain is making huge efforts to attract investment from China to kickstart an economy teetering on the brink of recession -- and it is playing its trump card of being outside the eurozone. |
|
| Tibetans live in fear as China cracks down on protests |
| CHENGDU, China: Sitting in a teahouse in Chengdu's Tibetan quarter, a nervous young monk spoke of how police arrests of innocent people were adding to the climate of fear in China's Tibetan-inhabited regions. |
|
| Arabs suspend observer mission, Syria deaths spike |
| DAMASCUS: The Arab League suspended its controversial observer mission in Syria on Saturday as the bloodshed in a crackdown on anti-regime protests spiked and the death toll in four days topped 210. |
|
| Myanmar's President Thein Sein visits Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: Myanmar's President Thein Sein will make a state visit to Singapore from Sunday till 1 February. |
|
| World leaders slam eurozone foot-dragging on debt crisis |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: World economic leaders turned their fire on the eurozone on Saturday at a Davos forum increasingly frustrated by the single currency bloc's struggle to come to grips with its debt crisis. |
|
| China should punish Philippines over US offer: report |
| BEIJING: China should impose "sanctions" against the Philippines after it offered to allow more US troops on its soil, state media said Sunday, amid growing tensions over disputed waters in the South China Sea. |
|
| Murdoch staff arrested, office searched in UK probe |
| LONDON: Detectives on Saturday searched the offices of Rupert Murdoch's The Sun and arrested four journalists and a policeman in a widening probe into the bribing of police for information. |
|
| EU leaders to meet for talks |
| BRUSSELS: The 27 leaders of the European Union are preparing to meet for talks in Brussels, and Monday's summit is part of ongoing efforts to stem the eurozone's debt woes. |
|
| IAEA team arrives in Iran |
| TEHRAN: An International Atomic Energy Agency team arrived in Iran early Sunday on a mission to clear up what it called "outstanding substantive issues" on Tehran's nuclear programme, the official IRNA news agency said. |
|
| Sarkozy "to announce tax hike" |
| PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy will announce tax rises Sunday, including a hike of 1.6 percentage points in value-added sales tax on goods and services, government sources said. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic to take on Nadal |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic will look to seal his third straight grand slam win in the Australian Open final Sunday as he takes on Rafael Nadal, who lost six title matches to the Serb last year. |
|
| Football: Real Madrid beat Zaragoza |
| MADRID: Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil scored to help Real Madrid beat Zaragoza 3-1 on Saturday and move eight points clear at the top of La Liga, ahead of second-placed Barcelona's game away to Villarreal. |
|
| Italy ship passengers launch lawsuit |
| MIAMI: Six passengers of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground off the coast of Italy two weeks ago, are suing Carnival Cruise Lines, demanding compensation totalling $460 million. |
|
| Libya adopts new electoral law |
| TRIPOLI: The ruling National Transitional Council on Saturday adopted a new electoral law for Libya to form its first constituent assembly in June, dropping a quota set aside for women. |
|
| Football: PSG edge Brest |
| PARIS: Title favourites Paris Saint-Germain preserved their three-point lead in Ligue 1 after ending Brest's unbeaten home record with a narrow 1-0 victory at Stade Francis Le Ble on Saturday. |
|
| Football: Ghana beat Mali |
| FRANCEVILLE, Gabon: Ghana defeated Mali 2-0 here on Saturday night to leave Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations wide open after Guinea earlier hammered Botswana 6-1. |
|
| Suu Kyi starts by-election campaign |
| DAWEI, Myanmar: Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will travel outside Yangon on the campaign trail Sunday with a visit to a southern city to promote her party ahead of April's by-elections. |
|
| Barcelona sees mass worker rally |
| BARCELONA, Spain: Thousands of police, teachers and hospital staff staged a mass protest march in Barcelona on Saturday in growing anger at spending cuts hitting key services in Spain's Catalonia region. |
|
| China, India urged to boost pension, healthcare systems |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Emerging giants China and India must invest in pension and healthcare systems now for their populations if they want to avoid falling into the West's debt trap, experts said on Saturday. |
|
| Iran nuke talks "long overdue" |
| VIENNA: The chief UN nuclear inspector said on Saturday that a dialogue with Iran over its atomic programme was long overdue, as he prepared to depart for a visit to the Islamic republic. |
|
| Nigeria gunmen attack police post |
| KANO, Nigeria: Gunmen in Nigeria have killed at least one officer after opening fire on a police station in the city of Kano, where attacks claimed by Islamists left 185 dead last week, police said Saturday. |
|
| IAEA "to set up Fukushima office" |
| TOKYO: The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said the agency will open a branch office in Fukushima to monitor efforts to contain the world's worst atomic energy accident since Chernobyl, a report said Saturday. |
|
| Yemen's Saleh heads for US |
| LONDON: Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is due to step down next month, headed for medical treatment in the United States on Saturday after a stopover in Britain, Yemeni and British officials said. |
|
| Merkel 'to back Sarkozy's presidential campaign' |
| FRANKFURT: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will back French President Nicolas Sarkozy in his so far unannounced re-election bid, according to the draft of a speech that the head of her party was to give later Saturday in Paris. |
|
| Rebels shoot dead five in Indian election violence |
| NEW DELHI: Rebels shot dead five people at a polling station in India's northeast on Saturday as voting began in the first of five local elections seen as a popularity test for the national Congress government. |
|
| Football: Kuyt late show sinks United, Chelsea down QPR |
| LONDON: A last-gasp goal from substitute Dirk Kuyt saw Liverpool snatch a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday as the Merseysiders booked their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup. |
|
| 'Open door' Myanmar offers 8-year tax break to foreign firms |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Myanmar's government said Saturday it planned to offer eight-year tax exemptions to foreign investors as Western companies "rushed" to build ties with the one-time international pariah. |
|
| Football: Spot-kick furore as Chelsea down QPR |
| LONDON: Chelsea's second visit to Loftus Road was marked by controversy with Juan Mata converting a disputed penalty to send Andre Villas-Boas's side into the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of QPR. |
|
| Football: LionsXII falls 0-1 to Terengganu at Jalan Besar |
| SINGAPORE: The LionsXII lost 0-1 to Terengganu at Jalan Besar Stadium in a Malaysian Super League match, ending their three-game unbeaten run. |
|
| German call for EU control of Greek budget riles Athens |
| FRANKFURT: Germany wants the EU to take control of the Greek budget as the eurozone loses patience with Greece's reform efforts, officials said on Saturday as Athens categorically dismissed the idea. |
|
| Defence spending will be kept on "even keel": Ng Eng Hen |
| SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said Singapore's defence spending will be kept on an even keel in 2012, regardless of the country's economic performance. |
|
| Discover Japan exhibition at Orchard Road |
| SINGAPORE: Orchard Road has been transformed into a mini Sakura Land, as part of the Discover Japan exhibition. |
|
| World finance leaders demand quick action from EU on debt |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Frustrated political and economic world leaders bashed the eurozone on Saturday for dragging its feet over its debt crisis, piling pressure on Brussels just ahead of a key EU summit. |
|
| Four held in UK tabloid police payments probe |
| LONDON: British detectives investigating the suspected payment of police for information arrested a serving officer and three other men on Saturday, and searched the offices of Rupert Murdoch's newspapers. |
|
| 2012 Budget to focus on S'pore's long-term future: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Budget for 2012 will focus on investing in the country's longer-term future. |
|
| New Woodsville tunnel now open |
| SINGAPORE: Motorists travelling to north-eastern parts of Singapore can now use the Woodsville tunnel, which opened on Saturday. |
|
| More people at Pasir Ris beach after water declared safe |
| SINGAPORE: There were more people at Pasir Ris beach on Saturday, after the National Environment Agency (NEA) declared the water quality there as "good". |
|
| MOE needs help of community partners to succeed: Lawrence Wong |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State Lawrence Wong said that for the Education Ministry to succeed in its mission, it needs the help of community partners. |
|
| Yan Kit Swimming pool to be demolished by March |
| SINGAPORE: The old Yan Kit swimming pool in Tanjong Pagar Constituency is expected to be demolished by March 2012. |
|
| Increasing productivity in social services sector has hidden benefits: experts |
| SINGAPORE: The government recently announced that it will help companies in the social services sector boost their productivity level. Some social service organisations have already embarked on their productivity journeys, with projects driven by staff in a bottom-up approach. |
|
| Body of man found in Bedok Reservoir |
| SINGAPORE: The body of a man has been found in Bedok Reservoir - the seventh death in the reservoir since June 2011. |
|
| Football: SAFFC to offer full-time Diploma and Football Training Programme |
| SINGAPORE: The best of both worlds - a career in sports and paper qualifications to ensure a second long-term career. |
|
| Six members of SPP resign from party |
| SINGAPORE: Six members of the opposition Singapore People's Party resigned from their party. |
|
| Tennis: Azarenka thrashes Sharapova in Open final |
| MELBOURNE: Victoria Azarenka won her first grand slam title and became the new world number one when she thrashed a disappointing Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final on Saturday. |
|
| Govt likely to have tighter control over public transport operators after review |
| SINGAPORE: The government will have a tighter control over public transport operators, once the ongoing comprehensive review on buses is completed. |
|
| Sailing: S'pore targets top three finish in Clipper world yacht race |
| SINGAPORE: Sailors taking part in the world's longest yacht race arrived in Singapore on Saturday morning for a stopover. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race started in August 2011 from Southampton in the UK, and will last for 10 months, covering 65,000 kilometres and 10 ports. |
|
| Twitter faces censorship charges, blackout call |
| WASHINGTON: Twitter, championed as a tool of free expression during the Arab Spring, was facing censorship charges on Friday after announcing it can now block tweets on a country-by-country basis if legally required to do so. |
|
| UN split on Syria action even as killings spike |
| DAMASCUS: A new Arab and European bid to secure UN action over Syria's crackdown on dissent hit immediate Russian opposition even as the death toll spiked, with activists reporting 120 people killed in two days. |
|
| Airline Spanair collapses, passengers stranded |
| MADRID: Passengers were stranded at Spanish airports Saturday after airline Spanair abruptly went bust, cancelling all its flights at short notice. |
|
| Voting begins as India's ruling party face poll tests |
| NEW DELHI: Voters cast ballots in the Indian state of Manipur on Saturday, kicking off a string of five local elections that are seen as a mini-referendum on the embattled national government's performance. |
|
| Indonesia revokes gold mining permit amid violence |
| JAKARTA: Indonesia on Saturday revoked a gold mining exploration permit granted to an Australian miner following a series of violent protests against the project left two dead last month, reports said. |
|
| Protest against greater US role in Philippines |
| MANILA: Philippine activists picketed the US embassy on Saturday and burned a cardboard American flag and mock stealth bomber, vowing to launch a campaign opposing a plan to allow more US troops in the country. |
|
| Basketball: Wade shines in return to Heat |
| LOS ANGELES: Dwyane Wade was back in the Miami lineup looking like he had never left as the all-star guard scored 28 points to lift the Heat to a 99-89 win over the New York Knicks on Friday. |
|
| Hundreds protest in Kazakhstan against elections |
| ALMATY: Hundreds turned out Saturday for an unusually large protest in Kazakhstan against the conduct of parliamentary polls that gave a landslide victory to President Nursultan Nazarbayev's ruling party. |
|
| Progress seen in moves towards Afghan peace talks |
| KABUL: The latest round of diplomacy has cleared a path for the Afghan peace process but final hurdles remain before genuine talks to end the war can formally begin, officials and analysts say. |
|
| Pakistan knew of Osama hideout: US Defense Secretary |
| WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta still believes someone in authority in Pakistan knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding before US forces went in to find him, he said in a TV interview to air Sunday. |
|
| Sanctions take their toll on ordinary Iranians |
| TEHRAN: A raft of Western economic sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme are increasingly stifling the lives of ordinary Iranians, hit by rising inflation and growing isolation. |
|
| Riots in Senegal as Wade cleared for third term bid |
| DAKAR: Riots erupted in Dakar Friday night, leaving a policeman dead, as angry protesters took to the streets after a court cleared President Abdoulaye Wade's bid for a highly disputed third term in office. |
|
| Syria killings spike as UN eyes resolution |
| DAMASCUS: Syrian forces intensified their crackdown on Friday, with activists reporting 120 people killed in two days, as European and Arab nations pressed the UN Security Council to call on President Bashar al-Assad to stand down. |
|
| Flood survivors rebuild in Philippine danger zones |
| ILIGAN, Philippines: Less than six weeks after killer floods swept away their slum homes along a Philippine river, Lydia Abulanda and her neighbours are rebuilding despite warnings disaster could strike again. |
|
| Chavez wants good relations with US if Obama elected |
| CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday he wants to "shake hands" with his US counterpart, Barack Obama, and have "good relations" with Washington if the two leaders are reelected this year. |
|
| Taiwan official to be deported in US maid case |
| CHICAGO: A Taiwanese official who pleaded guilty to mistreating two housekeepers brought from the Philippines to work in her Missouri home will soon be deported, a judge ruled Friday. |
|
| "We care about every worker": Apple CEO |
| WASHINGTON: Apple chief executive Tim Cook has responded to media reports alleging harsh working conditions in China for manufacturing employees of the popular gadget-maker. |
|
| Australian PM under fire after staffer role in fracas |
| SYDNEY: Prime Minister Julia Gillard faced demands to explain Saturday after it emerged one of her staffers triggered a fracas that led to the Australian leader being hustled to safety by security agents. |
|
| Resurgent Romney regains momentum in Florida |
| CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: White House hopeful Mitt Romney zoomed back into pole position in the volatile Republican race Friday, opening a nine-point poll lead here after a blistering attack on Newt Gingrich. |
|
| US military says Philippines offer a boost |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday welcomed the Philippines' offer to allow more US troops on its territory, saying it would boost US power in Asia, and assured it was not seeking to re-establish bases in the former colony. |
|
| Euro firms against dollar as US growth falls short |
| NEW YORK: The euro gained ground against the dollar on Friday as US economic growth numbers disappointed and hopes remained alive that a Greek debt deal with private creditors is looming. |
|
| Football: Patrick Ang leaves Geylang Utd |
| SINGAPORE: In a surprising development on Friday, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced the retirement of long-serving Geylang United chairman Patrick Ang just before the 2012 Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League season kicks off on Feb 9. |
|
| Football: Redknapp returns as Spurs, Everton march on |
| LONDON: Harry Redknapp took his place on the Tottenham bench as his Premier League side squeezed past Watford 1-0 to advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup on Friday. |
|
| Facebook may file for IPO next week |
| NEW YORK: Facebook may file papers for an initial public offering next week that would value the social network at up to $100 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. |
|
| US stocks mixed after GDP, Chevron disappoint |
| NEW YORK: A disappointing quarterly report from Chevron and a lower-than-expected US economic growth report for the fourth quarter kept a lid on US markets on Friday. |
|
| Oil prices mixed on Europe, US growth concerns |
| NEW YORK: World oil prices ended mixed on Friday as traders weighed disappointing US economic growth data, Europe's debt crisis and the simmering tensions with Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons programme. |
|
| US blocks some orange juice imports due to fungicide |
| WASHINGTON: US authorities on Friday detained nine shipments of orange juice from Brazil and Canada after their contents tested positive for an illegal fungicide. |
|
| Fitch cuts rating of five eurozone countries |
| WASHINGTON: Rating agency Fitch on Friday downgraded five eurozone countries, including Italy and Spain, citing their vulnerability to sharp turns in market sentiment amid Europe's debt crisis. |
|
| Hopes dim for survivors in Rio high-rise collapse |
| RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: Rescue teams intensified search efforts on Friday as hopes dimmed for finding survivors of the collapse of three high-rise buildings in central Rio that killed at least 11 and left an estimated 15 missing. |
|
| US seeks greater military ties with China |
| WASHINGTON: The US commander handling Asia on Friday called for greater military relations with China, saying that dialogue between the Pacific powers has not advanced beyond broad strategic issues. |
|
| Football: Last gasp Tunisia see off lively Niger |
| LIBREVILLE: Tunisia all but sealed a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a last gasp 2-1 win over debutants Niger on Thursday. |
|
| Demi Moore was 'convulsing, burning up', says 911 call |
| LOS ANGELES: Actress Demi Moore was convulsing and "burning up" after taking an unidentified drug when emergency services were called earlier this week, according to the 911 call released on Friday. |
|
| UN chief urges Security Council unity on Syria |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon urged the UN Security Council on Friday to speak with one voice on Syria, and called on Damascus to listen to the aspirations of its people. |
|
| IMF's Lagarde calls for Japan, US debt cut targets |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: IMF chief Christine Lagarde called on Friday on Japan and the United States to set debt reduction targets as their contribution towards lifting the world out of the economic crisis. |
|
| Karzai meets Sarkozy after troop pull-out threat |
| PARIS: Afghan President Hamid Karzai meets President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Friday, a week after the French leader threatened to pull his troops out of Afghanistan. |
|
| Musharraf delays Pakistan return without setting new date |
| DUBAI: Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf has delayed his return home, the head of his party announced on Friday after repeated threats by the country's leadership that the ex-strongman would be arrested upon arrival. |
|
| James Murdoch to resign from board of drug firm GSK |
| LONDON: James Murdoch, at the centre of the phone hacking scandal in his family's British newspaper business, has resigned from the board of GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceuticals giant said on Friday. |
|
| Yachting: Slick Spanish leaders strengthen Volvo grip |
| SANYA, China: Telefonica stamped their authority on Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Friday, taking the lead and fending off repeated attacks from the fleet to give themselves the edge heading into the Malacca Strait. |
|
| Chevron profits fall despite higher oil prices |
| NEW YORK: Chevron Corp. reported on Friday weaker fourth-quarter profits as higher oil prices were offset by rising tax and operating costs and lower sales. |
|
| Scores storm Syrian embassy in Cairo |
| CAIRO: Scores of opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime stormed the Syrian embassy in Cairo on Friday before being dragged away by security forces, an AFP reporter said. |
|
| Romney leads Gingrich by nine points in Florida |
| WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney has opened up a nine-point lead on Newt Gingrich in a new Florida poll released on Friday, just four days before the Sunshine State's primary to choose the Republican presidential nominee. |
|
| United Fiber, Sinar Mas in share-swap deal |
| SINGAPORE: Indonesia's Sinar Mas Group is orchestrating a backdoor listing of its Indonesian coal assets in Singapore through a S$1.5 billion share-swap deal with United Fiber System. |
|
| Industrial, commercial property prices rise in Q4 |
| SINGAPORE : Experts have said that commercial and industrial property will continue to outperform the office market this year. |
|
| Football: Ferguson calls for calm on eve of FA Cup clash |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Sir Alex Ferguson renewed his pleas for calm on Friday ahead of Manchester United's FA Cup fourth round clash with Liverpool. |
|
| LSE reports rising quarterly revenues |
| LONDON: London Stock Exchange Group on Friday posted rising revenues for the third quarter of the company's financial year, despite volatile financial markets. |
|
| Syria violence spikes as diplomacy heats up |
| DAMASCUS: Syrian forces Friday stepped up their deadly crackdown on dissent, with activists reporting almost 100 dead in two days, as violence spiked ahead of a bid to condemn Damascus at the UN Security Council. |
|
| Ford profits rise on auto sales and tax boost |
| NEW YORK: Ford on Friday reported a fourth-quarter profit surge, boosted by strong North America sales and a huge special tax item. |
|
| MasterCard Worldwide launches R&D centre |
| SINGAPORE: MasterCard Worldwide has launched a research and development centre in Singapore. |
|
| Anger in Britain over RBS bank chief's bonus |
| LONDON: The awarding of a reduced bonus just short of £1 million to the boss of state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland sparked heavy criticism on Friday as Britain teeters on the brink of recession. |
|
| Two local firms on list of "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations" |
| SINGAPORE : Two Singapore-based companies have been recognised on the list of the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations" by Corporate Knights Inc., a Canadian research company focused on corporate sustainability. |
|
| CapitaRetail China Trust reports rise in Q4 income |
| SINGAPORE : Shares of CapitaRetail China Trust rose 3.9 per cent on Friday after the company posted a near-10 per cent hike in income for the fourth quarter. |
|
| UN atomic agency urges Iran to cooperate |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: The head of the UN's atomic watchdog urged Iran on Friday to cooperate with a team of inspectors heading to Tehran, after a recent damning report on the Iranian nuclear programme. |
|
| India firms welcome Vodafone tax win |
| INDIA: Businesses in India have welcomed Vodafone's win in a US$2 billion-tax case. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic beats Murray to reach final |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic dug deep on Friday to see off Britain's Andy Murray in a thrilling five-set semi-final at the Australian Open. |
|
| BLT faces financial woes |
| SINGAPORE: Indonesian shipping company PT Berlian Laju Tanker (BLT) announced Thursday the company and its subsidiaries will halt the servicing of their debt obligations. |
|
| US growth up 2.8% in Q4 |
| WASHINGTON: US economic growth sped up to 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department said on Friday, lower than predicted as consumer spending did not rise as much as expected. |
|
| New tunnel for motorists travelling to northeast Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: Motorists will be able to make use of a new tunnel when travelling to the northeastern parts of Singapore from 9am on Saturday. |
|
| Police nab 3 for "loanshark involvement" |
| SINGAPORE: Police have nabbed two men and a woman for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. |
|
| Tennis: Kuznetsova, Zvonareva win doubles title |
| MELBOURNE: Unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva won the Australian Open women's doubles crown on Friday, coming from behind to beat Italian pair Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani in three sets. |
|
| Deal struck for liner passengers as oil pumping nears start |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy : Some 3,000 survivors of Italy's cruise ship disaster will receive 11,000 euros each plus expenses, negotiators announced on Friday, two weeks after the accident which is feared to have killed up to 32 people. |
|
| Fewer illegal cigarettes seized |
| SINGAPORE: 1.9 million packets of contraband cigarettes were seized in Singapore last year, down 17 per cent compared to the previous year, marking a decline for the third consecutive year. |
|
| Russia bars Putin critic from presidential poll |
| MOSCOW: Russia on Friday disqualified the sole liberal challenger to Vladimir Putin in March 4 presidential elections, in a move slammed by his supporters as undermining the legitimacy of the polls. |
|
| Japan telecom bosses take pay cuts for system woes |
| TOKYO: The president and five other top executives of Japan's biggest mobile phone operator will take pay cuts to apologise for a series of network troubles, NTT DoCoMo said on Friday. |
|
| Large crowds turn up at Tampines EC launch |
| SINGAPORE: Large crowds turned up at the latest executive condominium launched on Friday. |
|
| Football: Korea's 2002 World Cup hero Ahn to retire |
| SEOUL: South Korean footballer Ahn Jung-Hwan, famous for his dramatic goal in the 2002 World Cup, will retire next week, his agency said on Friday. |
|
| Chinese charged with arson attack on Japan embassy |
| SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors Friday brought charges against a Chinese man accused of hurling petrol bombs at the Japanese embassy in Seoul because his grandmother was forced into wartime sex slavery. |
|
| Greek debt deal likely this weekend: EU commissioner |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: European economic commissioner Olli Rehn said on Friday that he expected Greece to agree a deal with private creditors to write-down its debt this weekend and at the latest in the next few days. |
|
| PM Lee on CPIB probe |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said he does not think there is anything wrong, in principle, with the country's system of checks and balances. |
|
| Spanish jobless rate soars to 17-year high |
| MADRID: Spain announced on Friday that its jobless rate shot to a 17-year record high of 22.85 percent at the end of 2011, the highest in the industrialised world, as unemployment punched above five million. |
|
| Indonesian Trade Ministry urges staff to improve English |
| INDONESIA: Indonesia's Trade Ministry wants its employees to improve their English, so they can better communicate with Indonesia's trading partners. |
|
| Golf: Danish golfer Olesen takes lead in Abu Dhabi |
| ABU DHABI: Danish prospect Thorbjorn Olesen outshone the big guns to take the early clubhouse lead in the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship here on Friday. |
|
| EU and US economic leaders spar at Davos |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Key policy-makers from Europe and the United States thrashed out ideas for pulling the eurozone out of its debt crisis at the Davos forum on Friday, days ahead of a key European summit. |
|
| Singapore stocks close 0.8% higher |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore erased earlier losses to close 0.8 per cent higher on Friday due to positive global sentiment. |
|
| Budget to focus on sustaining Singapore's long-term competitiveness |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the Singapore Budget, which will be announced in three weeks' time, will emphasise on sustaining the country's long-term competitiveness. |
|
| Thai students decreed to speak English |
| THAILAND: Thailand's Education Ministry has decreed 2012 as English Speaking Year in all schools. |
|
| Dance Dance Dragon: Starting the Year of the Dragon with a laugh |
| SINGAPORE: "Dance Dance Dragon" revolves around old Mother Loong (Lai Ming), who prays incessantly for a grandson, something which her children - recently-dumped eldest daughter Lucy, tomboyish second daughter Ah Bee (Kym Ng) and youngest son Ah Loong (Melvin Sia) who is terrified of having kids - can't seem to give her. |
|
| Reducing the HIV/AIDS stigma in the workplace |
| SINGAPORE: Fifty companies in the private sector have pledged to adopt a set of new guidelines on HIV education and prevention in the workplace. |
|
| MHA says no delay in release of info on CPIB probe |
| SINGAPORE: The Home Affairs Ministry has clarified that there was no delay in the release of information on the probe into former Singapore Civil Defence Force commissioner Peter Lim and former Central Narcotics Bureau director Ng Boon Gay. |
|
| Man charged with murder of his mother |
| SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man has been charged with murdering his mother. |
|
| Japan's Honda production down 20% in 2011 |
| TOKYO: Japan's Honda Motor, the country's third-biggest carmaker, suffered a 20 percent plunge in its global production last year, it said Friday. |
|
| Australians make Antarctic history |
| SYDNEY: Two Australian adventurers have made Antarctic history by becoming the first team to travel unaided to the South Pole and back, surviving three months of "extreme hardship", they said on Friday. |
|
| Philippines flags greater US military presence |
| MANILA: The Philippines said on Friday it would accept a greater US military presence on its territory to help defend its interests and ensure peace in the region, amid rising tensions with China. |
|
| Rockets hit Pakistan academy near Osama's home |
| PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Assailants fired nine rockets at Pakistan's top military academy on Friday, damaging its outer wall near the compound where Osama bin Laden was shot dead, officials said. |
|
| Check bus, train arrival times with new SMRT mobile app |
| SINGAPORE: Transport operator SMRT has introduced a mobile application that provides commuters with real-time train and bus arrival information. |
|
| Intermediate, long-term care sector to be key focus: Health Minister |
| SINGAPORE: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the intermediate and long-term care sector will be a key focus for his ministry for the next few years. |
|
| Kym Ng: No baby? No hurry. |
| SINGAPORE: There are going to be a lot of celebrity 'Dragon Babies" this year, in the Chinese Year of the Dragon. |
|
| Asian markets rise on Greece hopes |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Friday on tentative hopes that Greece will be able to agree a deal with creditors on writing down some of its debt, although gains were capped by underwhelming US economic figures. |
|
| S'poreans and govt must work together, says PM Lee |
| DAVOS: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said society and the population will not remain static and Singaporeans and the leaders have to work together to find a new way to govern Singapore. |
|
| N.Z. quake bill to approach US$24.5 billion |
| WELLINGTON: The total cost of the Christchurch earthquakes is set to reach about NZ$30 billion ($24.5 billion), much higher than previous estimates, New Zealand's central bank chief said Friday. |
|
| Name change for Singapore Manufacturers' Federation |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Manufacturers' Federation will change its name to Singapore Manufacturing Federation from September 20. |
|
| Man jailed, fined for operating illegal gambling den |
| SINGAPORE: A man who operated an illegal gambling den has been sentenced to four months' jail and fined S$20,000. |
|
| Radiation fears slow Japan tsunami clear-up |
| TOKYO: Giant piles of debris from Japan's earthquake and tsunami scar the country's once picturesque northeast coast -- and the clear-up is hamstrung by fears the rubbish may be contaminated by radiation. |
|
| Job vacancies register first quarterly decline since 2009 |
| SINGAPORE: There were fewer job openings in Singapore in the third quarter of 2011, according to the Manpower Ministry. |
|
| Three missing after Philippine tourist boat capsizes |
| MANILA: Ten foreign tourists were rescued but three local crewmen remain missing after their boat capsized off the popular Philippine resort island of Boracay, according to police. |
|
| UN Council to discuss Syria Friday |
| UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will discuss the Syria crisis Friday, and western and Arab nations could make public their draft resolution condemning the government's deadly crackdown, diplomats said. |
|
| Ousted PM defends PNG military mutiny |
| PORT MORESBY: Ousted Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare has defended ordering a failed military mutiny, insisting Friday he was the country's legitimate leader. |
|
| Greece resumes talks on debt writedown |
| ATHENS: Greece will continue talks Friday with private banks and insurers on hammering out a deal for a major debt writedown to escape a looming default, as "progress" was reported amid mounting pressure. |
|
| Four dead, 22 missing in Rio high-rises collapse |
| RIO DE JANEIRO: Rescue teams frantically dug through rubble Thursday for at least 22 people missing after three buildings collapsed in the historic heart of Rio, killing at least four people, officials said. |
|
| Feisty Romney hits critics in key debate |
| JACKSONVILLE, Florida: Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich traded blows on immigration, space policy and taxes Thursday in a feisty debate ahead of the all-important Florida primary. |
|
| Oil prices higher in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: Oil rose in Asian trade Friday on expectations the US economy saw robust growth in the final quarter of 2011, analysts said, while tensions between the West and Iran also supported prices. |
|
| EU, US economic policy chiefs thrash out crisis at Davos |
| DAVOS: The key economic policymakers of Europe and the United States will thrash out the prospects of turning round the financial crisis at Davos on Friday ahead of a key European summit. |
|
| Creditors should waive part of Greek debt: Juncker |
| VIENNA: Greece's creditor countries should "waive a portion of the Greek debt", Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers, said Friday. |
|
| Pasir Ris beach now safe to swim, says NEA |
| SINGAPORE: It is now safe to swim at Pasir Ris beach. |
|
| Growth in Asia will contribute to global rebalancing: PM Lee |
| DAVOS: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Asia is projected to grow by 6.7 per cent this year and growth in the region will contribute to global rebalancing. |
|
| BP must pay part of rig owner's eventual Gulf costs |
| CHICAGO: British oil giant BP must cover some of the eventual claims against rig owner Transocean arising from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a US judge has ruled, with any bill set to run into billions of dollars. |
|
| US, Philippines discuss increased military cooperation |
| WASHINGTON: Senior US and Philippine officials discussed increased military cooperation, US officials said, as Washington seeks to reassure Asian allies anxious about an assertive China. |
|
| Samsung Elec posts record operating profit in Q4 |
| SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Friday posted a record operating profit of 5.3 trillion won ($4.72 billion) in the fourth quarter and a net profit of four trillion, thanks largely to booming smartphone sales. |
|
| Indigenous leaders condemn Australian PM treatment |
| SYDNEY: Australian indigenous leaders Friday said they were appalled at the disrespect shown to Prime Minister Julia Gillard after she had to be dragged to safety from furious Aboriginal rights protesters. |
|
| Japan consumer prices down 0.1% in December |
| TOKYO: Japan's core consumer prices edged down 0.1 percent in December from a year earlier in line with market expectations, government data showed on Friday. |
|
| New lung cancer test predicts survival |
| PARIS: Clinical trials in the United States and China have shown that a new gene-based test for patients with lung cancer beats standard methods in predicting survival, researchers reported on Friday. |
|
| French breast implant company boss charged |
| MARSEILLE, France: French officials on Friday charged Jean-Claude Mas, the founder of the PIP breast implant company that sparked a global health scare, with "involuntary injury", his lawyer said. |
|
| Football: Valencia to play Barcelona in Spanish Cup semi-final |
| MADRID: Valencia will play Barcelona in the semi-final of the Spanish Cup after a comfortable 3-0 second-leg victory over Levante on Thursday. |
|
| Dollar stable ahead of US Q4 growth data |
| NEW YORK: The dollar was stable against other major currencies on Thursday as traders awaited progress on Greece's debt crisis and US economic growth numbers for the fourth quarter. |
|
| Football: AC Milan set up Italian Cup semi-final with Juventus |
| ROME: AC Milan set up an Italian Cup semi-final against league leaders Juventus after a 3-1 home victory over Lazio on Thursday. |
|
| German kidnapped as fresh blast strikes Nigeria's Kano |
| KANO, Nigeria: Gunmen abducted a German engineer on Thursday in the Nigerian city of Kano, where yet another explosion struck fear among residents plagued by unprecedented violence blamed on an Islamist sect. |
|
| US stocks slip on weak economic data, profit-taking |
| NEW YORK: US stocks erased early gains on solid earnings reports from Caterpillar and Netflix to end lower on Thursday, with some weak economic data and profit-taking seeming to drive the selling. |
|
| Fed's extended low-rate forecast lifts oil prices |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices scored moderate gains on Thursday, with the market benefiting from the Federal Reserve's extension of the time-frame of its ultra-loose monetary policy to bolster US growth. |
|
| Arab League team to take Syria to UN |
| DAMASCUS: An Arab League team is to take the 10-month-old crisis in Syria to the UN Security Council, as activists said almost 50 people were killed in unrest on Thursday, including 10 children. |
|
| One dead as heavy snow hits southeast Europe |
| BUCHAREST: A heavy winter snowstorm pummelled parts of southeastern Europe on Thursday, leaving at least one person dead, snarling road and air traffic and leaving thousands without power. |
|
| US proposes 13% cut in army size |
| WASHINGTON: The Pentagon on Thursday proposed trimming the army's size by 13 percent as the debt-ridden United States winds down a decade of war but vowed new investments to exert power in Asia and the Middle East. |
|
| Football: Sudan end goal drought to hold Angola |
| MALABO, Equatorial Guinea: Sudan ended a 36-year Africa Cup of Nations goal drought as they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Angola on Thursday in a Group B match. |
|
| First Chinese auto plant in Europe to open Feb 21 |
| SOFIA: Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor will open on February 21 a plant in Bulgaria, producing the first Chinese cars assembled in Europe, its local partner Litex Motors said on Thursday. |
|
| Figure Skating: Gachinski leads Plushenko in European championships |
| SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom: Rising Russian star Artur Gachinski overshadowed former Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko's return by leading the men's short programme at the European figure skating championships on Thursday. |
|
| Symantec urges users to disable pcAnywhere |
| WASHINGTON: Symantec is recommending that users of its pcAnywhere software disable the product following the theft of source code from the US computer security firm. |
|
| Cricket: Ranatunga slams Sri Lanka sacking of Marsh |
| COLOMBO: Legendary Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga on Thursday slammed his country's sacking of Australian coach Geoff Marsh as "disgraceful" and "unprofessional". |
|
| Ahmadinejad says Iran ready for nuclear talks, blasts sanctions |
| TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Tehran is ready to sit down with world powers for talks on its nuclear drive as he downplayed the harmful effects of newly imposed sanctions. |
|
| Britain's PM Cameron denounces 'mad' tax in attack on Europe |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron launched a stinging attack on his European partners on Thursday, slamming the eurozone as uncompetitive and branding a planned transaction tax "madness". |
|
| Louvre's Da Vinci restoration ignites art world row |
| PARIS: Delicate work to restore a Leonardo Da Vinci masterpiece, to be unveiled in March, has turned into a headache for the Louvre, after experts accused the Paris museum of putting the precious oil work at risk. |
|
| Foreign sales drive Caterpillar record revenue |
| NEW YORK: Caterpillar said on Thursday it earned record profit for the fourth quarter driven by sales outside the US market, and forecast higher earnings in 2012. |
|
| US new home sales tumble in December |
| WASHINGTON: Sales of new homes in the United States skidded in December, a fresh sign of distress in the collapsed housing market, official data showed on Thursday. |
|
| Oral HPV infections more common in men: study |
| WASHINGTON: Mouth and throat infections of a common sexually transmitted disease known as human papillomavirus, which can lead to cancer, are more common among men than women, said a US study on Thursday. |
|
| Five dead, 16 missing in Rio high-rises collapse |
| RIO DE JANEIRO: Five bodies were found on Thursday as rescue teams frantically searched through rubble for 16 people missing after three office buildings collapsed in the historic heart of Rio, officials said. |
|
| Fed rate announcement reflects grim outlook of US economy: analysts |
| SINGAPORE: The US Federal Reserve announced overnight its decision to keep interest rates unchanged until at least late 2014. This is an extension of its previous guidance that near-zero interest rates will be maintained through mid-2013. |
|
| Golf: McIlroy grabs lead in Abu Dhabi |
| ABU DHABI: Rory McIlroy used muscle power to steal an early season march on his main rivals for golfing dominance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Thursday. |
|
| Gates donates US$750m to UN Global Fund |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Microsoft founder Bill Gates unveiled on Thursday a $750 million donation to the UN Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis annd malaria, saying the downturn must not trigger a fall in aid. |
|
| AT&T posts quarterly loss of US$6.68b |
| NEW YORK: US telecommunications giant AT&T on Thursday reported a US$6.68 billion loss for the fourth quarter, citing a costly charge for ending its planned acquisition of wireless carrier T-Mobile. |
|
| French police arrest boss of breast implant company |
| MARSEILLE: French police on Thursday arrested Jean-Claude Mas, the founder of the PIP breast implant company that sparked a global health scare by using substandard silicone, as part of a manslaughter probe. |
|
| Football: S-League to consider promotion-relegation system |
| SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is still considering having a promotion and relegation system for the S-League in the future. This as more strong teams continue to show interest in the league, which is set to kick-off on February 9. |
|
| Firm turns dishwasher shortage into business opportunity |
| SINGAPORE: Restaurants may be doing brisk business, but that has created a headache for some bosses. |
|
| US jobless claims edge higher |
| WASHINGTON: New claims for US unemployment benefits rose last week but the four-week average, an indicator of layoffs, continued to head lower, official data showed on Thursday. |
|
| GPC deputy chair to raise CPIB probe in Parliament |
| SINGAPORE: The deputy chairman of the GPC for Law and Home Affairs, Edwin Tong, has said he is likely to raise in Parliament the issue of the ongoing CPIB probe into two former senior public servants. |
|
| China's reality lost in translation, Davos told |
| DAVOS, Switzerland - The West has a skewed view of China which Beijing has to fix if it wants a better reception when it goes shopping abroad, business and political leaders said at the Davos forum Thursday. |
|
| Power outage disrupts online trading at two brokerages |
| SINGAPORE: OCBC Securities and at least one other brokerage was hit by a power outage on Thursday that disrupted their online trading channels to the Singapore Exchange for most of the morning. |
|
| Woman murdered in Eunos |
| SINGAPORE: A 54-year-old Malay woman was found dead on Thursday afternoon in a flat at Block 20 Eunos Crescent. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal beats Federer in Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Spain's Rafael Nadal extended his mastery over Roger Federer on Thursday when he came from a set down to win a gripping Australian Open semi-final. |
|
| Troubled PNG hit by military mutiny |
| PORT MORESBY - Political tensions flared in Papua New Guinea Thursday when an ex-soldier loyal to Michael Somare staged a mutiny to declare himself military chief and demand the veteran leader's reinstatement. |
|
| The two leading ladies in S.Korean politics |
| SEOUL: 2012 is politically significant for South Korea, as it will holds two major elections - the parliamentary elections in April, and the presidential elections in December. |
|
| Football: Redknapp had sole control of account, trial hears |
| LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp was the only person responsible for the bank account in Monaco at the centre of charges of tax evasion against him, a court heard on Thursday. |
|
| US Republicans trade barbs ahead of Florida debate |
| JACKSONVILLE, Florida: Republican White House hopefuls Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich traded barbs over immigration and character on the eve of a debate on Thursday before Florida's ultra-competitive primary. |
|
| Keppel Corp's full-year net profit up 14% |
| SINGAPORE: Keppel Corporation's full-year net profit for 2011 rose 14 percent from a year earlier to S$1.5 billion. |
|
| Nokia in the red for 2011 |
| HELSINKI: Finland's Nokia, struggling to remain the world's top mobile phone maker, on Thursday announced deep losses for both the full year of 2011 and for the fourth quarter amid slumping handset sales. |
|
| Nigeria arrests 200 after attacks |
| KANO, Nigeria: Nigeria has arrested 200 people, mostly Chadian "mercenaries," after last week's attacks in the north, a police source said Thursday, as pressure mounts on the security forces to stem the violence. |
|
| North East District CDC centre may be set up this year |
| SINGAPORE: A Community Development Council centre in the North East District may be set up this year. |
|
| Seven killed in Indonesian storms |
| JAKARTA: Seven people were killed and 51 injured as heavy rains lashed Indonesia, bringing down trees and powerlines and damaging hundreds of homes, an official said Thursday. |
|
| easyJet posts higher quarterly revenues |
| LONDON: British no-frills airline easyJet said Thursday that revenues climbed 17 percent in the first quarter of its financial year, boosted by rising passenger numbers, but forecast losses in the first half, citing a weak economic environment. |
|
| Man jailed for providing false information to authorities |
| SINGAPORE: An illegal fruit seller was sentenced to 10 weeks' jail for giving false information to the authorities. |
|
| Singapore shares end flat |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore's share prices ended flat on Thursday amid a mixed bag of performances in other Asian markets. |
|
| Sim Lian Group launches new executive condo in Tampines |
| SINGAPORE: Mainboard-listed developer Sim Lian Group has launched a new executive condominium project in Tampines Central 7. |
|
| Former police officer jailed for disciplinary offences |
| SINGAPORE: A former police staff sergeant has been sentenced to 10 weeks' jail on Thursday. |
|
| Asia stocks mixed after Fed rate announcement |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets were mixed on Thursday, with confidence following the US Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates at "exceptionally low levels" for at least two years offset by profit-taking. |
|
| ASEAN-China Centre to help promote business, cultural exchanges |
| BEIJING: The ASEAN-China Centre was launched at the 14th ASEAN-China Summit, and set up in Beijing in November 2011. |
|
| Local bands to rock Cannes |
| SINGAPORE: Cannes is best known for its film festival, but this weekend, some Lion City rockers have promised to rock the seaside city with a smorgasbord of Singapore pop music. |
|
| Australia airfare issue resolved, says AirAsia |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Asia's biggest budget carrier AirAsia said Thursday it has taken "corrective action" to resolve complaints in a lawsuit brought by Australian regulators over its online fare information. |
|
| Tennis: Sharapova beats Kvitova to reach final |
| MELBOURNE - Former champion Maria Sharapova beat second seed Petra Kvitova in three sets to reach the final of the Australian Open on Thursday and set up a shootout for the number one spot with Victoria Azarenka. |
|
| Golf: Tiger Woods gets 2012 golf season underway |
| ABU DHABI: Tiger Woods lit the fuse Thursday on a new golf season during which he aims to return to the forefront and possibly add to his majors haul of 14. |
|
| Faulty heart drugs toll nears 100 in Pakistan |
| LAHORE, Pakistan: Around 100 Pakistani heart patients have died after taking faulty medicine made locally and dozens more are in a critical condition in hospital, government officials said Thursday. |
|
| NHB to organise exhibitions, guided tour of air raid shelter |
| SINGAPORE: The National Heritage Board will organise a series of exhibitions and tours next month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 'Battle for Singapore'. |
|
| Dennis Chew: "I do miss my leg hair." |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore actor Dennis Chew has dressed in drag countless times before to play Auntie Lucy. |
|
| Loss-making NEC to cut 10,000 jobs |
| TOKYO: Japanese electronics giant NEC said Thursday it would axe 10,000 jobs worldwide, as it announced losses for the past nine months had almost doubled. |
|
| Nintendo triples annual net loss forecast to US$837m |
| TOKYO: Game giant Nintendo said Thursday it expected to lose 65 billion yen ($837 million) this year, more than three times the amount it had earlier predicted. |
|
| Russia allows new mass anti-Putin protest |
| MOSCOW: The Moscow authorities have authorised a protest by the Russian opposition on February 4 which will pose a new challenge to Vladimir Putin a month ahead of presidential polls, officials said Thursday. |
|
| Australia police rescue Gillard from race protests |
| SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday had to be bundled out of a Canberra restaurant by security service agents after it was surrounded by furious Aboriginal rights protesters. |
|
| Key Darfur rebel group chooses new leader |
| KHARTOUM: A key rebel group in Sudan's troubled Darfur region said Thursday it has chosen a one-time university professor to head the movement after his brother, the former leader, was killed last month. |
|
| Frenchman fined S$4,000 for hurting ex-girlfriend |
| SINGAPORE: A French national who bit his former girlfriend during a heated argument has been fined S$4,000. |
|
| Pollution sparks panic water buying in China |
| SHANGHAI: Pollution in China's southern region of Guangxi sparked panic buying of bottled water this week after a mining firm dumped toxic cadmium into a river, according to state media. |
|
| Thai PM joins India's national day celebrations |
| NEW DELHI: Thailand's premier was guest of honour on Thursday at India's 63rd Republic Day celebrations, an annual display of the country's military might held amid tight security. |
|
| ST Electronics "not aware" that any staff called up to assist with CPIB probe |
| SINGAPORE: ST Electronics said it's "not aware" that any of its staff has been called up by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) to help with investigations. |
|
| Big comeback for Big Bang in March |
| SEOUL: A spokesperson for Big Bang's management agency, YG Entertainment, revealed Monday that the group is preparing to resume their activities sometime in March. |
|
| China blasts EU sanctions on Iran |
| BEIJING: China said Thursday EU sanctions on Iran announced earlier this week in response to Tehran's suspected nuclear drive were "not constructive", state media reported. |
|
| PNG ex commander says seized control of military |
| PORT MORESBY: A former military commander in Papua New Guinea Thursday claimed to have seized control of the country's armed forces and demanded that ousted prime minister Michael Somare be reinstated. |
|
| Singapore's manufacturing output up 12.6% |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's manufacturing output rose more than expected in December 2011, after a surge in activity in the biomedical sector. |
|
| Three killed in Indonesian rainstorms |
| JAKARTA: At least three people were killed and 35 injured as heavy rains lashed Indonesia, bringing down trees and powerlines and damaging hundreds of homes, according to an official. |
|
| Icy trip for tourists as HK cable car stalls |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong suspended its popular cable car on Thursday after a malfunction left hundreds of tourists dangling in icy weather during the Chinese New Year holiday. |
|
| New discovery could lead to better screening for heart disease |
| SINGAPORE: A team of scientists from the University of Cambridge has discovered a method of growing different types of vascular smooth muscle cells - the cells which make up the walls of blood vessels - using cells from patients' skin. |
|
| Andy Lau's baby is a 'Little Dragon Girl' |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actor Andy Lau announced during a special Lunar New Year meet-the-fans event on Tuesday, that he and his wife are expecting a 'Little Dragon Girl', reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| OCBC securities' trading system restored |
| SINGAPORE: OCBC said its securities' trading system was up and running by 12.00 pm on Thursday. |
|
| US Congress in moving farewell as Giffords resigns |
| WASHINGTON: In a rare show of unity, the US Congress gave an emotional send-off to lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords as she resigned to focus on her remarkable recovery from a deranged gunman's bullet. |
|
| T-ara's Ham Eun Jung injured again |
| SEOUL: Korean girl group T-ara's Ham Eun Jung suffered a knee injury, after slipping on snow while returning home from a rehearsal on Tuesday, reported Korean media. |
|
| Japanese man fakes own death with brother's corpse |
| TOKYO: A Japanese man faked his own death by claiming his late brother's body was his own, police and media said Thursday. |
|
| Parliament to sit on Feb 14 |
| SINGAPORE: Parliament will sit on February 14 at 1.30 pm, ahead of Budget Day which falls on February 17. |
|
| S. Korea stages live-fire drill near sea border |
| SEOUL: South Korean Marines Thursday staged a live-fire artillery drill on an island shelled by North Korea in 2010, the first such exercise since the death of Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong-Il last month. |
|
| Asian shares mixed after Fed rate announcement |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets were mixed on Thursday, with confidence following the US Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates at "exceptionally low levels" for at least two years offset by profit-taking. |
|
| Oil prices higher as US maintains low interest rates |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices edged higher in Asian trade Thursday on news that the US Federal Reserve would keep interest rates low to bolster growth in the world's largest economy, analysts said. |
|
| Gingrich, Romney slam Havana to woo Cuban-Americans |
| MIAMI: Newt Gingrich was ahead in the rhetorical war among Republican presidential hopefuls on who could be toughest on Cuba's communist regime, suggesting Wednesday he would bomb the island if there were a popular uprising. |
|
| OCBC stock trading site down |
| SINGAPORE: OCBC customers were unable to carry out stock trading services at the bank's online platform, iOCBC on Thursday morning. |
|
| Four hurt in Rio building collapses |
| RIO DE JANEIRO: Two buildings collapsed late Wednesday in downtown Rio de Janeiro, leaving four people hurt and an unknown number of people buried in the rubble, city mayor Eduardo Paes said. |
|
| Premature to assume former SCDF, CNB chiefs liable for criminal proceedings: CPIB |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's anti-corruption agency has stressed that as investigations are still on-going, it is premature to assume that former commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force Peter Lim Sin Pang and former director of the Central Narcotics Bureau Ng Boon Gay, would be ultimately liable for any criminal proceedings. |
|
| Obama denies class warfare charge |
| CHANDLER, Arizona: US President Barack Obama Wednesday denied Republican claims he was waging class warfare as he set out to sell his call for tax hikes on the rich in states crucial to his reelection bid. |
|
| PM Lee in Davos to attend World Economic Forum meeting |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be visiting Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting from January 26-27. |
|
| Geithner says will not stay if Obama reelected |
| WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV that he would not remain in his post if President Barack Obama is reelected in November. |
|
| Fiji declares disaster as flood toll rises to six |
| WELLINGTON: Fiji declared flood-hit areas of the main island Viti Levu a disaster zone Thursday, as the death toll from the deluge lashing the Pacific nation rose to six. |
|
| South Korea's growth slows in Q4 |
| SEOUL: South Korea's economy grew 0.4 percent in October-December from the previous quarter, slowing from the third-quarter's 0.8 percent rise as global conditions worsened, the central bank said Thursday. |
|
| iPhone emits sparks; first case in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: Mr Ong Z.M. was resting at home with his family on Tuesday night when the power supply tripped, putting out all his electrical appliances and plunging his house in darkness. |
|
| Football: Liverpool end Wembley drought at Manchester City's expense |
| LIVERPOOL: Craig Bellamy came back to haunt his former club Manchester City as Liverpool booked their first Wembley appearance for 16 years after a dramatic 2-2 draw with the Premier League leaders in the semi-final second leg of the League Cup. |
|
| US stocks rise after Fed extends ultra-low rate |
| NEW YORK: US stocks climbed on Wednesday as investors welcomed the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates near zero for another three years and cheered Apple's blockbuster earnings. |
|
| Oil prices mixed after Fed extends ultra-low rate |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices closed higher in New York on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve signalled it would hold interest rates near zero for three more years, sending investors to commodities in search of higher returns. |
|
| Airbus says A380 wing cracks pose no danger |
| PARIS: Tiny cracks discovered in the wings of Airbus superjumbo A380 planes can be easily repaired and pose no danger, the aircraft's manufacturer said on Wednesday. |
|
| IMF applauds Myanmar reforms |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday published its analysis of Myanmar for the first time since 1999, applauding recent reforms but stressing the need to move further to stabilise the economy. |
|
| Davos grapples with surging demand for fuel, food |
| DAVOS, Switzerland: Petrol is already beyond the price range of many Africans while surging population levels should force governments in Asia to limit car use, political and business leaders said on Wednesday. |
|
| EU mulling 150m euro aid package for Myanmar |
| BRUSSELS: The European Union is mulling a 150-million-euro aid package to help Myanmar's new army-backed government continue on the path of reforms, EU diplomats said on Wednesday. |
|
| Can tablets give you a pain in the neck? |
| PARIS: Users of tablet computers should place their device on the table and tilt its screen, rather than have it flat on their lap, to avoid potentially painful hunching of the neck, a study suggested on Wednesday. |
|
| Fed Reserve extends ultra-low rates through 2014 |
| WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve on Tuesday signalled it sees weak growth in the US economy for three more years, saying it would maintain interest rates at current ultra-low levels through the end of 2014. |
|
| Cricket: Sri Lanka sack coach Marsh, bring in Ford |
| COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Cricket on Wednesday sacked its Australian coach Geoff Marsh and replaced him with South African Graham Ford as part of a major shake-up following the national team's poor run. |
|
| Vanessa Paradis denies split with Johnny Depp |
| PARIS: French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis has flatly denied a split with her husband US actor Johnny Depp following mounting speculation. |
|
| EU takes on Internet giants over people's personal data |
| BRUSSELS: The European Commission launched on Wednesday a bid to make companies, including Internet giants such as Google or Facebook, give people more control of their personal data or be fined up to one million euros. |
|
| Assassins kill Iraq Qaeda leader-turned-critic |
| BAGHDAD: Assassins have shot dead a former senior leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq who defected from the extremist network and sided with US forces, officials said on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Chelsea and QPR appeal for FA Cup calm |
| LONDON: Chelsea and QPR on Wednesday warned supporters that "abuse and discrimination has no place in football or society" as the Premier League sides prepare for Saturday's FA Cup meeting. |
|
| US carried out Somalia hostage rescue: Obama |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that US special forces had carried out a daring pre-dawn raid in Somalia that rescued two hostages, including an American aid worker, held since October. |
|
| More capital outflows from S'pore over next 3 months |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore may see more capital outflows over the next three months compared to a year ago. |
|
| S'porean completes ultramarathon in 6th place |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporean runner Lim Nghee Huat came in sixth in the Brazil 135 ultramarathon race. |
|
| Golf: Tiger Woods welcomed back but not feared |
| ABU DHABI: Tiger Woods may be back in the mix but, although his return is welcomed by the men who replaced him at the top, there is no sense of trepidation among them. |
|
| MHA clarifies tender, procurement steps |
| SINGAPORE: All ministries and government departments, including the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), follow a tender and procurement process that has been set by the Ministry of Finance. |
|
| India, Pakistan report progress on key pipeline |
| NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan said Wednesday they were closer to an agreement on a pipeline to import gas from Turkmenistan that would signal a further warming of economic ties between the traditional rivals. |
|
| Fresh attack on police in Nigerian city |
| KANO, Nigeria: Around 30 gunmen rained bombs and gunfire on a police station in Kano, killing a woman in the latest attack blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria's second city, residents said. |
|
| India IT firms booming |
| INDIA: Europe may still be in a severe debt crisis, but that does not seem to stop Indian IT companies from seeking a wider footprint in the market. |
|
| Russian billionaire cleared to stand for president |
| MOSCOW: Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who hopes to challenge Vladimir Putin for the presidency, was on Wednesday officially registered to run, becoming the fifth candidate in the historic March race. |
|
| Football: How are LionsXII faring so far? |
| SINGAPORE: Seven points from four matches. That's how the LionsXII have fared so far after their return to the Malaysian Super League. |
|
| Art spending forecast to increase |
| SINGAPORE: Asian art buyers are growing in number but they are spending less, as uncertainty in financial markets takes its toll on the high life. |
|
| Office vacancy rates up, rentals down in Q4 |
| SINGAPORE: Vacancy rates of Grade A offices in the central business district (CBD) rose to 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter last year, according to property consultancy Savills Research in its latest report on the office sector on Wednesday. |
|
| British economy teeters on brink of recession |
| LONDON: Britain's economy shrank by more than expected in the fourth quarter, data showed on Wednesday, placing it dangerously close to recession as activity was hit by the eurozone crisis and austerity measures. |
|
| Recession fears fade for Germany |
| FRANKFURT: Fears the eurozone's crippling debt crisis could push Germany into recession faded Wednesday as business confidence in Europe's bigggest economy rose for the third month in a row. |
|
| Revamping HSBC sells Thai banking assets |
| BANGKOK: Europe's biggest bank HSBC said Wednesday that it was selling its retail banking and wealth management business in Thailand to Bank of Ayudhya, the latest in a series of asset sales. |
|
| More sign up for Next Gen NBN |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's fibre optic Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) recognised its 100,000th customer on Wednesday. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic sets up Murray showdown |
| MELBOURNE - Top seed Novak Djokovic survived a brief injury scare before setting up an Australian Open semi-final with British rival Andy Murray on Wednesday. |
|
| Police seeking help in loanshark harassment case |
| SINGAPORE: Police are looking for a man to assist with investigations into a case of loanshark harassment reported in the vicinity of Rivervale Crescent on 27 December last year. |
|
| Ericsson profit slides 73% as share plunges |
| STOCKHOLM: Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson on Wednesday reported a worse-than-expected 73-percent dive in its fourth quarter net profit on weak mobile network sales, sending its share price into freefall. |
|
| CPIB confirms arrest of ex-chiefs of CNB & SCDF |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's anti-corruption agency confirms that the former director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the former commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were arrested separately for their alleged offences. |
|
| Nine dead as Indian bus driver goes on rampage |
| MUMBAI: An Indian bus driver left at least nine people dead and dozens hurt on Wednesday after going on a rampage during rush-hour, smashing into cars and crushing pedestrians, police told AFP. |
|
| Doctors see more patients post LNY holiday |
| SINGAPORE: After the long Lunar New Year weekend, one of the first places that some Singaporeans headed for was not work but medical clinics. |
|
| Singapore shares end up 1.48% |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices ended 1.48 percent higher on Wednesday, underpinned by strong earnings from US technology giant Apple, stabilising European money markets and falling euro zone debt yields. |
|
| Man pockets Mosque funds |
| SINGAPORE: A businessman who was entrusted with four properties by a late tycoon, pocketed S$176,472 of funds that were meant for the upkeep of a mosque in Yemen. |
|
| MFA names China Ambassador, Bangladesh High Commissioner |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Government has appointed Mr Stanley Loh Ka Leung as Singapore's next Ambassador to China and Mr Chan Heng Wing as Singapore's next High Commissioner to Bangladesh. |
|
| Asian stocks firmer on Greece hopes, Apple earnings |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets rose Wednesday after a strong earnings report from Apple and on hopes Greece will agree on a debt-reduction deal with creditors, although worries persisted over Europe's ongoing fiscal woes. |
|
| British economy shrinks 0.2% in Q4 |
| LONDON: Britain's economy contracted by a worse-than-expected 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the Office for National Statistics announced on Wednesday. |
|
| Victoria Street Wholesale Centre to relocate in April |
| SINGAPORE: The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre will be relocating to Kallang Road on April 1 this year. |
|
| Chinese clans' role still vital, says PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Chinese clan associations continue to play an important role in Singapore, especially in integrating new immigrants into society. |
|
| Tennis: Murray hurries into Australian Open semis |
| MELBOURNE: Andy Murray moved smoothly into the Australian Open's last four with an entertaining win over Japan's Kei Nishikori Wednesday, as Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova also reached the semis. |
|
| Democracy Taiwan's best gift to China: Ma |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou said this month's presidential vote was the island's "best gift" to China, hailing the potential for the poll to show the path to democracy on the mainland. |
|
| ConocoPhillips to pay US$158m for oil spill |
| BEIJING: China's agriculture ministry said Wednesday ConocoPhillips had agreed to pay one billion yuan (US$158 million) in compensation for damage caused by a huge oil spill in the nation's northeast. |
|
| Flat Australian inflation stokes rate-cut hopes |
| SYDNEY: Australian inflation held steady in the fourth quarter, data showed Wednesday, a lower-than-expected result that stoked hopes for an interest rate cut to boost a "quite sluggish" economy. |
|
| Roche launches takeover bid for US firm Illumina |
| PARIS: Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche announced Wednesday it had launched a takeover bid for Illumina, a US company that specialises in life sciences. |
|
| Deadly unrest spreads in Tibetan areas of China |
| BEIJING - Police in China shot dead more protesters in Tibetan-inhabited areas as unrest spread, official media and an advocacy group said Wednesday, amid signs of a physical and virtual lockdown on the region. |
|
| Thailand's "One Tablet Per Child" policy draws mixed views |
| BANGKOK: Thailand's new education policy will provide a free tablet PC to every Grade 1 child in the kingdom. |
|
| Toyota confirms loss of No. 1 carmaker spot |
| TOKYO: Toyota Motor confirmed Wednesday that its world group sales fell below the eight million mark in 2011, losing the firm its number one spot in the global carmakers' league. |
|
| Man charged with peeping in toilet |
| SINGAPORE: A 53-year-old man was charged Wednesday with allegedly peeping at a woman in the female toilet of Kallang MRT station. |
|
| Special forces free US, Danish aid workers |
| MOGADISHU: Special forces launched a pre-dawn raid to rescue two aid workers, an American woman and a Danish man, kidnapped three months ago in Somalia by gunmen, local security officials said Wednesday. |
|
| Eco-friendly diet for giant pandas Jiajia and Kaikai |
| SINGAPORE: Giant pandas Jiajia and Kaikai can look forward to an eco-friendly diet of home-grown bamboo in Singapore. |
|
| Qaeda gunmen pull out of Yemen town: witnesses |
| ADEN: Al-Qaeda gunmen have withdrawn completely from the central Yemen town of Rada, which they overran nine days ago, tribal sources and witnesses said on Wednesday. |
|
| 10 young scientists receive NRF Fellowship |
| SINGAPORE: Ten young scientists are the latest to receive the prestigious Singapore National Research Foundation Fellowship. |
|
| Men on probation for trespassing and defacing KTM train |
| SINGAPORE: Two men were placed on probation Wednesday for breaking into the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and defacing a Malayan Railway (KTM) train carriage with spray paint. |
|
| Philippines sets February date for Arroyo arraignment |
| MANILA: A Philippine court has ordered ex-president Gloria Arroyo to be arraigned over alleged vote rigging on February 20, with trial dates to be set soon afterwards, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. |
|
| S'pore President, PM congratulate India on Republic Day |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's President and Prime Minister have sent their congratulatory messages to India's leaders on the occasion of the country's 63rd Republic Day celebrations. |
|
| Lee Min Ho and "City Hunter" co-star Park Min Young have broken up? |
| SEOUL: Korean heartthrob Lee Min Ho who has been dating his "City Hunter" co-star Park Min Young since last year, had broken up with the actress some time ago, reported Korean media. |
|
| Lim Hng Kiang attends World Economic Forum meeting |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister, Lim Hng Kiang will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from Wednesday till January 28. |
|
| Syria agrees to extend Arab observer mission |
| DAMASCUS: Syria has agreed to extend a widely criticised Arab League observer mission for a second month, just hours after launching an angry tirade against the bloc's efforts to mediate in the crisis. |
|
| NTU launches University Scholars Programme |
| SINGAPORE: The Nanyang Technological University has launched a scholars programme aimed at preparing top students with diverse skills for their future careers. |
|
| SNSD paparazzi photos causes stir among fans |
| SEOUL: Unflattering paparazzi photos of the popular Korean girl group SNSD in a plane cabin have caused a stir amongst their fans, reported Korean media. |
|
| Singapore's CPI up 5.5% on-year in Dec |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.5 per cent on-year in December. |
|
| Australian rips head off kitten in suburban dispute |
| MELBOURNE: An Australian man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after ripping the head off a kitten and tossing it down the street as children watched, a report said on Wednesday. |
|
| Asian shares rise on US hopes |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets rose Wednesday after a strong earnings report from Apple and on hopes Greece will agree a debt-reduction deal with creditors, although worries persisted over Europe's ongoing fiscal woes. |
|
| US, S. Korean troops ready for joint war games |
| SEOUL: US and South Korean troops are preparing for their annual joint war games in coming weeks, an official said Wednesday, despite the sensitive power transition underway in North Korea. |
|
| JAE, JPSAE posting results out on Jan 30 |
| SINGAPORE: The Education Ministry will release the posting results for the 2012 Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) and the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) on Monday, January 30 at 8.00 am. |
|
| Embarrassment of riches as Romney unveils taxes |
| TAMPA, Florida: Republican Mitt Romney revealed Tuesday he makes a staggering $20 million a year and pays a lower tax rate than many Americans, in the latest twist in the roiling 2012 White House race. |
|
| Japan PM struggles to conquer Japan's debt mountain |
| TOKYO: Global markets may be fixated on Europe's debt crisis, but half a world away Japan has been dealing with an even bigger borrowing problem -- one that threatens to burden its people for generations. |
|
| US to step up trade pressure on China |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Tuesday he would step up pressure on China and other countries that unfairly subsidize exports and ship pirated goods to the United States. |
|
| Oil prices higher in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices were higher in Asian trade Wednesday, on expectations of firm US economic growth and rising tensions between the West and Iran, analysts said. |
|
| A*STAR technologies helping companies stay competitive |
| SINGAPORE: Companies in Singapore are benefitting from technologies created by research institutes under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). |
|
| Obama hails "new hope" in Myanmar |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed democratic reforms in Myanmar as offering "new hope" as he recommitted the United States to a lasting presence in the Asia-Pacific region. |
|
| Obama pledges new efforts on clean energy |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Tuesday pledged new government incentives to boost clean energy, warning that the United States risked being left behind in the new industry by China and Germany. |
|
| Obama hails end to Iraq war, death of Osama |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the end of the war in Iraq and the death of Osama bin Laden, as he trumpeted his credentials as commander-in-chief in his key State of the Union address. |
|
| Obama delivers State of the Union address |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said Tuesday the state of the US union was "getting stronger," defending his policies by saying "we've come too far to turn back now." |
|
| Flights rerouted as massive solar storm slams Earth |
| WASHINGTON: Solar radiation from a massive sun storm -- the largest in nearly a decade -- collided with the Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday, prompting an airline to reroute flights and skywatchers to seek out spectacular light displays. |
|
| Britain's Cameron sets out plans to reform EU rights court |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron will urge EU leaders on Wednesday to seize a "once-in-a-generation chance" to make sweeping changes to the European Court of Human Rights. |
|
| Up to 60 feared dead in Papua New Guinea landslide |
| SYDNEY: As many as 60 people are feared dead after a massive landslide in remote Papua New Guinea, reports said Wednesday, as the Pacific nation's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill rushed to the scene. |
|
| Stricken ship captain blames company pressure |
| ROME: The captain of the stricken Costa Concordia liner told a friend the day after the disaster that a manager from the cruise company pressured him to sail too close to shore, Italian media reported Tuesday. |
|
| Japan sees first annual trade deficit in 31 years |
| TOKYO: Japan announced its first annual trade deficit for more than 30 years on Wednesday after the March quake-tsunami and strong yen hit exports for 2011, and high fuel costs pushed up import bills. |
|
| Dollar-euro rate flat ahead of Fed report |
| NEW YORK: The euro ended flat against the dollar Tuesday as markets looked for direction in talks over Greece's debt and awaited the Federal Reserve's policy report. |
|
| SCDF & CNB chiefs suspended amid CPIB probe |
| SINGAPORE: In the most high profile corruption investigation involving civil servants in recent times, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) commissioner Peter Lim and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) director Ng Boon Gay have been suspended following allegations of "serious personal misconduct". |
|
| Google revising privacy policies, terms of service |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Google announced Tuesday it is revising its privacy policies and terms of service and changing the way it collects data from users of its various services. |
|
| Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom denied bail in N. Zealand |
| AUCKLAND: Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom was denied bail in a New Zealand court Wednesday and remanded in custody until February 22 as US authorities seek his extradition on allegations of massive copyright theft. |
|
| Apple posts record US$13.06b quarterly net profit |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Apple said Tuesday its net profit more than doubled in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 to a record $13.06 billion, driven by strong sales of iPhones, iPads and Macintosh computers. |
|
| Football: Cardiff stun Palace to reach League Cup final |
| CARDIFF, Wales: Cardiff battled through to the League Cup final on Tuesday, overcoming a first leg deficit to defeat Championship rivals Crystal Palace on penalties. |
|
| Football:Second string Juve outclass full strength Roma |
| ROME: Juventus maintained their unbeaten record in all competitions this season as despite fielding a second string side they overwhelmed a full strength AS Roma 3-0 in their Italian Cup quarter-final on Tuesday. |
|
| Yahoo! profit off 5% in quarter as woes continue |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Ailing Internet giant Yahoo! said Tuesday that revenues and profits dropped in the fourth quarter, capping off its third straight year of declining results. |
|
| US stocks mixed ahead of next batch of earnings |
| NEW YORK: US stocks closed narrowly mixed Tuesday as cash-strapped Greece's efforts to get a debt writedown from the private sector down and a mixed bag of US company earnings dented market sentiment. |
|
| Football: Mali edge past Guinea in west African derby |
| FRANCEVILLE, Gabon: Mali edged neighbours Guinea 1-0 in the west African derby at the Africa Cup of Nations here on Tuesday evening. |
|
| Japan sees first annual trade deficit in 31 years |
| TOKYO: Japan is to announce its first annual trade deficit for more than 30 years on Wednesday after the March quake-tsunami and strong yen hit exports, and high fuel costs pushed up import bills. |
|
| Fresh attack on police in troubled Nigeria's Kano city |
| KANO, Nigeria: Gunmen opened fire and threw explosives at a police station in the Nigerian embattled city of Kano on Tuesday, residents said, four days after coordinated bombings and shootouts killed 185 people there. |
|
| Oil prices retreat after Iran-fueled bounce |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices retreated Tuesday on profit taking, a day after rising in the wake of a European Union agreement to impose an embargo on Iran's crude exports. |
|
| EU turns screws on Greece, Spain, as recession looms |
| BRUSSELS: European finance ministers on Tuesday ordered Greece and Spain to swiftly get debts under control as a recession threatened to undermine dogged efforts to end a two-year crisis. |
|
| Shooter pleads not guilty to Obama assassination bid |
| WASHINGTON: An alleged gunman accused of opening fire on the White House pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to trying to assassinate President Barack Obama. |
|
| Europeans and Arabs seek UN vote on Syria next week |
| UNITED NATIONS: European and Arab nations want a UN Security Council vote next week on a resolution condemning Syria's crackdown on protests and hinting at sanctions, diplomats said Tuesday. |
|
| US praises Egypt's decision to lift state of emergency |
| WASHINGTON: The United States Tuesday praised Egypt's decision to lift a decades-old state of emergency and hand power to the parliament as "major steps toward the normalization of political life." |
|
| Football: Hero Mensah turns zero as Ghana pip Botswana |
| FRANCEVILLE, Gabon: Ghana skipper John Mensah turned from hero to villain here Tuesday as he netted the winner in the 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations win against Botswana only to see red in the second half. |
|
| Pakistan scandal probe at risk from witness no-show |
| ISLAMABAD: A probe into a major scandal threatening Pakistan's president on Tuesday appeared at risk of collapsing as investigators ruled out travelling abroad to hear the testimony of the star witness. |
|
| Football: Portsmouth hit by winding-up order |
| LONDON: Portsmouth have been hit with a winding up order by British authorities over failure to pay a 1.6 million pound tax bill, it was confirmed on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Leeds captain Howson signs for Norwich |
| LONDON: Leeds captain Jonny Howson has signed for Premier League outfit Norwich on a three-and-a-half-year deal, it was confirmed on Tuesday. |
|
| Obama to lay out reelection case in key speech |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama will Tuesday set out to convince Americans he is worthy of a second White House term, as he lays out a blueprint for future economic security in his State of the Union address. |
|
| Ban Ki-moon warns UN disarmament conference may sink |
| GENEVA: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned Tuesday that the UN Conference on Disarmament could fail because of a three-year stalemate over Pakistan's reluctance to discuss nuclear power. |
|
| Three dead, dozens injured in Thai fireworks blast |
| BANGKOK: Three people were killed and around 40 injured when fireworks at a Chinese New Year celebration in Thailand caused a huge explosion and set fire to nearby homes, police said Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Rodallega confirms he wants out at Wigan |
| BOGOTA: Wigan forward Hugo Rodallega on Tuesday told Colombian radio he wants to leave the relegation-threatened Premier League outfit and is mulling offers for a move. |
|
| Alzheimer's: French scientists focus on key target |
| PARIS: French scientists said on Tuesday that lack of a key brain protein was linked to Alzheimer's, a finding that threw up a tempting target for drugs to fight the disease. |
|
| Egypt to lift emergency rule on Wednesday |
| CAIRO: Egypt's military ruler said that the country's decades-old state of emergency will be lifted on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the uprising that brought down president Hosni Mubarak. |
|
| IMF slashes world growth forecast |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday slashed its forecast for world economic growth, saying the stall in the troubled eurozone was threatening a global recovery. |
|
| Free entry into National Museum attracts over 6,000 |
| SINGAPORE : More than 6,000 history buffs were treated to free entry into the National Museum of Singapore on Tuesday. |
|
| Putin's liberal challenger faces poll exclusion |
| MOSCOW: Liberal leader Grigory Yavlinsky is likely to be excluded from the Russian presidential race, election officials said on Tuesday, in a move that will undermine the legitimacy of Vladimir Putin's historic comeback. |
|
| Athletics: Ethiopia lifts ban on 35 athletes |
| ADDIS ABABA: A ban barring 35 top Ethiopian athletes from competing internationally has been lifted, the national athletics federation said Tuesday. |
|
| Banks refuse to write off more than 50% of Greek debt |
| WASHINGTON: Banks locked in talks with Athens to write off a big chunk of the Greek bonds they hold reiterated that they would not take more than a 50 per cent haircut on the debt. |
|
| Syria spurns solutions by Arab League 'plotters' |
| DAMASCUS: Syria on Tuesday said it would spurn further Arab efforts to resolve its political crisis, as Gulf states piled on pressure by pulling their observers out the country and urging strong UN action. |
|
| Football: Mourinho wants to leave Real Madrid |
| MADRID: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is fed up with bad relations in the dressing room and repeated losses to Barcelona and wants to leave at the end of the season, the sporting press said on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Redknapp hid account for 6 years, court told |
| LONDON: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp concealed the existence of an offshore bank account from British authorities for six years until he was arrested as part of a tax probe, a court heard on Tuesday. |
|
| Exhibition on German culture at Central Public Library |
| SINGAPORE : Germany has edged a bit closer to Singapore, all thanks to the National Library Board and the Goethe-Institut Singapore, who have brought a new exhibition called "Germany Bite-Sized" to Singapore. |
|
| Sixteenth body found on Italy cruise shipwreck |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Fire brigade divers found a body inside a stricken Italian cruise ship on Tuesday, bringing the official death toll to 16 as salvage crews prepared to pump 2,380 tonnes of fuel from its tanks. |
|
| EU demands pre-election reform pledges of Greek parties |
| BRUSSELS: Finance ministers on Tuesday ordered Greek political rivals to deliver written pledges to undertake new radical surgery to its economy to unlock further aid while a debt deal hung in the balance. |
|
| Bus operators unhappy over new site for heavy vehicle park |
| SINGAPORE : The Malacca Bus Terminal, situated at at the junction of Kallang Bahru and Lavender Street, will cease operations on February 1 this year to facilitate the construction of the Downtown Line 3. |
|
| Football: Man City likely to accept Balotelli ban |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester City look set to accept Mario Balotelli's four-match ban after the volatile striker was charged for stamping on Scott Parker during Sunday's defeat of Tottenham. |
|
| Cricket: Ponting rules out retirement after Test ton |
| ADELAIDE, Australia: Ricky Ponting said his exuberant celebration of his 41st Test century in the fourth Test against India on Tuesday was not a sign of any impending retirement. |
|
| ArcelorMittal to cut 630 jobs at Czech steel plant |
| PRAGUE: Global steel conglomerate ArcelorMittal has confirmed it will cut 630 of the 6,000 jobs at its Czech plant in the western city of Ostrava to boost competitiveness. |
|
| Golf: I'm in best shape for a decade, says Woods |
| ABU DHABI: Former world number one Tiger Woods says he is in the best shape physically at the start of the season in more than a decade as he arrived in the UAE capital for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. |
|
| 1 of 2 affected lanes along Bukit Timah Rd now passable |
| SINGAPORE: One out of the two rightmost lanes along Bukit Timah Road towards Woodlands Road, near the junction with Clementi Road, is now open to traffic. |
|
| Over 17,000 throng Istana Open House |
| SINGAPORE : While many Singaporeans were out visiting families and friends on the second day of Lunar New Year, 17,189 people chose to celebrate the day at the Istana Open House instead. |
|
| Huge crowds flock to Watertown showflat |
| SINGAPORE: It's the second day of the Lunar New Year and while most were out and about visiting friends and relatives, hundreds flocked to the Watertown showflat in Punggol Central. |
|
| Baseball: Japan's Darvish aiming to be world's best pitcher |
| TOKYO: Japanese hurler Yu Darvish told home fans on Tuesday he was moving to the US major league to pit his skills against better batters because he wanted to become the world's "number one pitcher". |
|
| Football: Van Persie denies Wenger rift after Man Utd defeat |
| LONDON: Robin van Persie has dismissed talk of a rift with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger following the striker's reaction to the substitution of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Manchester United. |
|
| People's Park tenants hope for better business after upgrading |
| SINGAPORE : The People's Park at Block 32 New Market Road will be renamed People's Park Plaza once retrofitting works are completed. |
|
| Britain's net debt hits record 1 trillion pounds |
| LONDON: Britain's state borrowing fell by more than expected last month but not by enough to prevent its net debt from reaching a record high of 1.0 trillion pounds ($1.55 trillion), official data showed on Tuesday. |
|
| Australia will follow EU ban on Iranian oil imports |
| LONDON: Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday his country would follow the European Union in banning Iranian oil imports, after talks with his British counterpart in London. |
|
| The baddest baddie in Bangladesh |
| DHAKA: Whenever Misha Shawdagar appears on screen, things always turn nasty. Bangladesh's "baddest baddie" has acted in over 750 films - and he is proud of being typecast as the nation's number-one villain. |
|
| Gulf states pull observers out of Syria |
| DAMASCUS: Gulf states on Tuesday followed Saudi Arabia's lead in pulling their observers out of Syria, while urging the UN Security Council to pile pressure on Damascus to end its crackdown on dissent. |
|
| Google hit by new anti-trust complaint |
| BRUSSELS: The French online shopping website Twenga has filed a complaint against Google at the European Commission, accusing the Internet search giant of abusing its dominant position to eliminate any competition. |
|
| Crisis hurt Siemens' profits in Q1 |
| FRANKFURT: German industrial giant Siemens said Tuesday that bottom-line profits were down in the first three months of the current business year as customers delayed projects due to the debt crisis. |
|
| New floods hit northeastern Australia |
| SYDNEY : Flooding in northeastern Australia caused thousands of homes to lose power on Tuesday and prompted authorities to start evacuations, around a year after deadly floods devastated the region. |
|
| Rich Asians threaten high-value fish: experts |
| MANILA: The growing ranks of wealthy Asians and their increasing appetite for more expensive fish are threatening stocks, potentially causing wider environmental damage, experts at a UN conference said on Tuesday. |
|
| SCDF & CNB chiefs removed from posts |
| SINGAPORE: Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Peter Lim Sin Pang and Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Ng Boon Gay have both been removed from their posts, pending disciplinary proceedings. |
|
| Japan's premier announces sales tax hike plan |
| TOKYO : Japan's prime minister told parliament on Tuesday he will move to double sales taxes, warning that the future of the world's third-largest economy depends on turning the rising tide of public debt. |
|
| Eurozone wants Greeks to give written pledge on reforms |
| BRUSSELS: The eurozone wants Greek political parties to commit to economic reforms in writing before Athens can receive a second bailout, Austria's finance minister said Tuesday. |
|
| Dior at Paris couture shows |
| PARIS: Dior conjured an X-ray vision of the fashion house's history, with a 1950s-themed collection in luminous layers of sheer silk as it headlined day one of the Paris haute couture shows on Monday. |
|
| Creative ways to tackle manpower shortage during LNY |
| SINGAPORE : The food and beverage (F&B) industry in Singapore is coming up with creative ways to cope with a manpower shortage over the Lunar New Year period. |
|
| Starbucks in US to sell wine, beer |
| LOS ANGELES: Starbucks is to start selling wine and beer in some stores in southern California and Atlanta, Georgia, expanding a move which has worked well around its northwest US base, the coffee giant said Monday. |
|
| Mitt Romney "releases tax info" |
| WASHINGTON: Under mounting pressure from rivals, US Republican White House candidate Mitt Romney released tax documents disclosing his multi-million-dollar income Tuesday, according to the Washington Post. |
|
| Tennis: Clijsters topples Wozniacki |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Kim Clijsters ousted top seed Caroline Wozniacki and ended her controversial reign as world number one with a straight-sets win in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday. |
|
| Fiji floods kill two |
| WELLINGTON: Two farmers were killed and more than 700 people evacuated as torrential rain flooded large parts of Fiji's main island Viti Levu, officials said Tuesday. |
|
| More subletting HDB flats |
| SINGAPORE: The number of Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats being sublet has more than tripled in the past five years. |
|
| Japan economy figures revised |
| TOKYO: Japan's economy is expected to shrink 0.4 percent in fiscal 2011, the country's central bank forecast Tuesday, a reversal of its previous projection of 0.3 percent growth. |
|
| Tennis: Wozniacki to lose top ranking |
| MELBOURNE: Caroline Wozniacki will lose her number one ranking after her Australian Open quarter-final defeat to defending champion Kim Clijsters on Tuesday, according to official calculations. |
|
| MHA to issue statement on SCDF, CNB chiefs |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it will issue a statement on Wednesday with regard to a report by Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao, alleging that the Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Peter Lim has been suspended. |
|
| Tennis: Azarenka in Aussie semi |
| MELBOURNE: Belarus's Victoria Azarenka recovered from an error-strewn first set to became the first woman into the Australian Open semi-finals with victory over Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska on Tuesday. |
|
| Crew to pump fuel out of Italy shipwreck |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: A Dutch company prepared to pump 2,380 tonnes of fuel out of an Italian cruise shipwreck on Tuesday as rescue workers kept up the search for 17 people still missing after the accident. |
|
| Philippine fishermen killed at sea |
| MANILA: Gunmen have killed 15 Philippine fishermen and wounded three others in a sea attack by suspected local rivals, the military said Tuesday. |
|
| US state set to back gay marriage |
| LOS ANGELES: The northwestern US state of Washington looks set to become the seventh in the nation to allow gay marriage, after a lawmaker who holds the decision-making balance came out in favour. |
|
| Judge orders Obama to court |
| WASHINGTON: A judge in Georgia has ordered US President Barack Obama to appear in court this week in a lawsuit challenging whether he is a natural-born US citizen qualified to be president. |
|
| Violence hits Nigeria city |
| KANO, Nigeria: Explosions and gunfire were heard early Tuesday coming from an area near a police station in the Nigerian city of Kano, where coordinated attacks and gun battles last week killed at least 185 people. |
|
| Football: Gabon, Tunisia put points on the board |
| LIBREVILLE: Gabon gave debutants Niger a baptism of fire and Tunisia inflicted more misery on Morocco on day three at the Africa Cup of Nations. |
|
| Euro higher on Greek debt deal hopes |
| NEW YORK: The euro rallied above the $1.30 level on Monday amid reported progress in Greek debt talks and traders still covering short positions in the European currency. |
|
| US stocks flat as Greek debt talks struggle |
| NEW YORK: US stocks gave up modest gains on Monday to end the session flat as wary investors focused on Greece's struggle to win a debt write-down from private bondholders. |
|
| Egypt army hands legislative power to new parliament |
| CAIRO, Egypt: Egypt's ruling military on Monday handed legislative powers to the new Islamist-dominated lower house of parliament, which convened for the first time since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak. |
|
| Oil rises after EU slaps embargo on Iran oil |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices rose modestly on Monday after the EU slapped an embargo on Iran's crude exports as part of tough new sanctions aimed at stopping Tehran from funding its disputed nuclear programme. |
|
| China's Xi to meet Obama at White House on Feb 14 |
| WASHINGTON: China's Vice President Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to be his country's next leader, will meet President Barack Obama during a Valentine's Day visit to the White House next month, officials said. |
|
| WTO chief sees weaker global trade in 2012 |
| PARIS: Growth in global trade will likely be weaker this year than in 2011, World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy forecast on Monday. |
|
| Football: Balotelli charged over Parker incident |
| LONDON: Manchester City's controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli could be suspended for four matches after he was charged on Monday with violent conduct by the Football Association (FA). |
|
| Tornadoes whirl across US state, leave two dead |
| BIRMINGHAM, Alabama: Tornadoes ripped through the US state of Alabama on Monday, killing two, trapping many people in their homes, and leaving a trail of damage as well as tens of thousands without power. |
|
| EU targets Iran oil as West rounds on nuclear drive |
| BRUSSELS: The EU slapped an embargo on Iranian oil on Monday in tough new sanctions aimed at blocking funds for Tehran's suspect nuclear drive and reviving stalled talks, as Iran slammed the move unfair. |
|
| Chile struck by 6.2-magnitude earthquake |
| SANTIAGO: An earthquake measuring 6.2 struck off the coast of central Chile on Monday, not far from the town of Concepcion devastated two years ago by a quake and tsunami, US experts said. |
|
| Gene breakthrough to help Japanese farmers hit by tsunami |
| PARIS: Scientists in Britain and Japan have unveiled a fast-track way towards breeding crops with higher yields or resistance to climate change. |
|
| Greece seizes 20 million contraband cigarettes from Malaysia |
| ATHENS: Greek authorities said on Monday they have seized some 20 million contraband cigarettes from containers coming from Malaysia at the port of Piraeus. |
|
| BlackBerry maker to focus more on consumer market |
| MONTREAL: Research In Motion's new chief executive Thorsten Heins said on Monday he plans to focus more on the consumer market but that a "drastic change" is not necessary at the struggling BlackBerry maker. |
|
| Gingrich, Romney trade jabs ahead of Florida battle |
| TAMPA, Florida: Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney traded bitter blows on Monday ahead of their first face-to-face meeting since the former House speaker's shock weekend win roiled the Republican presidential race. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic fights off Hewitt to reach Australian Open quarter-finals |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic repulsed a tenacious fightback from Lleyton Hewitt to join last year's finalist Andy Murray in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday. |
|
| Football: Lucas returns to Liverpool after surgery |
| LIVERPOOL: Midfielder Lucas Leiva has returned to Liverpool from his native Brazil to continue his rehabilitation from a season-ending knee injury. |
|
| Philippine rebels stepping up extortion to raise funds |
| MANILA: Communist insurgents in the Philippines have stepped up "extortion-based violence" and attacks on "soft targets" to raise funds amid waning public support, a military statement said. |
|
| Gaddafi diehards control Bani Walid: official |
| TRIPOLI: Diehard supporters of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi seized control on Monday of "the entire city of Bani Walid", his one-time bastion, after launching a brazen attack on a base there, a local official told AFP. |
|
| Italy cruise ship wreck: two more bodies found |
| GIGLIO ISLAND: Two more bodies were recovered on Monday from the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship on the Tuscan island of Giglio, rescuers said, bringing the official death toll to 15. |
|
| Nigerian police discover 8 bomb-laden cars |
| KANO, Nigeria: Nigerian police found eight bomb-laden cars in the northern city of Kano on Monday as clerics said peace prayers after attacks that left over 160 people dead and stoked fresh fears of civil unrest. |
|
| 600 million new jobs needed in next 10 years |
| GENEVA: The International Labour Organization on Tuesday released a pessimistic report for the global jobs market in 2012 saying urgent attention is needed to create 600 million new jobs in the next 10 years. |
|
| China police open fire on Tibetans, one dead: group |
| BEIJING, China: Police opened fire on Tibetan protesters in China on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring scores of others, a rights group and the Tibetan government-in-exile said. |
|
| War crimes court to try four top Kenyans |
| THE HAGUE: Two leading Kenyan presidential hopefuls are among four officials the International Criminal Court ruled on Monday should face trial over deadly post-election violence four years ago. |
|
| 150,000 mass for funerals near Syrian capital |
| NICOSIA: Funerals in Douma near the Syrian capital drew more than 150,000 people on Monday, marking the largest expression of mourning in the protest hub since a pro-democracy uprising began in March, activists said. |
|
| Supermarket Asda to create 5,000 jobs in UK |
| LONDON: British supermarket chain Asda said Monday that it planned to create 5,000 jobs this year, in a move hailed by Prime Minister David Cameron amid rising unemployment in Britain. |
|
| Football: Redknapp in court on tax evasion charges |
| LONDON: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was in court on Monday to face accusations of tax evasion during his time in charge of Portsmouth. |
|
| Unilateral sanctions on Iran "do not help": Russia |
| MOSCOW: Russia said on Monday it viewed the European Union's oil embargo on Iran as counterproductive and would continue to defend Tehran against further sanctions over its nuclear programme. |
|
| British MPs mull how to stop Big Ben tilt |
| LONDON: British lawmakers meet Monday to discuss renovating the Houses of Parliament, including how to manage the tilting Big Ben clock tower -- and even whether to sell the building to save cash. |
|
| India to complain to US over Jay Leno gag |
| NEW DELHI: India is to formally object to a joke by US TV host Jay Leno in which he said that the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine for Sikhs, was a summer home for wealthy presidential candidate Mitt Romney. |
|
| Saudi female driver defies ban, has fatal accident |
| JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: A Saudi woman who defied a driving ban in the kingdom was injured and her companion killed when their car overturned in the northern Hael province, a police spokesman said on Monday. |
|
| ICC denies deal for Gaddafi's son to be tried in Libya |
| THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court denied on Monday that it had agreed that Seif al-Islam, slain Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's most prominent son, can be tried in Libya. |
|
| Two arrested over 2011 Mumbai blasts |
| MUMBAI: Indian police said on Monday they had arrested two people in connection with triple blasts in Mumbai in July last year which claimed 27 lives. |
|
| Egypt parliament opens first session |
| CAIRO: Islamist MPs took centre stage on Monday as Egypt's parliament met for the first time since a popular uprising ousted Hosni Mubarak, while their supporters massed outside to cheer the historic event. |
|
| Croatians say hello to EU, goodbye to Balkans |
| ZAGREB: Croatia welcomed the prospect of a symbolic break with the rest of the Balkans on Monday after two-thirds of voters endorsed its EU entry, despite signs that the eurozone crisis has dampened enthusiasm. |
|
| Italian navy divers blast open access in shipwreck |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Italian navy divers blew open access points in the wreck of the Costa Concordia on Monday as rescuers debated whether to call off their search for at least 19 people still missing. |
|
| Putin slams ultra-nationalists after protests |
| MOSCOW: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin cautioned on Monday against attempts to stir up ethnic discord and warned that he was ready to ban nationalist parties as he stepped up his Russian presidential campaign. |
|
| IMF head wants "larger firewall" against crisis |
| BERLIN: IMF head Christine Lagarde set out on Monday a raft of proposals to fight the eurozone crisis, including a bigger rescue fund, lower ECB rates and eurobonds as she warned of dimmer world growth prospects. |
|
| British woman claims new Antarctic solo record |
| LONDON: A British explorer, Felicity Aston, claims to have become the first woman to cross Antarctica on her own, after skiing more than 1,700 kilometres across the ice in 59 days. |
|
| Tennis: Sharapova fights back to reach quarters |
| MELBOURNE: Russia's Maria Sharapova battled back from a set down to beat Germany's Sabine Lisicki Monday and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals, her best performance since lifting the title in 2008. |
|
| Thousands spend CNY at River Hongbao |
| SINGAPORE: Thousands in Singapore are spending the first day of the Lunar New Year holidays at River Hongbao - an annual carnival held at the Marina Bay. |
|
| Could neckties be cool again? |
| PARIS: Now that older men have ditched it to look cool, the stylish young are reclaiming the necktie as their own, with the once-derided accessory making a stealthy comeback on the menswear runways. |
|
| CEOs of BlackBerry maker resign |
| NEW YORK: Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the co-chief executives of Research In Motion (RIM), have resigned following months of investor pressure for a change at the helm of the struggling BlackBerry maker. |
|
| Collecting used oil to exchange for new cooking oil for needy |
| SINGAPORE: Some 15,000 students from various schools and residents in the North West district, are exchanging used cooking oil for new bottles of cooking oil to help the needy. |
|
| New welfare programme for elderly |
| SINGAPORE: A new welfare programme, providing housekeeping services for the elderly living in the central district, will begin in April. |
|
| Anonymous hackers attack Polish state website |
| WARSAW: Hackers identifying themselves as the "Polish Underground" took down the Polish government website early Monday, the most recent in a series of attacks protesting against anti-piracy legislation. |
|
| "We have grown apart": Heidi Klum |
| BERLIN: German-born supermodel Heidi Klum confirmed Monday she was separating from her husband, British singer Seal, after seven years of marriage, her publicity agency said. |
|
| Some adopt healthier eating habits during CNY celebrations |
| SINGAPORE: Lunar New Year celebrations are not complete without the festive goodies. |
|
| Eurozone seeks to secure Greek debt writedown |
| BRUSSELS - Eurozone finance ministers scrambled on Monday to hammer out a massive debt writedown deal for Greece as Athens and its bank creditors struggled to find a compromise to avoid a messy default. |
|
| Bank of Spain forecasts contraction of 1.5% in 2012 |
| MADRID: Spain's central bank on Monday forecast that the country, which is struggling to slash its deficit and debt, will fall back into recession this year with a contraction of 1.5 percent. |
|
| Italy planning 50b-euro asset sale |
| MILAN: Italy's government is planning to sell assets worth up to 50 billion euros ($65 billion) to the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to reduce the country's huge public debt, an Italian daily reported on Monday. |
|
| Big quake could hit Tokyo 'within 4 years': study |
| TOKYO - Japanese researchers have warned of a 70 percent chance that a magnitude-seven earthquake will strike Tokyo within four years, a report said Monday -- much higher than previous estimates. |
|
| EU agrees to begin lifting sanctions against Myanmar |
| BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers agreed Monday to begin easing sanctions against Myanmar to encourage reform but will await further positive signals before calling an end to restrictive measures, diplomats said. |
|
| Philippines welcomes PAL sale plan |
| MANILA: Manila has welcomed plans by tycoon Lucio Tan to sell loss-making flag carrier Philippine Airlines, with a presidential spokesman saying on Monday it will improve its image. |
|
| Year of the Dragon roars into Asia |
| BEIJING: A billion-plus Asians welcomed the Year of the Dragon on Monday with a cacophony of fireworks, hoping the mightiest sign in the Chinese zodiac will usher in the wealth and power it represents. |
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| Key witness won't visit Pakistan to testify in memo scandal |
| ISLAMABAD: A star witness asked to appear by Pakistani judges investigating a major scandal implicating the government wants to record his statement abroad rather than visit Pakistan, his lawyer said Monday. |
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| Egypt's new parliament to hold first session |
| CAIRO: Egypt's lower house of parliament on Monday holds its first session since a popular uprising ousted veteran president Hosni Mubarak, with Islamists dominating the assembly for the first time. |
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| Toyota Australia to axe 350 jobs |
| SYDNEY: The Australian arm of Japanese auto giant Toyota announced Monday that it would sack 350 workers at its southern carmaking plant, citing "unprecedented" pressure on its operations. |
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| Hitachi to stop making televisions |
| TOKYO: Japanese high-tech giant Hitachi said it will stop making televisions by the end of September as intense price competition hurts TV earnings at many electronics manufacturers worldwide. |
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| Welcoming the Dragon babies |
| SINGAPORE: The Year of the water dragon flowed in with the birth of three babies in Singapore at the stroke of midnight. |
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| ACM showcases Tang Dynasty artefacts from 8th century shipwreck |
| SINGAPORE: A tale of two kingdoms lost to the world for more than 1,200 years was uncovered from a shipwreck only some 14 years ago and these treasures from the Tang Dynasty are now being showcased at the Asian Civilisations Museum, including a few pieces never before seen by the world. |
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| Japan elects youngest woman mayor |
| TOKYO: Voters in Japan have elected a 36-year-old woman as the country's youngest female mayor, in a nation where older men make up the vast majority of politicians. |
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| Tennis: Williams, Tsonga shocked at Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Five-time champion Serena Williams crashed to one of her worst ever grand slam defeats and Japan's Kei Nishikori stunned Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on a day of major shocks at the Australian Open on Monday. |
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| Singapore Philatelic Museum ushers in LNY with dragon stamps exhibition |
| SINGAPORE: Three hundred dragon stamps will be showcased at the Singapore Philatelic Museum to welcome the Year of the Dragon. |
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| Tennis: Murray breezes through to Australian Open quarter-finals |
| MELBOURNE: Andy Murray took the easy route on Monday to the Australian Open quarter-finals when Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin retired injured, as Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova fought off a case of the yips. |
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| Five die in China New Year row blast |
| BEIJING: New Year festivities in China ended in tragedy for one family when a cousin set off explosives at table over a land dispute, killing himself and four others, state media and a neighbour said Monday. |
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| American Football: Giants, Patriots advance to Super Bowl |
| SAN FRANCISCO: The New England Patriots and New York Giants booked a rematch of their dramatic 2008 Super Bowl showdown with tense playoff triumphs on Sunday to reach next month's NFL championship spectacle. |
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| Foxconn apologises over boss's 'animal' comment: report |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan technology giant Foxconn has apologised over comments by chief Terry Gou allegedly comparing workers to animals, according to a report. |
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| Megaupload founder denies piracy, demands release |
| WELLINGTON: The founder of file-sharing site Megaupload.com appeared in a New Zealand court Monday demanding to be released from prison and denying he had done anything illegal. |
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| Demand for car sharing up during Lunar New Year |
| SINGAPORE: Rental car companies are not the only ones enjoying good business during the Lunar New Year. |
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| S'pore well positioned to cope with global slowdown: President Tony Tan |
| SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam said Singapore is well positioned to cope with the global slowdown. |
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| Chinese Chamber hopes for more assistance schemes in Budget |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry is hopeful the government would consider the current economic uncertainties when pushing through more timely assistance schemes based on each industry's specific needs in the upcoming Budget which will be delivered on February 17. |
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| Syria rejects Arab League call for power change |
| DAMASCUS: Syria on Monday rejected an Arab League plan for President Bashar al-Assad to transfer power to his deputy, calling the initiative a "flagrant interference," state TV quoted an official as saying. |
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| Ninety whales stranded on New Zealand beach |
| NELSON, New Zealand: A pod of 90 pilot whales have beached themselves at the top of New Zealand's South island, in the same area where seven whales died in a mass stranding earlier this month, according to officials. |
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| Research in Motion CEOs announce resignation |
| NEW YORK: The founders and CEOs of Canadian telecommunications company Reseath in Motion, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, announced Sunday that they were leaving their posts. |
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| Economy likely to be slower in 2012: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says the economy is likely to be slower this year, but it is not going to be as bad as the recession during 2008 and 2009. |
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| Tennis: Kvitova survives Ivanovic fight-back |
| MELBOURNE：Reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova downed Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Monday. |
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| EU set to slap oil embargo on Iran |
| BRUSSELS: The European Union readied to slap an embargo on Iran's oil exports Monday as the West ramped up pressure over the country's suspect nuclear drive and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table. |
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| Football: Wenger tries to quell mutiny after sub blunder |
| LONDON: Arsene Wenger was forced to quell talk of a mutiny at Arsenal after his costly mistake led to the Gunners' 2-1 defeat against Manchester United. |
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| Football: Ronaldo's double as Real Madrid hit by 'player revolt' row |
| MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Real Madrid restored their five-point La Liga advantage with a 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday just as the club reeled from allegations of a player revolt. |
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| Football: AC Milan, Inter Milan win to keep pressure on Juventus |
| ROME: Strike pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho scored the goals as AC Milan emerged with a 3-0 victory from their trip to Novara on Sunday and remain hot on the heels of league leaders Juventus. |
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| Gingrich, Romney begin key Florida battle |
| MIAMI: Newt Gingrich set his sights on Sunday on Florida after a stunning win in South Carolina's presidential primary, while main Republican rival Mitt Romney bowed to pressure to release his tax returns. |
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| China urbanisation rattles on, but at what cost? |
| BEIJING: Construction worker Xie Feng arrived in Beijing three months ago from the tropical southern Chinese island of Hainan and is finding life in the city cold and lonely. |
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| Greece deal will stabilise eurozone: Goldman |
| ATHENS: A massive debt writedown for Greece will stabilise the eurozone by removing a threat posed by its "weak link," a strategist with investment bank Goldman Sachs said in an interview published on Sunday. |
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| Wounded lawmaker Giffords to quit US Congress |
| WASHINGTON: Gabrielle Giffords, the US lawmaker who survived a point-blank shooting a year ago, announced on Sunday that she will quit Congress in the coming week. |
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| Tennis: Federer reaches Australian Open quarter-finals |
| MELBOURNE: Roger Federer handed out a masterclass to Australian teen Bernard Tomic as he reached the quarter-finals on a day of tears and drama at the Australian Open on Sunday. |
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| Cricket: Sri Lanka triumph in thrilling climax |
| JOHANNESBURG: Sachithra Senanayake struck a six off the penultimate ball to give Sri Lanka a two-wicket triumph over South Africa on Sunday in the final match of a five one-day international series won 3-2 by the hosts. |
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| Football: Welbeck keeps Manchester Utd hot on City's heels |
| LONDON: Manchester United kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City as Danny Welbeck's late strike clinched a dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday. |
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| Rugby: Saracens preserve English honour in European Cup |
| PARIS: Saracens ensured there was one English representative in the last eight of the European Cup on Sunday coming away unconvincing 26-20 winners over Italian side Treviso. |
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| Golf: Grace beats Els and Goosen in Volvo tournament play-off |
| GEORGE, South Africa: South Africa's Branden Grace held off the challenge of two of his country's greatest players to win the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in a sudden death play-off at The Links at Fancourt on Sunday. |
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| American Football: Legendary US college coach Joe Paterno dies |
| WASHINGTON: Penn State's iconic American football coach Joe Paterno, who was fired last year in the wake of child sex abuse charges against an assistant, died early Sunday after suffering complications from lung cancer, his family said. |
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| Football: Balotelli the hero as Manchester City sink Tottenham |
| MANCHESTER, England: Mario Balotelli settled an extraordinary Premier League battle when his 94th minute penalty earned leaders Manchester City a 3-2 victory over Tottenham on Sunday. |
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| Football: Kagawa sees future with Borussia Dortmund |
| BERLIN: Japan winger Shinji Kagawa has said he sees his future being with German champions Borussia Dortmund and any reports of a move to European giants Manchester United or AC Milan are just speculation. |
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| Another body found in cruise ship disaster |
| ROME: Divers found a woman's body Sunday in the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise liner off the coast of Italy, raising the death toll to 13, a spokeswoman for Italy's Civil Protection Agency said. |
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| VW may completely takeover Porsche |
| BERLIN: Europe's biggest automaker Volkswagen will likely this year complete its takeover of luxury car group Porsche after clearing key hurdles, according to a German media report on Sunday. |
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| S'porean completes 217km race in Brazil |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporean runner Lim Nghee Huat has completed the Brazil 135 ultra-marathon race in a time of 46 hours and 15 minutes. |
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| Libya ruling council deputy to quit |
| TRIPOLI: Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, the deputy head of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council, told AFP on Sunday that he is resigning from his post. |
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| US pleased with Myanmar reforms progress |
| YANGON: A key US senator on Sunday said the United States was "pleased with the progress" of Myanmar's reforms but urged the nominally-civilian regime to ensure upcoming by-elections are "free and fair". |
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| Italy wants rescue fund "doubled" |
| BERLIN: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti is pushing to double the size of Europe's permanent bailout fund to one billion euros (US$1.3 billion), a German media report to be published on Monday said. |
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| Afghan soldier "killed French troops over US abuse video" |
| KABUL: An Afghan soldier who shot dead four French troops has said he did it because of a recent video showing US Marines urinating on the dead bodies of Taliban insurgents, security sources told AFP. |
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| CNY superstitions have limited impact on consumers' decisions |
| SINGAPORE: It's the eve of Lunar New Year and many consumers were busy with last-minute shopping and grooming. |
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| French presidential shapes into four-horse race |
| PARIS: With three months to go, France's presidential election has been shaken up by gains of far-right and centrist candidates at the expense of main rivals Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Francois Hollande. |
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| Pakistan investigates after 23 heart patients die |
| LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan health authorities have launched an investigation into the deaths of 23 heart patients in one city, suspected to be caused by a problem batch of drugs, officials said Sunday. |
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| Heidi Klum to divorce Seal |
| LOS ANGELES: Supermodel Heidi Klum will file for divorce from singer Seal due to "irreconcilable differences," TMZ.com reported. |
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| Spain minister urges change in deficit target |
| MADRID: Spain's public deficit target for this year should be changed because it is based on outdated growth forecasts, Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro said in an interview published on Sunday. |
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| Some supermarkets will remain open during CNY |
| SINGAPORE: If you've not stocked up on groceries to tide you through the Lunar New Year holidays, don't fret just yet. |
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| Iraq tells neighbours not to intervene |
| BAGHDAD: Iraq on Sunday criticised neighbouring Turkey, Iran and unnamed Arab countries for trying to "intervene" in Baghdad's month-long political crisis and not respecting its sovereignty. |
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| Shortage of confinement nannies expected in Dragon year |
| SINGAPORE: It's not just the government hoping for a baby windfall. |
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| Occupy London vacates building after brief stay |
| LONDON: Anti-capitalist protesters of the 'Occupy London' movement have vacated a building in the city's financial district less than a day after entering it, they said on Sunday. |
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| Occupy London vacates building after brief stay |
| LONDON: Anti-capitalist protesters of the 'Occupy London' movement have vacated a building in the city's financial district less than a day after entering it, they said on Sunday. |
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| Rediscovering Singapore through Camp@Home |
| SINGAPORE: Some 35 overseas Singaporean students spent their short break back home, rediscovering their country of birth. |
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| President Mubarak did not write letter of resignation |
| CAIRO: Hosni Mubarak is still president of Egypt as he never signed a resignation letter, his lawyer asserted in court Sunday as he began wrapping up the defence case in the trial of the ousted strongman. |
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| Chinatown ready to usher in Year of the Dragon |
| SINGAPORE: Celebrations in Singapore's Chinatown to ring in the Lunar New Year will be in full swing in a matter of hours. |
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| Oprah tells India her secret from poverty |
| JAIPUR: Television chatshow queen Oprah Winfrey received a rock star's welcome when she spoke on Sunday to a heaving audience of thousands of fans at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India. |
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| Sneak peek at Chingay Parade |
| SINGAPORE: The annual Chingay Parade, held as part of Lunar New Year celebrations, promises a spectacular celebration of love. |
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| Taiwan says China ties have cut fraud by 26% |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's fraud cases fell 26 per cent in 2010 from the previous year after the island joined hands with China to fight crime, the government said Sunday. |
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| Tennis: Federer into quarter-finals of Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Roger Federer taught rising teenage star Bernard Tomic a painful lesson on Sunday, breezing past the teenager in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open. |
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| 26 babies die in India hospital |
| KOLKATA, India: At least 26 infants have died in the past five days in a state-run hospital in India's West Bengal state, authorities said on Sunday. |
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| US, France to ensure strength of Afghan mission |
| WASHINGTON: The United States and France have agreed to work together to ensure the "continued strength and effectiveness" of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, the State Department said. |
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| Bird flu claims another victim in China |
| BEIJING: A man in southwest China who contracted the bird flu virus died on Sunday, state media reported, the second human death in the Asian country from the virulent disease in just under a month. |
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| Wet market stallholders look forward to long CNY break |
| SINGAPORE: Many workers in Singapore can look forward to a restful start to the Dragon year, thanks to the long Lunar New Year weekend. |
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| Warren Buffett plays ukulele in CNY gala |
| BEIJING: The online version of a glitzy television gala marking the Chinese Lunar New Year on Sunday featured a video of US billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett singing and playing the ukulele. |
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| Italian cruise ship search suspended again |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Italian rescuers again suspended their search Sunday for 20 people still missing since a cruise liner capsized more than a week ago, officials said. |
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| Palestinians fire on West Bank patrol |
| JERUSALEM: Palestinian gunmen opened fire at an Israeli army patrol near the West Bank city of Ramallah overnight, an Israeli military spokeswoman said on Sunday. |
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| Curfew relaxed after 162 killed in Nigerian city |
| LAGOS: Authorities on Sunday relaxed a 24-hour curfew slapped on Kano, Nigeria's second largest city after coordinated bombings and shootouts killed at least 162 people. |
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| Cargo vessel sinks off Philippines |
| MANILA: A Panama-registered cargo ship sank off the Philippines' eastern seaboard Sunday, but all 14 crew members were rescued, the coast guard said. |
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| Pakistan detains 31 Indian fishermen |
| KARACHI: Pakistan has detained 31 Indian fishermen and seized their 14 boats for fishing in its territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, the maritime security agency said Sunday. |
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| Olympic 2012 mascots in China sweat shop row |
| LONDON: The organisers of this year's London Olympics said they were investigating claims that cuddly toy versions of the Games mascots are being made by poorly paid workers in a Chinese factory. |
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| Investigations underway for leaked ceilings at Kovan Market |
| SINGAPORE: The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council and the National Environment Agency (NEA) are investigating the cause of the ceiling leaks at Kovan Market. |
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| Tennis: Injured Clijsters back from the brink |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Kim Clijsters saved four match points as she dug deep to beat China's Li Na in a dramatic fourth round match at the Australian Open on Sunday. |
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| Fed to enter tricky waters of US rate forecasts |
| WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve enters uncharted waters at its policy meeting this week as it reveals individual policymakers' views on the future path of interest rates. |
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| Tennis: Clinical Nadal races towards Federer clash |
| MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal raced towards a mouth-watering Australian Open showdown with Roger Federer Sunday as he removed fellow Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez with surgical precision. |
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| Tennis: Azarenka, Radwanska into quarters |
| MELBOURNE: Third seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska became the first women through to the Australian Open quarter-finals after crushing victories on Sunday. |
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| First round of voting begins to elect Finnish president |
| HELSINKI: Finns head to the polls Sunday to cast their ballots in a first round of presidential polls following a campaign overshadowed by the eurozone crisis, even though the president no longer decides EU affairs. |
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| Asia loses its taste for shark fin |
| SINGAPORE: As Asia's ethnic Chinese sit down for lavish banquets to usher in the Lunar New Year, a delicacy long considered a must at celebratory meals is fast disappearing from menus and dinner tables. |
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| Croatians to vote on EU entry in key referendum |
| ZAGREB: Croatians will decide on European Union membership in a referendum on Sunday that all leaders here say is crucial for the future of the former Yugoslav republic, 20 years since its independence. |
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| Gingrich wins key vote, reshapes Republican race |
| COLUMBIA, South Carolina: Republican White House hopeful Newt Gingrich walloped rival and long-time frontrunner Mitt Romney in South Carolina's primary Saturday, dramatically reshaping the topsy-turvy race. |
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| Football: Villas-Boas defends Torres as drought continues |
| NORWICH, United Kingdom: Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has declined to blame Fernando Torres for his side's latest setback. |
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| Football: Angry Dalglish threatens Liverpool axe |
| BOLTON, United Kingdom: Furious Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish threatened to wield the Anfield axe after accusing players of failing to represent the club properly in Saturday's shock 3-1 defeat at Bolton. |
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| Gingrich projected winner in S. Carolina: US media |
| COLUMBIA, South Carolina: Former House speaker Newt Gingrich is projected to win Saturday's pivotal Republican presidential primary in South Carolina, US media said, in an upset victory that could transform the race. |
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| Football: Negredo's header gives 10-man Sevilla derby draw |
| MADRID: An Alvaro Negredo header before half-time earned 10-man Sevilla a 1-1 draw with Real Betis in a typically highly-charged La Liga derby played at a frenetic pace on Saturday. |
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| Two die of A(H1N1) swine flu in Mexico |
| MEXICO CITY: An outbreak of A(H1N1) swine flu claimed the lives of two people - 19 and 21 years old - in Mexico's capital in the first weeks of the year, health authorities said on Saturday. |
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| Dutch teen sailor completes solo world tour |
| SINT MAARTEN, Netherlands: Dutch teen Laura Dekker on Saturday became the youngest sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world, a year after going to court for the right to make the attempt. |
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| Football: Lille survive scare to reach French Cup last 16 |
| PARIS: Holders Lille required an extra-time header from substitute Gianni Bruno to overcome valiant fourth-tier side Compiegne 1-0 in the French Cup on Saturday and take their place in the last 16. |
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| Coordinated attacks, gun battles kill 162 in Nigerian city |
| KANO, Nigeria: Bomb attacks targeting security forces and gun battles killed at least 162 people in Nigeria's second-largest city of Kano, where bodies littered the streets on Saturday, sources said. |
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| Govt to grow families as first line of support amid economic uncertainty |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said the government is strengthening Singapore's social safety nets to help more families in need, amid global economic uncertainty. |
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| Motor Racing: Loeb poised for sixth Monte Carlo Rally title |
| MONACO: World champion Sebastien Loeb was poised to clinch a sixth victory in the Monte Carlo Rally after building up a huge lead of 2 minutes 41.6 seconds on Saturday. |
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| France blames Afghan deaths on Taliban infiltrator |
| KABUL: French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said on Saturday that an Afghan man who killed four French soldiers was a Taliban infiltrator, as he appeared to dampen the prospect of an early withdrawal. |
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| Football: Liverpool crash to defeat at Bolton |
| LONDON: Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a fresh blow on Saturday as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at struggling Bolton. |
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| Activists hurl stink bombs at Japan whaling ship |
| TOKYO: Anti-whaling activists threw paint and foul-smelling acid at a whaling ship in the Antarctic ocean on Saturday in a fresh bid to halt the annual hunt, officials said. |
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| TEPCO to be nationalised for at least 10 years |
| TOKYO: The operator of Japan's crippled nuclear power plant will be effectively nationalised for at least 10 years under a plan to provide it with money to fund compensation payouts, a report said on Saturday. |
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| Brothers win almost half of Egypt parliament seats |
| CAIRO: Egypt's Islamists led by the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood clinched more than two thirds of seats in parliament in historic polls after the ouster of strongman Hosni Mubarak, official results showed on Saturday. |
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| Creditors say Portugal's finance reforms on track |
| LISBON: Portugal is successfully implementing a series of fiscal reforms that are key to gaining continued international financial assistance, its chief creditors said on Saturday. |
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| Banks' top negotiator quits Greece, but talks go on |
| ATHENS: The top negotiator for Greece's private sector creditors left the country on Saturday but the talks with the government on a debt writedown would continue, Greek and bank officials said. |
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| Obama promises 'blueprint for actions' to improve economy |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama promised on Saturday to present a "blueprint for actions" to improve the country's economy and business climate, as he prepared for a major address to the nation next week. |
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| Football: Totti breaks Serie A scoring record |
| ROME: Francesco Totti set a new single club scoring record in Serie A as Roma thrashed Cesena 5-1 on Saturday to boost their hopes of a European finish. |
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| Tennis: History-making Nishikori, Zheng roll on in Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach the Australian Open round of 16 in the open era on Saturday as Zheng Jie joined Chinese number one Li Na in the fourth round. |
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| History-making Nishikori, Zheng roll on in Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man to reach the Australian Open round of 16 in the open era on Saturday as Zheng Jie joined Chinese number one Li Na in the fourth round. |
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| Rugby: Leinster secure home last eight spot in Europe |
| PARIS: Holders Leinster comfortably assured themselves of a home tie in the European Cup quarter-finals with a 25-3 victory over French side Montpellier in Dublin. |
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| Skiing: Worley wins World Cup giant slalom |
| KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia: Tessa Worley of France won the women's World Cup giant slalom on Saturday ahead of Italy's Federica Brignone and Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany. |
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| Golf: Colsaerts powers back into contention in South African tournament |
| GEORGE, South Africa: Long-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts powered his way back into contention with a four-under-par 69 in the third round of the Volvo Golf Champions tournament at The Links at Fancourt on Saturday. |
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| Cruise shipwreck death toll rises to 12 |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Divers searching an Italian cruise shipwreck found another body on Saturday, bringing the death toll to 12, even as they hoped those missing may have miraculously survived in air pockets a week after the tragedy. |
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| China faces 'bigger challenges' in Dragon year, says PM Wen |
| BEIJING: China will face "bigger challenges" in the new Year of the Dragon its Prime Minister Wen Jiabao warned on Saturday, as he pledged economic reforms to improve wealth distribution, state media reported. |
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| Tennis: Djokovic, Murray power into Australian Open fourth round |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic blitzed his way into the Australian Open fourth round on Saturday, conceding just two games as big guns Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also eased through. |
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| F&B wages rise during LNY period |
| SINGAPORE: The Lunar New Year has brought extra brisk business to the food and beverage industry, but restaurants tell Channel NewsAsia they have to fork out more in wages, because of the shortage of workers this festive season. |
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| Football: Torres drought continues as Norwich hold Chelsea |
| NORWICH, England: Fernando Torres' problems in front of goal continued as Chelsea were held to a goal-less draw at Norwich City in the Premier League's Saturday lunchtime kick-off. |
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| Myanmar's Suu Kyi gets support boost |
| YANGON: Prominent Myanmar dissidents and former student protesters released from prison last week, said on Saturday they would support democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in a coming by-election. |
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| Speed boat sinks in Indonesia |
| JAKARTA: Nine people including two children were feared drowned on Saturday after their speed boat sank in heavy seas off eastern Indonesia, an official said. |
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| Egypt's Brotherhood wins 47% of parliament seats |
| CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood's party has won 47.18 percent of seats in the Egyptian parliament, the electoral commission announced on Saturday as it gave the final results from marathon polls. |
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| LionsXII beat Sabah 1-0 |
| SINGAPORE: The LionsXII have clinched their first away win in the Malaysian Super League. |
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| River Hongbao 2012 launched |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officially launched the River Hongbao 2012 at the Float @ Marina Bay on Saturday night. |
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| Flash foods dampen LNY mood |
| SINGAPORE: Flash floods which hit several parts of Singapore on Saturday afternoon due to heavy rainfall have put a damper to the festive Lunar New Year spirit. |
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| Thousands of M'sians return for LNY |
| SINGAPORE: Long-distance train tickets to Malaysia have been sold out as thousands of Malaysians working in Singapore head home for a reunion with their families, ahead of the Lunar New Year. |
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| AIDS casualty figure in China unveiled |
| BEIJING: AIDS killed 28,000 people in China last year, and another 48,000 new infections from the HIV virus were discovered in the country, according to an official report on Saturday. |
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| Hindu temple hosts LNY lunch |
| SINGAPORE: More than 100 senior citizens were treated on Saturday to an eight-course Chinese vegetarian lunch at the Sri Mariamman Temple. |
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| S'porean's 217km charity race under way |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporean ultra-marathon runner Lim Nghee Huat is more than halfway through his gruelling 217-kilometre race in Brazil. |
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| Tennis: Murray into Aussie 4th round |
| MELBOURNE: British fourth seed Andy Murray overcame Frenchman Michael Llodra with ease to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open on Saturday. |
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| Flash floods subside after heavy rain |
| SINGAPORE: Flash floods -- which hit parts of Singapore due to heavy rain on Saturday afternoon -- have subsided. |
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| Lawrence Wong "surprised" by WP's pay clarification |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong said he is surprised to read the Workers' Party's (WP) clarification on the remarks by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Gerald Giam in Parliament. |
|
| Flash floods hit parts of S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: Flash floods have hit parts of Singapore due to heavy rain on Saturday afternoon. |
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| Relatives, friends attend Alice Goh wake |
| SINGAPORE: Relatives and friends paid their respects on Saturday afternoon to Alice Goh, the late former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee's first wife. |
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| Tennis: Dominant Williams into fourth round |
| MELBOURNE: Five-time champion Serena Williams raced into the fourth round of the Australian Open, demolishing Hungary's Greta Arn for the loss of just two games on Saturday. |
|
| Hospitals seek ways to shorten wait times |
| SINGAPORE: Hospitals in Singapore are testing out new concepts to reduce patient turnaround time. |
|
| London gets face-lift for Olympics despite unhappiness |
| LONDON: As preparations to host the upcoming Olympics in London continue at full speed, residents in surrounding neighborhoods have expressed concern over regeneration projects in the area that have affected small businesses, and raised questions about the high costs in public funding needed to mount the games. |
|
| Explosions in home state of Nigeria president |
| LAGOS: Two explosions have rocked Nigeria's southern city of Yenagoa in the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan, but no casualties were reported, the governor's office and the military said Saturday. |
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| Cate Blanchett to leave Sydney Theatre Company |
| SYDNEY, Australia: Oscar-winning Hollywood star Cate Blanchett and playwright husband Andrew Upton are to leave their roles as co-artistic directors of Australia's most prestigious theatre company. |
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| Seoul awaits Chinese bonanza for Lunar New Year |
| SEOUL: South Korean businesses are sprucing up to receive Chinese tourists during the Lunar New Year holidays, hoping the free-spending visitors bring a welcome boon to their otherwise slow business. |
|
| Australia detects no backdown from France on Afghanistan |
| SYDNEY: Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd Saturday said he detected no sign from France that it would withdraw from Afghanistan following meetings in Paris with his French counterpart. |
|
| Gingrich eyes upset in key South Carolina vote |
| GREENVILLE, South Carolina: South Carolina voters headed to the polls in their pivotal Republican presidential primary on Saturday, as surging Newt Gingrich eyed an upset win that could turn the race upside-down. |
|
| Gunmen kills food vendor in Indonesia's Papua |
| JAYAPURA, Indonesia: Gunmen shot and killed a man in the latest deadly attack in eastern Indonesia's Papua province, police said on Saturday. |
|
| US envoy in Kabul for talks with Kazai on peace |
| KABUL: US envoy Marc Grossman arrived in Kabul Saturday for talks with President Hamid Karzai on preliminary peace negotiations with Taliban insurgents. |
|
| Hong Kong freezes US$42m in Megaupload raids |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong Customs officers have raided offices, domestic premises and luxury hotel suites as part of a worldwide FBI Internet piracy investigation into file-sharing site Megaupload.com. |
|
| Victim identified in Hollywood human head mystery |
| LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles police have identified the victim whose severed head and other parts were found near the world-famous Hollywood sign, the LA coroner's office said Friday. |
|
| France mulls Afghan exit after unarmed troops murdered |
| PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned he may accelerate the French withdrawal from Afghanistan after an Afghan soldier shot dead four unarmed French troops during a sports session inside a base. |
|
| En-bloc fever appears to be receding: Khaw |
| SINGAPORE: Some 1,400 private housing units were sold through en-bloc activities in 2011. |
|
| Tennis: Sharapova battles past tenacious Kerber |
| MELBOURNE: Former champion Maria Sharapova of Russia defeated Germany's Angelique Kerber in straight sets to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday. |
|
| Greece pushes for debt deal as Italy set for reforms |
| ATHENS: Crunch talks between Greek officials and the nation's private sector creditors were adjourned till Saturday, as Italy prepared a major liberalisation programme and their eurozone partners held their breath. |
|
| Megaupload latest target of US anti-piracy campaign |
| WASHINGTON: File-sharing website Megaupload is the most high-profile target yet of a US campaign which has seen the seizure of hundreds of sites accused of offering pirated music or movies or counterfeit goods. |
|
| Australian opposition plans to turn back boatpeople |
| SYDNEY: Australia's conservative opposition will order the navy to turn around asylum-seeker boats and return them to Indonesia if it gains power, a report said Saturday. |
|
| Tennis: Kvitova through as injury strikes Kirilenko |
| MELBOURNE: Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova benefited from the second injury retirement in quick succession in the women's draw when Maria Kirilenko pulled out of their Australian Open third round match Saturday. |
|
| Anonymous hackers hijack French Elysee website |
| PARIS: The shadowy online hackers group Anonymous briefly hijacked the French presidential website on Friday in apparent retaliation for the US shutdown of file-sharing site Megaupload. |
|
| Euro wavers amid Greek debt talks |
| NEW YORK: The euro hit a two-week high against the dollar on Friday before falling back, as talks stuttered between Greece and creditors offering to write-down some of the country's debt. |
|
| Table Tennis: Mixed fortunes for Singapore paddlers at 2012 ITTF World Tour |
| SINGAPORE: Kicking off their season at the 2012 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open, the Republic's paddlers saw a day of mixed fortunes at the US$35,000 (S$44,600) tournament at Budapest's SYMA Hall. |
|
| Man serving life sentence to be released |
| SINGAPORE: When convicted murderer Mathavakannan Kalimuthu was pardoned by then-President Ong Teng Cheong in 1998 and had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment, he thought he would only spend up to 20 years behind bars. |
|
| South Korea reopens market to Canadian beef |
| OTTAWA: South Korea lifted a nine-year ban on Canadian beef, becoming the last big Asian market to do so after a 2003 mad cow (BSE) outbreak, Ottawa announced on Friday. |
|
| Football: PSG cruise into last 16 of French Cup |
| PARIS: French title-chasers Paris Saint-Germain moved smoothly into the last 16 of the French Cup on Friday with a comfortable 4-0 win over fifth-tier amateurs Sable-sur-Sarthe at Le Mans' MMArena. |
|
| Football: Gladbach stun German league leaders Bayern |
| BERLIN: Borussia Moenchengladbach blew the German league title race wide open on Friday with a stunning 3-1 win over leaders Bayern Munich with rising star Marco Reus dazzling against the Bavarian giants. |
|
| US stocks mixed on corporate earnings |
| NEW YORK: US stocks closed mixed on Friday on a batch of strong fourth-quarter earnings, especially from Microsoft and IBM, but a disappointment by Google held the Nasdaq index back. |
|
| Cricket: Sri Lanka turn tables on South Africa |
| KIMBERLEY, South Africa: Sri Lanka celebrated a rare success on Friday on their tour of South Africa with a five-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international. |
|
| Oil dips under US$100 a barrel in New York |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices slid underneath $100 per barrel in New York on Friday as sentiment was weakened by expectations of lower demand and traders awaited the outcome of Greek debt talks. |
|
| Snooker: Robertson into Masters semi-finals |
| LONDON: Australia's Neil Robertson defeated Welshman Mark Williams 6-4 to reach the Masters semi-finals at Alexandra Palace on Friday, setting up a clash with UK champion Judd Trump for a spot in the final. |
|
| Protesters urge Argentina to cut ties with Britain |
| BUENOS AIRES: Protesters marched on the British embassy on Friday, burning the Union Jack, and demanding Argentina snap diplomatic ties with London in an escalating row over the Falkland Islands. |
|
| Italy launches sweeping reforms to revive economy |
| MILAN: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's government on Friday adopted a structural reform programme aimed at breathing new life into a debt-stricken economy, but which has already met heavy opposition. |
|
| US says French withdrawal from Afghanistan up to Paris |
| WASHINGTON: The United States offered condolences after four unarmed French troops were killed by an Afghan soldier on Friday and said it was up to France whether to bring its forces home from Afghanistan early. |
|
| US home sales rise 5% in December |
| WASHINGTON: Sales of previously owned homes in the United States surged five percent in December from November, industry data showed on Friday, in a report that pointed to recovery in the housing market. |
|
| Flowers at sea as Italy cruise wreck search resumes |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Relatives of those still missing from a stricken Italian cruise ship laid flowers on the sea by the wreck on Friday, a week after the tragedy in which up to 32 people are feared dead. |
|
| US jazz legend Etta James dies |
| LOS ANGELES: Legendary US blues and soul singer Etta James, best known for her 1960 hit "At Last," died on Friday of complications from leukaemia, her manager said. She was 73. |
|
| Hundreds of US flights cancelled due to heavy snow |
| CHICAGO: Hundreds of flights were cancelled to and from Chicago's busy airports on Friday as a snow storm struck the region. |
|
| EU readies unprecedented Iran oil, bank sanctions |
| BRUSSELS: The European Union is readying its toughest action to date against Iran, moving to dry up funding of its contested nuclear drive by targeting both its oil and financial sector, diplomats said on Friday. |
|
| UN protests after Cambodia blocks Khmer Rouge judge |
| UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Friday protested at Cambodia's rejection of a Swiss judge to the international Khmer Rouge tribunal who has paralyzed probes into two cases opposed by the government. |
|
| GE posts 16% rise in profit for 2011 |
| NEW YORK: US industrial conglomerate General Electric on Friday posted a 16 percent rise in profit for 2011 but capped the year with a weak final quarter amid slow growth in debt-wracked Europe. |
|
| Russian tycoon unveils plan to fight Putin |
| MOSCOW: Billionaire Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov vowed Friday to break up state control of the media and huge enterprises in an election manifesto aimed at denting Vladimir Putin's chances in March polls. |
|
| Gingrich surges on eve of key South Carolina vote |
| CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Newt Gingrich surged in the Republican White House race ahead of Saturday's key South Carolina vote after lambasting the US media for digging into his past marital infidelity. |
|
| Motor Racing: Loeb on course for Monte Carlo Rally triumph |
| VALENCE, France: World champion Sebastien Loeb, aiming for a sixth Monte Carlo Rally title, was well on course for glory on Friday after the day's three specials left him clear of the pack in his Citroen. |
|
| Golf: Grace leads Volvo Golf Champions tournament |
| GEORGE, South Africa: Branden Grace, the last man to qualify, calmy moved to the front of the pack in the second round of the Volvo Golf Champions tournament at The Links at Fancourt on Friday. |
|
| New cracks prompt checks on A380 wings |
| PARIS: The European Aviation Safety Agency on Friday recommended checks on almost half the Airbus A380s in service after new cracks were discovered in the superjumbo's wings. |
|
| Senate vote on online piracy bill delayed |
| WASHINGTON: US Senate majority leader Harry Reid said Friday that he was delaying next week's scheduled vote on a controversial bill aimed at cracking down on online piracy. |
|
| Tennis: Aussie teen Tomic sets up Federer clash |
| MELBOURNE: Australian teen sensation Bernard Tomic won a five-set battle with Ukrainian nemesis Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open on Friday. |
|
| CapitaCommercial Trust sees flat income growth |
| SINGAPORE: CapitaCommercial Trust (CCT), one of Singapore's leading commercial property owners, said its income growth was flat last quarter, due to the economic slowdown. |
|
| Cathay Pacific to buy six Airbus planes for US$1.63b |
| HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific said Friday it had agreed to buy six Airbus long-haul aircraft for less than US$1.63 billion as part of its expansion plans. |
|
| Crocodile swallows Indonesian girl |
| KUPANG, Indonesia: A wild crocodile swallowed a 10-year-old girl while she played in a river with her father in eastern Indonesia, the second death in the same place in two months, a local official said Friday. |
|
| Myanmar president says no backtracking on reform |
| YANGON: Myanmar's president has promised that his country will not turn back from the path to democracy and called on Western nations to end sanctions which he blamed for hindering reform efforts. |
|
| PlastoForm's rights issue gets shareholders' nod |
| SINGAPORE: PlastoForm Holdings said it has received strong backing from shareholders to turn its earnings around. |
|
| NKorean ambassador in German fishing spat: report |
| BERLIN: North Korea's ambassador to Germany has become embroiled in a diplomatic incident in Berlin, several German dailies reported on Friday, after being caught fishing in a local river without a licence. |
|
| Tennis: Injury agony sets up Li-Clijsters rematch |
| MELBOURNE - Kim Clijsters and Li Na will meet in a rematch of last year's Australian Open final after a dramatic end to the women's third round on Friday. |
|
| SGX updates SIAS on China Sky case |
| SINGAPORE: The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) said it has met with officials from the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Friday for updates on its case against China Sky Chemical Fibre - whose shares remain suspended. |
|
| Greece races for double debt deals in last-ditch talks |
| ATHENS: Greece raced Friday to clinch a debt deal with private creditors ahead of a eurozone meeting as it opened talks with EU-IMF bailout partners on a new loan to avert a March default. |
|
| What issues will dominate World Economic Forum? |
| SINGAPORE: The eurozone debt crisis is expected to dominate discussions when government leaders and businessmen meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week. |
|
| SIA inspects A380s after discovering cracks inside wings |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) has begun inspecting its Airbus A380 fleet of superjumbos, after fresh cracks were found on structural components inside the aircraft wings. |
|
| Mosque speaks up in S$32 theft case |
| SINGAPORE: A man, who was sentenced on Thursday to a year's jail for stealing S$32 from a mosque, had been helped by the same mosque for the last three years. |
|
| Football: Villas-Boas says Torres can cope with pressure |
| LONDON: Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists struggling striker Fernando Torres can cope with the mental pressure of competing with Didier Drogba for a place in the team. |
|
| Ionescu trial adjourned to Feb 1 |
| BUCHAREST: The trial of former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu has been adjourned until February 1. The trial was unexpectedly adjourned after Romanian court aides were unable to open video files sent from Singapore. |
|
| Tennis: Federer, Nadal progress at Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Ice-cool Roger Federer showed nerves of steel to down Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic Friday as his great rival Rafael Nadal extended his hot streak at the Australian Open. |
|
| Police nab drink-drivers |
| SINGAPORE: Police arrested 10 drink-drivers in a four-hour island-wide operation between midnight and 4am on Friday. |
|
| Thai exports down in December after floods |
| BANGKOK: Thai exports fell again in December due to the country's devastating floods last year, but the drop was less alarming than in the previous month, government data showed on Friday. |
|
| Rent-a-fort in India's Rajasthan |
| JAIPUR, India: One of India's prime tourist attractions, the princely forts and palaces of Rajasthan state, are hoping for a new lease on life - literally. |
|
| Ng Eng Hen ends Thailand visit |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen made a two-day introductory visit to Thailand, which ended Friday. |
|
| CapitaCommercial Trust announces 4% drop in DPU for FY2011 |
| SINGAPORE: CapitaCommercial Trust (CCT) said distributable income for Q4 2011 fell 0.5 per cent from a year ago, to S$54.4 million. The result is in line with market expectations. |
|
| No pay during LNY sparks ire in China |
| BEIJING, China: It's a problem faced by tens of thousands of migrant workers in China, during the Lunar New Year: Claiming unpaid salaries from their employers. |
|
| Singapore shares end 1.4% higher |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended 1.36% higher on Friday, ahead of the Lunar New Year break for local investors. |
|
| PAP MP questions WP flip-flop on political pay |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Education and Defence, Lawrence Wong has argued that when political parties and their leaders change positions on issues, they have a responsibility to explain to the public as this was about being accountable and transparent. |
|
| Malaysian prosecutors appeal Anwar sodomy acquittal |
| KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian prosecutors on Friday filed a notice of appeal against the acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges. |
|
| Public prosecutorial discretion exercised carefully |
| SINGAPORE: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has assured the public that the exercise of prosecutorial discretion in dealing with accused persons is done carefully. |
|
| Sao Paulo kicks off week-long fashion fiesta |
| SAO PAULO: Latin America's premier fashion event launched a week-long celebration of Brazilian creativity, style and glamour on Thursday, dogged by perennial questions over a lack of racial diversity. |
|
| Productivity reform can help SMEs tide through downturn: e2i |
| SINGAPORE: The spectre of an economic downturn will continue to haunt businesses this year. But small and medium sized enterprises that have undertaken reforms to improve productivity may find the going more manageable. |
|
| Challenges ahead as govt ramps up elder care services |
| SINGAPORE: The government plans to beef up manpower as it targets to significantly expand aged care services over the next decade. But industry players say retaining workers is a big challenge. |
|
| China fund buys stake in British utility |
| BEIJING: China's US$410b sovereign wealth fund said Friday it had bought a stake in British utility company Thames Water, days after the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne held talks in Beijing. |
|
| Camera-less iPhone 4, iPhone 4S on sale in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE - The camera is normally a big selling point, but in Singapore Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S are now available without the function -- to cater to military personnel banned from taking image-capturing devices into army camps. |
|
| China's economy starts new year weak |
| SHANGHAI - China's manufacturing activity shrank for the third straight month in January, data showed Friday, leading analysts to warn of a further slowdown for the world's number two economy. |
|
| Tennis: 'Baghdatis racket' tickles Federer |
| MELBOURNE: Super-cool Swiss Roger Federer Friday laughed off the racquet-smashing antics of Marcos Baghdatis but gave a reminder that he was not always the perfect gentleman on court. |
|
| Basketball: Ailing James leads Heat over Lakers |
| MIAMI: Ailing LeBron James scored 31 points Thursday to lead the Miami Heat to a 98-87 NBA victory over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. |
|
| Balloons carrying Choco Pie sent to North Korea |
| SEOUL: North Korean refugees living in South Korea launched balloons carrying cakes across the heavily fortified border on Friday to help their former compatriots celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. |
|
| Banks in S'pore to boost security |
| SINGAPORE: Consumers can expect more secure electronic financial transactions in future. |
|
| Western brands aim for China's 'Dragon' riches |
| HONG KONG: It's meant to bring riches and power befitting an emperor, but if Western luxury brands have their way the Year of the Dragon will cost their wealthy Chinese customers a fortune instead. |
|
| US shutdown of sharing site draws hacker retaliation |
| WASHINGTON: US authorities have shut down one of the largest file-sharing websites and charged seven people with copyright crimes, sparking a retaliatory cyber attack on the FBI and Justice Department websites. |
|
| Photo industry mourns Kodak |
| NEW YORK: Photographers, professionals and amateurs alike, are mourning the end of an era after Eastman Kodak, which produced the cameras and film many started hobbies and careers with, filed for bankruptcy. |
|
| Only "direct" talks can bring peace: Afghan official |
| WASHINGTON: An Afghan official said Thursday his government hopes peace talks can achieve "a political solution" with the Taliban movement, but stressed that any agreement must come from "direct" negotiations between the two parties. |
|
| NHB embarks on project to document wet markets in S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: The National Heritage Board (NHB) has embarked on a project to tell the story of Singapore through its wet markets. |
|
| Rare monkey rediscovered in Borneo |
| WASHINGTON: An endangered monkey known as the Miller's Grizzled Langur has been discovered on the island of Borneo in an area it was not previously known to inhabit, international researchers said on Friday. |
|
| Jackson family drops money claim against doctor |
| LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson's family has dropped a claim for compensation from the King of Pop's former doctor Conrad Murray over the star's sudden death in 2009, a spokeswoman said. |
|
| Indonesia reports 2nd bird flu death this year |
| JAKARTA: - Indonesia on Friday reported its second human death from bird flu this year, with the death of a five-year-old girl who recently lost her relative to the deadly virus. |
|
| Flash floods at Veerasamy Rd & Thomson Rd |
| SINGAPORE: Flash floods occurred at Veerasamy Road and Thomson Road on Friday due to heavy rain. |
|
| Myanmar eyes more talks with Kachin rebels |
| YANGON: Myanmar's government and ethnic minority Kachin rebels have agreed to hold further negotiations in search of an end to a bloody conflict in the country's far north, state media said Friday. |
|
| S. Korea to deliver first food aid since Kim's death |
| SEOUL: A South Korean group will deliver 180 tons of flour aid to North Korea in the coming week, an official said Friday, the first shipment from the South since leader Kim Jong-Il's death last month. |
|
| Healthier eating habits "commendable": Khaw |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporeans appear to be eating healthier, going by their preference for white meat and vegetables. |
|
| China jails fugitive millionaire for 15 years |
| BEIJING: A Chinese millionaire who fled the country in 2004 to escape fraud charges was sentenced to 15 years in jail on Friday, his lawyer said. |
|
| NTUC Income makes "exceptional" insurance payout |
| SINGAPORE: The family of a nine-year-old pupil who died after he was hit by a car outside his school will receive S$15,000 from NTUC Income. |
|
| Indian book festival opens without Rushdie |
| JAIPUR: India's biggest literary festival opened on Friday in the absence of star guest Salman Rushdie, whose planned appearance has triggered threats of protests by some Muslim groups. |
|
| Gingrich leads Romney in S. Carolina: US poll |
| NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Republican White House hopeful Newt Gingrich has a six-point lead in South Carolina, a poll released Thursday showed, with the state's primary less than 36 hours away. |
|
| Toyota says number one spot not top priority |
| TOKYO: Japanese auto giant Toyota on Thursday played down its demotion from top spot in the world carmakers' league after US firm General Motors said it sold 9.03 million vehicles in 2011. |
|
| Merck to pay up to US$36.3m to settle Vioxx suit |
| MONTREAL: Pharmaceutical giant Merck said Thursday it has agreed to pay up to CAN$36.8 million (US$36.3 million) to resolve all suits brought against it in Canada over its former hit painkiller Vioxx. |
|
| Taiwan extends stay for foreign workers |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan has decided to extend the length of stay for foreign workers to meet growing demand from the island's ageing population, officials said Friday. |
|
| S'pore averted dengue outbreak in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore is enjoying a brief respite from the dengue virus, with the number of cases in 2011 much lower than what was expected for a peak or near-peak year of the six- to seven-year dengue cycle traditionally seen. |
|
| Underwater World tunnel transforms into "Water Dragon" for LNY |
| SINGAPORE: The iconic tunnel at Sentosa's Underwater World Singapore (UWS) has been transformed into a "Water Dragon", as part of celebrations to usher in the Chinese Year of the Dragon. |
|
| SingTel offers free mobile services to mark LNY |
| SINGAPORE: SingTel is offering customers free mobile calls, SMS and MMS as part of Lunar New Year celebrations. |
|
| US presidential runner Gingrich releases tax returns |
| NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich released tax details for 2010 on Thursday showing he handed over a third of his income, in a deliberately timed move against rival Mitt Romney. |
|
| IMF chief Lagarde to talk in Berlin on Monday |
| WASHINGTON: The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, said Thursday she would deliver a speech Monday in Berlin on world economic challenges. |
|
| Istana Open House for Lunar New Year |
| SINGAPORE: The Istana grounds will be open to the public on Tuesday (January 24) to celebrate the Lunar New Year. |
|
| 'Final battle' Greek debt talks go into top gear |
| ATHENS: Greece will resume crucial talks Friday on a debt writedown and a new loan that is key to its economic survival, with talk of progress as the IMF held out hope for additional funding. |
|
| Austria issues 50-year bonds for first time |
| VIENNA: Austria has issued 50-year bonds for the first time in its history, the federal financing agency said on Thursday. |
|
| Six US personnel dead in Afghanistan chopper crash |
| WASHINGTON: Six US service personnel have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, US officials said Thursday, indicating the incident was not believed to be the result of enemy fire. |
|
| Govt moves urgently to expand aged care services |
| SINGAPORE: The government is moving with urgency to expand aged care services to cope with an expected surge in demand when the pace of ageing in the population starts to accelerate. |
|
| Myanmar election fever grips Suu Kyi party |
| YANGON: With the fighting peacock flag flying outside, Aung San Suu Kyi's Yangon party headquarters are once again a hive of activity as her Myanmar opposition prepares for its first poll battle in two decades. |
|
| After election, US presses Taiwan on beef |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday urged Taiwan to ease restrictions on US beef, saying it wanted to focus more on economic relations with the island after President Ma Ying-jeou won re-election. |
|
| Israel detains Hamas head of Palestinian parliament |
| RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: The Israeli army on Thursday arrested the Palestinian parliamentary speaker, Hamas member Aziz Dweik, in the West Bank, a senior colleague told AFP. |
|
| US presses Vietnam anew on rights |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday renewed calls on Vietnam to improve its human rights record, saying it needed to do more to win support in Washington to expand cooperation. |
|
| Intel scores 'record' profits for 2011 |
| NEW YORK: Chipmaker Intel on Thursday reported record revenue and profits for 2011 despite a slight slowdown in the fourth quarter related to the impact of Thailand's floods on the personal computer industry. |
|
| Euro firms against dollar amid easing debt fears |
| NEW YORK: The euro climbed against the dollar on Thursday, buoyed by successful debt auctions by France and Spain and signs of respite in the protracted eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| Football: Valencia beat Levante in Spanish Cup quarter-finals |
| MADRID: Valencia crushed Levante 4-1 in their Spanish Cup quarter-final first leg tie on Thursday thanks mainly to their South American imports. |
|
| Google shares dip as earnings fall short |
| NEW YORK: Google shares were down nearly 10 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday after the Internet search giant's earnings fell short of the expectations of Wall Street analysts. |
|
| IBM income jumps 7% in 2011 |
| NEW YORK: Information technology giant IBM said on Thursday that its net income jumped seven percent in 2011, driven by surging business in dynamic emerging economies. |
|
| Football: Inter Milan cruise past Genoa second string |
| ROME: Inter Milan rung the changes but still proved too strong for a virtual Genoa reserve team as the holders won 2-1 in the Italian Cup on Thursday. |
|
| Microsoft posts US$6.62b quarterly net profit |
| NEW YORK: Microsoft reported a $6.62 billion net profit on Thursday for the second quarter of its fiscal year, slightly better than the expectations of Wall Street analysts. |
|
| Banking bonanza bounces US stocks higher |
| NEW YORK: Solid bank earnings bumped the US stock market higher on Thursday, boosted by news that fewer Americans made new claims for unemployment benefits than at any point in the last three years. |
|
| Oil prices mixed on signs of weak demand |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices were mixed on Thursday with New York-traded crude slipping in late trade on signs of weak demand for gasoline and other fuels in the US. |
|
| TEPCO uses camera to survey Fukushima reactor |
| TOKYO: The operators of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant said on Thursday they had passed an industrial camera into one of the wrecked reactors, in their first attempt to directly check the interior. |
|
| Palestinians say Thailand recognised their state |
| RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: The Palestinian foreign ministry said on Thursday it had received a letter from the Thai government formally recognising a Palestinian state on the 1967 lines. |
|
| At least 100 injured in Iran earthquake |
| TEHRAN: A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the area of the city of Neyshabour in northeast Iran on Thursday, injuring at least 100 people and damaging several houses, state media reported. |
|
| Snooker: Top Trump sinks O'Sullivan |
| LONDON: Rising snooker star Judd Trump underscored his rapidly emerging talent on Thursday with a 6-2 rout of four-time Masters champion Ronnie O'Sullivan to book his place in the last four. |
|
| Gingrich wanted an 'open-marriage', says ex-wife |
| WASHINGTON: The woman who was wed for 18 years to Republican White House hopeful Newt Gingrich said in an interview airing on Thursday that her ex-husband asked for an "open marriage" after carrying on a six-year affair with an aide. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic, Murray reach Australian Open third round |
| MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray hit top gear on Thursday as warhorse Lleyton Hewitt capitalised on Andy Roddick's retirement to reach the third round. |
|
| Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich in US race |
| CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Texas Governor Rick Perry quit the US presidential race on Thursday and endorsed former House speaker Newt Gingrich for the Republican nomination. |
|
| Golf: Colsaerts takes lead with record round in South Africa |
| GEORGE, South Africa: Nicolas Colsaerts birdied nine of the last 11 holes to set the pace with a course record nine-under-par 64 in the first round of the Volvo Golf Champions tournament at The Links at Fancourt on Thursday. |
|
| Motor Racing: Loeb on track in Monte Carlo rally |
| VALENCE, France: France's Sebastien Loeb stayed on course for a sixth Rally of Monte Carlo title by extending his lead after Thursday's opening three special stages. |
|
| Morgan Stanley posts 2011 profit despite Q4 loss |
| NEW YORK: Investment bank Morgan Stanley on Thursday reported a $4.2 billion profit for 2011, amid a late year loss that was not as bad as Wall Street feared. |
|
| British PM vows to build "fairer" economy |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged Thursday to build a "fairer" economy which hands power to individuals and prevents excesses that contributed towards the global financial crisis. |
|
| British PM vows to build "fairer" economy |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged Thursday to build a "fairer" economy which hands power to individuals and prevents excesses that contributed towards the global financial crisis. |
|
| Business sentiment among S'pore SMEs weak |
| SINGAPORE: Small and medium sized companies in Singapore are unlikely to make large capital investments in the next six months. |
|
| Perry to drop out, endorse Gingrich in US race: reports |
| WASHINGTON: Texas Governor Rick Perry will quit the US presidential race on Thursday and endorse former House speaker Newt Gingrich for the Republican nomination, US media reports said. |
|
| Santorum, not Romney, declared winner of Iowa caucuses |
| WASHINGTON - The Republican Party on Thursday declared Rick Santorum the winner of the Iowa caucuses, upending rival Mitt Romney who was originally shown to have won the first-in-the-nation nomination vote two weeks ago. |
|
| Investors eye S.Korea govt bond markets |
| SINGAPORE: Some investors are buying into South Korea's government bond market, as the european debt crisis refuses to settle. |
|
| ACE to seed 500 start-ups under new programme |
| SINGAPORE: The Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) will be seeding 500 start-ups through funding, networks and mentorship as part of renewed efforts to promote entrepreneurship in Singapore. |
|
| Keppel Land eyes overseas expansion |
| SINGAPORE: Property developer Keppel Land has said it is growing a stronger commercial presence overseas. |
|
| Ascott Reit announces DPU of 8.53 cents for 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Ascott Residence Trust (Ascott Reit) has announced a distribution per unit of 8.53 cents for the full year in 2011. |
|
| Japan's Nippon Life to buy 26% stake in Ambani's firm |
| MUMBAI: Japan's Nippon Life Insurance said Thursday it had agreed to buy a 26 percent stake in billionaire Anil Ambani's Reliance Capital in the largest foreign investment in India's mutual fund sector. |
|
| Indonesia to conserve half of Borneo region |
| JAKARTA: Indonesia's forestry ministry said Thursday it would conserve nearly half its share of Borneo island, which is covered with dense rainforest, so as to meet a presidential pledge to reduce gas emissions. |
|
| Police seeking help over abalone theft |
| SINGAPORE: Police have reminded retail outlets to be extra vigilant against shop thieves during the festive season, especially when large crowds throng shopping malls and supermarkets for festive goods. |
|
| Food galore at River Hongbao |
| SINGAPORE: The annual Lunar New Year carnival, River Hongbao, returns this year with a bang. |
|
| Football: Coleman proud at "bittersweet" Wales appointment |
| CARDIFF, United Kingdom: Chris Coleman said his appointment as Wales manager was the proudest moment of his career on Thursday but admitted it was a bittersweet moment following the death of Gary Speed. |
|
| CBD office rents drop |
| SINGAPORE: Office rents have started to show signs of falling and analysts say the pipeline of new office space is not going to help. |
|
| AXS machines to get security boost |
| SINGAPORE: AXS has said it will put in place additional security measures to prevent unauthorised transactions at its terminals. |
|
| Sony Ericsson ends 2011 in red after Q4 loss |
| STOCKHOLM: Mobile phone manufacturer Sony Ericsson said Thursday that intense competition slammed fourth quarter sales and forced it to post a loss of 247 million euros ($318 million) for the year, compared with a 90-million-euro net profit in 2010. |
|
| MFA aware of Ionescu's comments on key witness |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said it is aware of the comments by former Romanian diplomat Dr Silviu Ionescu to the media concerning a key witness in his trial. |
|
| Andie Chen and Elvin Ng: Of brotherhood and 'sibling' rivalry |
| SINGAPORE: There is a certain rivalry between Andie Chen and his "Code of Honour" co-star Elvin Ng. |
|
| Eat less rice, Indonesians urged |
| INDONESIA: Indonesians are being urged to eat less rice and shift to alternative sources of staple foods. |
|
| Man arrested in illegal gambling den bust |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 29-year-old Malaysian man after busting an illegal gambling operation in a Geylang back lane on Wednesday. |
|
| New Facebook apps let users share key events |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Social media giant Facebook released dozens of new applications on Wednesday to let users catalogue every aspect of their lives, from movies to books to food to fashion, and share them with friends. |
|
| Cash incentive for off-peak travel effective? |
| SINGAPORE: Dangling carrots such as discounts or rewards to get more train commuters to travel during off peak hours are unlikely to be effective. |
|
| S'pore, Indonesia reinforce maritime ties |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore and Indonesia have reinforced their maritime ties and partnership between their maritime agencies. |
|
| Dragon Year spells nightmare for Hong Kong mums |
| HONG KONG: Having a baby in the "Year of the Dragon" is a dream come true for many ethnic Chinese who see the zodiac as an auspicious and powerful portent. But for some Hong Kong mothers, it's a nightmare. |
|
| Remaining charges against Sunshine Empire trio dropped |
| SINGAPORE: The remaining charges against the Sunshine Empire trio, who were convicted in 2010, were withdrawn by the prosecution on Thursday. |
|
| India eyes foreign investment in ailing airlines |
| NEW DELHI: India's aviation and finance ministers urged Tuesday that foreign airlines be allowed to buy stakes of up to 49 percent in local carriers to provide vital cash injections for the struggling industry. |
|
| Revised telecoms law to take effect Feb |
| SINGAPORE: The revised Telecommunications Act (TA) will come into operation on the first of next month. |
|
| Singapore shares end 0.6% higher |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended 0.56% higher on Thursday, in line with regional gains following positive data from the US and successful debt auctions in Europe on Wednesday. |
|
| Boxing: Arum quashes mega May fight |
| LOS ANGELES, California: Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said the next time the Filipino superstar steps into the ring it won't be against unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather. |
|
| Pakistani PM digs in on contempt charges |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's embattled prime minister Thursday defended himself against contempt charges before the Supreme Court, refusing to back down in a case that could see him disqualified from office if convicted. |
|
| Indonesia's foreign direct investment hits record |
| JAKARTA - Indonesia's foreign direct investment hit a record US$20 billion last year, with Singapore, Japan and the United States among the Southeast Asian nation's top investors, the trade minister said Thursday. |
|
| Basketball: "Big Shot" Billups drains last-second winner |
| LOS ANGELES: Chauncey Billups drained a game-winning three-pointer with just one second remaining as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks 91-89 on Wednesday. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic, Murray hit top form |
| MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray hit top gear on Thursday as Petra Kvitova was the only top seed to encounter difficulties at the Australian Open. |
|
| Latest Circle Line disruption due to signalling equipment failure |
| SINGAPORE: Train services between Marina Bay and Promenade stations along the Circle Line was disrupted on Thursday at 12.08pm. |
|
| Will Musharraf return to Pakistan? |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf came under mounting pressure Thursday to delay his return from exile, after Islamabad warned he would be arrested if he lands in the crisis-ridden country. |
|
| Death toll rises to 28 in Afghan snow, avalanches |
| KABUL: Helicopters flew supplies into snowbound villages in mountainous northeastern Afghanistan Thursday as the death toll from heavy snowfalls and avalanches rose to at least 28, an official said. |
|
| Japan ready to help Europe through IMF |
| TOKYO: Japan said on Thursday it was ready to answer an International Monetary Fund call for extra cash to help Europe steer a course through its sovereign debt crisis, a report said. |
|
| Shenzhen persuades helpers to stay on over LNY holidays |
| SHENZHEN: Many domestic helpers working in China's big cities would want to return to their hometowns during the Lunar New Year holidays. |
|
| CNB busts major drug trafficking syndicate |
| SINGAPORE: Anti-narcotic officers have busted a major drug trafficking syndicate, with the seizure of a sizeable stockpile of heroin meant for the coming festive holidays. |
|
| US camera pioneer Kodak files for bankruptcy |
| NEW YORK: US camera pioneer Eastman Kodak, which brought photography to the masses over a century ago, filed for bankruptcy early Thursday. |
|
| Cycling: Greipel regains lead Down Under |
| ADELAIDE, Australia: Andre Greipel of Germany regained the lead of the Tour Down Under with yet another powerful sprint display which gave him his 10th stage win of the race on Thursday. |
|
| China jails third activist in a month for subversion |
| BEIJING: Chinese democracy activist Li Tie has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for subversion, becoming the third dissident to be put behind bars in less than a month, a relative said on Thursday. |
|
| Tennis: Sharapova, Zvonareva lead Russian charge at Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: Russian duo Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva eased into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday as Serbia's Ana Ivanovic also progressed in style. |
|
| New Thai minister on US blacklist for Mugabe links |
| BANGKOK: Thailand's premier on Thursday defended her appointment of a cabinet minister who is on a US blacklist owing to alleged business links to Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. |
|
| Qantas A380 blast caused by defective pipe: probe |
| SYDNEY: A mid-air engine blast on a Qantas A380 superjumbo that sent shards of metal raining down on an Indonesian island was triggered by a defective pipe, an update on the investigation said Thursday. |
|
| Man jailed for stealing S$30 |
| SINGAPORE: A 40-year-old man was sentenced to a year's jail on Thursday for stealing S$30. |
|
| Countries relying on 3rd-party dispute mechanisms encouraging: Jayakumar |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's former Senior Minister S Jayakumar said regional countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, have demonstrated an excellent and encouraging trend of relying on third-party dispute mechanisms. |
|
| Pakistan PM insists on presidential immunity |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's prime minister on Thursday told the country's top court that the president enjoys immunity, defending himself against contempt charges for refusing to ask the Swiss to re-open graft cases. |
|
| A*STAR, GE Global Research to develop medical imaging technologies |
| SINGAPORE: The Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is partnering GE Global Research to develop medical imaging technologies and diagnostics. |
|
| We Not Naughty: Too much baggage, not enough fun |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore director Jack Neo returns to film directing with his latest Lunar New Year film "We Not Naughty", the first film he has directed since 2010's "Being Human". |
|
| Promenade & Marina Bay Circle Line stations hit by track fault |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT train services between Promenade and Marina Bay stations on the Circle Line were hit by a track fault Thursday afternoon. |
|
| New Woodsville Tunnel to open on Jan 28 |
| SINGAPORE: The new Woodsville Tunnel will open to traffic at 9.00 am on Saturday, January 28. |
|
| Lennon, OMD and Ozone Jazz in Esplanade birthday bash |
| SINGAPORE: Esplanade's annual "Mosaic Music Festival" will be back in full swing on March 9 with a very meaningful message. |
|
| Romney is only no-show at Republican debate on abortion |
| GREENVILLE, South Carolina: Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney was conspicuous by his absence Wednesday evening at a debate organized by an anti-abortion group in South Carolina. |
|
| Criminal Mentions Court to sit on Monday |
| SINGAPORE: In view of the Lunar New Year public holidays, there will be a special sitting of the Criminal Mentions Court on Monday (January 23) at Court number 26. |
|
| S'pore govt releases 2 residential sites for sale |
| SINGAPORE: Two new residential sites have been launched for sale by public tender on Thursday, to provide home-buyers and developers with more choices for private housing. |
|
| Man hurt in Lornie Road accident |
| SINGAPORE: A man was injured when his car went over the road barrier in an accident along Lornie Road on Thursday morning. |
|
| Cambodian toddler dies from bird flu |
| PHNOM PENH: A two-year-old Cambodian boy has died from bird flu, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, in the country's first fatality from the virus this year. |
|
| Severed head, hands found below Hollywood sign |
| LOS ANGELES: Police found two human hands near where a couple of dog walkers found a gruesome severed head, on a hiking trail leading up to the iconic Hollywood sign, a spokesman said. |
|
| Oil prices higher in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices were higher in Asian trade Thursday, supported by news that the International Monetary Fund was boosting its coffers to aid in crisis intervention, analysts said. |
|
| Iran will not close oil supply route: US analysts |
| WASHINGTON: Iran has no desire to carry out its threat of closing the Strait of Hormuz to head off fresh Western economic sanctions because doing so would damage the regime's own interests, US-based experts say. |
|
| Asian markets rise on IMF crisis-fighting plan |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets rose in early trade Thursday, tracking gains on Wall Street amid positive US economic data and International Monetary Fund plans to boost its coffers for crisis fighting. |
|
| China to further tighten control of microblogs |
| BEIJING: A senior Chinese propaganda official has said real-name registration for the nation's hugely popular microblogs will be expanded, as authorities tighten their grip on the web amid fear of unrest. |
|
| Australian jobless rate steady at 5.2% |
| SYDNEY: Australia's unemployment rate remained steady at 5.2 percent in December, latest data showed, beating economist expectations. |
|
| Pakistan PM to appear in Supreme Court |
| ISLAMABAD: Embattled Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appears before Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday to face contempt of court proceedings that could see him convicted and disqualified from office. |
|
| US, Singapore enhance relations |
| SINGAPORE: The first United States-Singapore Strategic Partners Dialogue took place in Washington DC on Wednesday. |
|
| Analysts, MPs share thoughts on political pay debate |
| SINGAPORE: Discussions on political pay didn't stop at Parliament on Wednesday. |
|
| Top court considers rights of US permanent residents |
| WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in three cases on the rights of foreign-born permanent residents of the United States, two of whom face deportation and a third who was denied re-entry after traveling abroad. |
|
| Republican-led US House 'disapproves' debt hike |
| WASHINGTON: The Republican-led House of Representatives Wednesday passed a largely symbolic measure condemning a hike in the US debt ceiling as political battles over government finances resumed. |
|
| UN to probe 'military angle' to Iran nuclear drive |
| BERLIN: A high-level IAEA delegation visiting Iran January 29-31 aims to verify if Tehran's nuclear programme has a military dimension, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said in an interview to be published Thursday. |
|
| New Zealand inflation falls in December quarter |
| WELLINGTON: New Zealand's inflation rate fell 0.3 percentage points in the three months to December, in a surprise result analysts said would likely see interest rates remain on hold in coming months. |
|
| eBay's fourth-quarter profit soars |
| NEW YORK: Online auction and payments powerhouse eBay said on Wednesday that net profit more than tripled in the fourth quarter in part due to the sale of its remaining stake in Skype. |
|
| Football: Barcelona beat Real Madrid in Spanish Cup match |
| MADRID: Barcelona came from behind to beat holders Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of an increasingly bad-tempered Spanish Cup quarter-final in the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. |
|
| Euro gets boost as traders hedge bets |
| NEW YORK: The euro got a boost against the dollar as traders sought to cover short positions amid some hope that Greek debt talks would bear fruit, traders said on Wednesday. |
|
| Doctor honoured for contributions in infectious diseases training |
| SINGAPORE: For all his contributions in laying the groundwork for Singapore's infectious diseases training programme, Dr David Allen was awarded the inaugural Monteiro Award last Sunday. |
|
| Overstayer jailed 12 years for killing lover |
| SINGAPORE: A Nigerian illegal overstayer who killed his lover was sentenced to 12 years' jail on Wednesday. |
|
| 'Cavities' cause jam along Bukit Timah Road |
| SINGAPORE: A 25-metre stretch spanning two lanes of Bukit Timah Road towards Woodlands Road was closed to traffic for the most part of Wednesday after what the Land Transport Authority (LTA) described as "cavities" were spotted along the drain embankment and its surrounding area. |
|
| Football: Pato sinks Novara as AC Milan reach Italian Cup quarter-finals |
| ROME: AC Milan rung the changes and made hard work of reaching the Italian Cup quarter-finals, beating Novara 2-1 after extra-time at the San Siro on Wednesday night. |
|
| Football: Wolves crash out of FA Cup |
| LONDON: Premier League side Wolves were sent crashing out of the FA Cup on Wednesday, losing 1-0 to midlands rivals Birmingham in a hard-fought third round replay at Molineux. |
|
| Nasdaq's 1.5% gain leads US stocks higher |
| NEW YORK: The Nasdaq led US markets toward strong gains on Wednesday, helped by news that the IMF was to raise $500 billion to boost its crisis-fighting capacity. |
|
| Obama rejects contested Canada pipeline |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday rejected the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from Canada, saying he could not vouch for its safety by a deadline despite intense election-year pressure. |
|
| Oil prices ease amid demand concerns |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices dipped on Wednesday ahead of an announcement by the White House rejecting a key pipeline project, while traders weighed a reduced global demand forecast and Iran nuclear tensions. |
|
| Shivering South Koreans battle 'Big Chill' in offices |
| SEOUL: "It's freezing!" complained chef Byun Sang-Won, jogging on the spot with arms folded and teeth clenched as he tried to keep warm inside the luxury Seoul hotel where he works. |
|
| Eurozone close to recession, says Juncker |
| BRUSSELS: The eurozone is close to recession, Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg premier who heads the eurogroup, said on Wednesday after the World Bank slashed its global growth forecasts. |
|
| Cricket: Misbah's late dismissal caps England's fightback |
| DUBAI: Off-spinner Graeme Swann trapped Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq in the penultimate over of the second day to help England fight back in the second Test on Wednesday. |
|
| Tennis: Nalbandian rant stirs up Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: A furious rant by David Nalbandian stirred up the Australian Open on Wednesday, as Rafael Nadal made a timely return to form and Roger Federer reached the third round without picking up his racquet. |
|
| Woman 'sold into slavery' returns to Taiwan |
| TAIPEI: A Taiwanese woman who was allegedly sold into "slavery" as a child returned from the United States to the island on Wednesday for a much-anticipated family reunion, officials and media said. |
|
| IMF aims to raise US$500b as euro crisis rages |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday it would seek up to $500 billion in new financial firepower as the European debt crisis increasingly threatens the global economy. |
|
| EU mulls lifting sanctions against Myanmar in February |
| BRUSSELS: The European Union is mulling whether to begin lifting sanctions against Myanmar as soon as February to encourage signs of reform after decades of outright military rule, EU diplomats said on Wednesday. |
|
| Seven charged in US insider trading probe |
| NEW YORK: US authorities announced charges against seven people on Wednesday in a hedge fund insider trading sweep that netted financiers across the country. |
|
| Romney pounds Gingrich in Republican White House brawl |
| SPARTANBURG, South Carolina: Republican White House hopefuls brawled on Wednesday ahead of this state's key nominating primary, with frontrunner Mitt Romney pounding his chief conservative threat, Newt Gingrich. |
|
| British court approves eviction of Occupy London protesters |
| LONDON: The High Court in London on Wednesday approved a bid by authorities to evict anti-capitalist protesters from outside St Paul's Cathedral in the British capital's financial district. |
|
| Gurkha 'sadness' over British job cuts |
| KATHMANDU: Gurkha veterans in Nepal spoke of their sadness and sense of injustice on Wednesday at Britain's decision to axe 400 jobs in the brigade as part of a wave of defence cuts. |
|
| Motor Racing: Loeb leads Monte Carlo Rally |
| VALENCE, France: Sebastien Loeb, chasing an unprecedented ninth title, gained an early boost on Wednesday after Finnish rival Jari-Matti Latvala slid out of contention at the start of the Monte Carlo Rally. |
|
| Davos supremo calls for 'new model' for capitalism |
| COLOGNY, Switzerland: The founder and organiser of the World Economic Forum, the annual gathering in Davos of the world's political and business elite, said on Wednesday that capitalism needs a complete overhaul. |
|
| Bailed 'Red Shirt' leader joins Thai cabinet |
| BANGKOK: A Thai "Red Shirt" leader on terrorism charges became the first from the protest movement to become a minister in the current government under a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday. |
|
| Pakistan will arrest Musharraf if he returns: minister |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will arrest former military ruler Pervez Musharraf should he return as announced at the end of the month from three years of self-imposed exile, the interior minister said Wednesday. |
|
| US wholesale prices fall in December |
| WASHINGTON: US wholesale prices fell slightly in December, pulled down by drops in energy and food costs, the government said on Wednesday. |
|
| Goldman Sachs profits plunge 47% |
| NEW YORK: Banking titan Goldman Sachs on Wednesday reported a steep drop in profits for 2011, a fall of 47 percent from the prior year as the firm battled global economic headwinds. |
|
| 5.9-magnitude quake strikes off eastern Indonesia |
| JAKARTA: A moderate 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck in the Molucca Sea off eastern Indonesia Wednesday, geologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage. |
|
| MP worried security equipment could injure public |
| SINGAPORE: Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said the government does not envisage giving persons beyond private security professionals equipment such as batons, handcuffs or specified weapons for use in a public place. |
|
| China's Wen calls for Gulf free trade pact |
| SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for the speedy conclusion of talks on a free trade pact with Gulf states, as he paid a visit to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. |
|
| Road closures & traffic diversions for Chingay Parade |
| SINGAPORE: There will be road closures and traffic diversions for the Chingay Parade Singapore 2012. |
|
| 30 immigrants dig out of detention in Indonesia |
| SURABAYA, Indonesia: Thirty Pakistani and Afghan immigrants tunnelled their way out of an Indonesian detention centre using spoons, nails and wooden sticks, an official said Wednesday. |
|
| China boyfriend for rent |
| Beijing, CHINA: China's internet population may have crossed the half a billion mark. |
|
| Welfare programme to proceed despite falling short of fundraising target |
| SINGAPORE: A new three-year welfare programme providing housekeeping services for low-income elderly will still go ahead - even though fundraising efforts fell short of target. |
|
| Lee Kuan Yew defends competitive ministerial salaries |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has defended the need for a competitive ministerial pay to attract committed and capable people who will serve the country. |
|
| Man arrested for suspected loansharking activities |
| SINGAPORE: A 25-year-old man has been arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. |
|
| Keppel Corp, Sembcorp Marine not bidding for STX OSV |
| SINGAPORE: Keppel Corporation and Sembcorp Marine said they're currently not bidding for a stake in the Singapore-listed STX OSV. |
|
| WP's salary proposal similar to review committee's: PAP MPs |
| SINGAPORE: The final day of debate saw members from the ruling party argue that there was little difference between the proposals of the Workers' Party and the review committee. But this was rejected by the Workers' Party. |
|
| Keppel T&T net profit up 38% on-year |
| SINGAPORE: Keppel Telecommunications and Transportation (Keppel T&T) said net profit for the 12 months, to 31 December 2011, rose 38 per cent from the previous year, to S$79.4 million. |
|
| Malaysia's Proton gets new lease of life |
| Kuala Lumpur: The privatisation of Malaysian carmaker Proton is seen as a positive move. |
|
| Changes to Economic Expansion Incentives Act |
| SINGAPORE: Changes to the Economic Expansion Incentives Act will soon make it easier for companies to engage in high-value added activities. |
|
| Severed head found on road leading to Hollywood |
| LOS ANGELES: A severed human head has been found on a hiking trail leading up to the Hollywood sign, the iconic symbol photographed by millions of tourists every year, police said early Wednesday. |
|
| Man on trial for misusing photo of former minister |
| SINGAPORE: A former engineer with Singapore Technologies Kinetics went on trial on Wednesday for posting Facebook entries inciting violence. |
|
| Disgraced Olympus president to resign in April |
| TOKYO: The president of Japan's scandal-hit Olympus, who has been sued by his own company and disgraced over a cover-up of US$1.7 billion in losses, said Wednesday he would resign -- but only in April. |
|
| Steven Ma ends 18-year relationship with TVB |
| Hong Kong: After months of rumours and ambiguous answers from both Hong Kong actor Steven Ma and broadcaster TVB, Virginia Lok, a senior TVB official, confirmed on Tuesday that Ma will leave the company in March, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| Key to public acceptance of political pay is performance: Indranee |
| SINGAPORE: MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Indranee Rajah, said on Wednesday in Parliament that the key to public acceptance of high ministerial salaries is performance, coupled with a real connection and bond with the people they serve. |
|
| Proposed pay formula should include salary cap, says MP |
| SINGAPORE: The proposed formula by the review committee on ministerial salaries should be tweaked to cap the salaries for the government's term of office, with an annual increment for inflation. |
|
| Ionescu wants key witness in hit-and-run trial |
| BUCHAREST: A former Romanian diplomat charged with manslaughter after a deadly 2009 car crash in Singapore called on Wednesday for a key witness not yet heard in court to testify. |
|
| 13.5 months bonus for minister is not a "clean" salary: WP |
| SINGAPORE: Opposition MP Pritam Singh rebutted suggestions that the Workers' Party's salary proposals are similar to those of the review committee. |
|
| Parliament has made "real progress" on issue of ministerial salaries |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has said that Parliament has made "real progress" on the issue of ministerial salaries. |
|
| Singapore shares end 0.7% lower |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended 0.73% lower on Wednesday, with most blue chips retreating after their strong gains on Tuesday. |
|
| CapitaMall Trust Q4 distribution per unit drops 2.5% |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore-listed real estate investment trust, CapitaMall Trust (CMT) said its distribution per unit for the fourth quarter dipped by 2.5 per cent, to 2.30 Singapore cents. |
|
| Asian markets mostly higher but Europe weighs |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets mostly rose on Wednesday, extending the previous day's rally thanks to upbeat US and German data as well as successful bond auctions in Spain and Greece. |
|
| Italy cruise wreck rescue halted, captain under house arrest |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: The captain of a doomed Italian cruise liner returned home to the Amalfi coast under house arrest on Wednesday, as fears grew that bad weather could hamper rescue efforts on the wreck. |
|
| India says meeting deficit target 'major challenge' |
| NEW DELHI: Meeting India's fiscal deficit target will be a "major challenge," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee admitted on Wednesday, adding that the South Asian economy faced a difficult few months ahead. |
|
| Pakistan PM not guilty of contempt |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's embattled prime minister is not guilty of contempt of court but should bow to pressure and write to Switzerland about reopening graft cases against the president, his lawyer said Wednesday. |
|
| S.Korea central bank to lift investment in China |
| SEOUL: South Korea's central bank promised to gradually increase investments in yuan-denominated assets after being given a licence to invest in Chinese stocks and bonds. |
|
| Man jailed, caned for molesting woman |
| SINGAPORE: A 31-year-old woman agreed to accompany a man she met online to a budget hotel, after he reassured her they were just going there to "kiss". |
|
| New sanctions aimed at 'suffocating' Iran economy: Russia |
| MOSCOW: New Western sanctions against Iran are aimed at "suffocating" its economy and possibly instigating popular discontent, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. |
|
| Public hygiene level can be improved |
| SINGAPORE: The government is still not satisfied with the overall hygiene levels of food establishments in Singapore, and will continue to work to raise standards. |
|
| S$159m collected from ERP gantries for FY2010 |
| SINGAPORE: Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries collected a total of S$159 million for the Financial Year 2010. |
|
| Wikipedia, Google protest Internet bills |
| WASHINGTON: Wikipedia went dark, Google blotted out its logo and other popular websites planned protests on Wednesday to voice concern over legislation in the US Congress intended to crack down on online piracy. |
|
| Tennis: Wozniacki tames Georgian to progress |
| MELBOURNE: World number one Caroline Wozniacki survived a second-set fightback from Georgia's Anna Tatishvili to reach the Australian Open's third round 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) on Wednesday. |
|
| Employees given flexibility to decide workers' mode of transportation |
| SINGAPORE: It is better to give employers the flexibility to decide how best they want to transport workers between dormitories and workplaces instead of a single approach for all employers. |
|
| Former Police NSman jailed for corruption |
| SINGAPORE: A former Police National Serviceman was sentenced to 18 months' jail on Wednesday for various offences, including accepting bribes to smuggle cigarettes to an inmate in the Subordinate Courts' lock-up. |
|
| HDB studio apartments not suitable for younger singles: Khaw |
| SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said HDB studio apartments do not fit the housing needs of younger singles. |
|
| Hong Kong clean air targets fail to impress |
| HONG KONG: Environmentalists on Wednesday expressed disappointment at new clean-air targets for Hong Kong, as research showed pollution-related illnesses killed more than 3,000 residents a year. |
|
| Korean actor stricken with Swine Flu |
| SEOUL: Korean actor Jo Donghyeok's management agency revealed on Tuesday that the actor, who had recently completed shooting for the popular Korean drama "Brain", has been diagnosed with the influenza A (H1N1) virus on Monday, reported Korean media. |
|
| "Love Thy Neighbour" named most popular Singapore drama of 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore broadcaster MediaCorp on Wednesday released a list of the most popular television shows on its free-to-air channels. |
|
| Shareholder sues Olympus board for firing Briton |
| TOKYO: A single Japanese shareholder of scandal-hit Olympus has sued 14 board members who sacked whistle-blowing British former chief executive Michael Woodford, according to lawyers. |
|
| Man gets 18 months' jail for not disclosing HIV status before sex |
| SINGAPORE: A man infected with the HIV virus was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 months' jail for failing to inform another man of his status before they had sex. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal reaches third round after Haas win |
| MELBOURNE: World number two Rafael Nadal overcame Germany's Tommy Haas in straight sets to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. |
|
| 'Vote 2011 Singapore - Results' ranked top programme on Channel 5 |
| SINGAPORE: Last year's General Election show on TV - titled "Vote 2011 Singapore - Results" - was the top programme on MediaCorp Channel 5, attracting more than 1.14 million viewers. |
|
| Singer JJ Lin dismisses rumours that he has a crush on Hebe Tien |
| SHANGHAI: Singaporean singer JJ Lin has denied that he harbours a crush on S.H.E. member Hebe Tien, reported Chinese media. |
|
| Philippines seeks lifting of Myanmar sanctions |
| MANILA: The Philippines has called on the global community to lift sanctions on Myanmar to reward "unprecedented" reforms that are taking place and help the country move towards democracy. |
|
| Suu Kyi registers as candidate in Myanmar by-election |
| YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi registered Wednesday to run for a seat in parliament in an April 1 by-election, in the latest sign of change in the military-dominated country. |
|
| Italian fashion house says sorry to Hong Kong |
| HONG KONG - Italian clothing chain Dolce & Gabbana on Wednesday apologised to the people of Hong Kong for allegedly discriminating against them in favour of wealthy mainland shoppers. |
|
| MND releases median COV paid in Q4 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has released data on the extent of Cash Over Valuation (COV) paid by different buyer groups. |
|
| New generation plastics to keep food fresher |
| SINGAPORE: Food that stays fresher longer and varnishes that keep furniture looking new. |
|
| Smoke bomb thrown over White House fence |
| WASHINGTON: Protestors linked to the "Occupy" movement apparently threw a smoke bomb over the White House fence on Tuesday, capping a day of protests in Washington, the Secret Service said. |
|
| China home prices fall in most cities in December |
| SHANGHAI: Home prices in nearly three-quarters of China's major cities fell in December from November, data released Wednesday showed, as the government stood firm on reining in property speculation. |
|
| Tennis: Li storms through as Peng crashes |
| MELBOURNE: China's grand slam champion Li Na stormed into the Australian Open's third round Wednesday but compatriot Peng Shuai fell by the wayside. |
|
| Tennis: Quickfire Clijsters into third round |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Kim Clijsters wasted no time in progressing to the third round of the Australian Open when she beat Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz Gacon in straight sets on Wednesday. |
|
| China's foreign direct investment up 9.7% in 2011 |
| BEIJING: Foreign direct investment in China rose 9.7 per cent in 2011 to $116.0 billion, despite global economic turmoil, the government said Wednesday. |
|
| World Bank cuts global economic growth forecasts |
| WASHINGTON: The World Bank slashed its global economic growth forecasts Tuesday and warned that rich nations' debt problems may yet reap a crisis that would eclipse the tumult of 2008. |
|
| US, allies say N. Korea must give up nukes |
| WASHINGTON: The United States and allies South Korea and Japan on Tuesday urged North Korea to recommit to giving up nuclear weapons amid deep concern following the death of the regime's leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Joshua Ang mulls knee operation, calls legal dispute "a misunderstanding" |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore actor Joshua Ang revealed Friday during a press event for Jack Neo's latest film "We Not Naughty", that he suffered a painful knee injury during filming and is mulling an operation to remedy his condition. |
|
| Football: Newcastle complete Cisse deal |
| LONDON: Newcastle completed the signing of Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse from German side Freiburg on Tuesday on a five-and-a-half-year deal reported to be worth around 10 million pounds. |
|
| US House to reject Obama's request on raising debt ceiling |
| WASHINGTON: The House of Representatives returns to business after a three-week break with a symbolic vote planned Wednesday rejecting President Barack Obama's request to raise the national debt ceiling. |
|
| Attackers kill five foreign tourists in Ethiopia |
| ADDIS ABABA: Unknown attackers killed five foreign tourists in Ethiopia's northeastern Afar region, state television reported on Tuesday. |
|
| Snooker: Robertson eases into Masters quarter-finals |
| LONDON: Australia's 2010 world snooker champion Neil Robertson booked his place in the last eight of the Masters on Tuesday beating Northern Irishman Mark Allen 6-3. |
|
| Euro gains backed by German data |
| NEW YORK: The euro pushed higher against the dollar on Tuesday helped by positive economic data from Germany and China, while the yen eased against major currencies. |
|
| Lease dispute case against Takashimaya operator dismissed |
| SINGAPORE: The case against Toshin Development Singapore - the operators of Takashimaya Shopping Centre - over its mechanism for reviewing rents has been dismissed, as the presiding judge has found no reason why the mechanism is not operable. |
|
| 30-year relationship ends in High Court case |
| SINGAPORE: A relationship that spanned 30 years, including a de facto marriage, which saw the two parties each eventually marry someone else, is the backdrop for a dispute now in the High Court. |
|
| Teacher jailed eight years for having sex with student |
| SINGAPORE: In sentencing a former secondary school teacher who had sex with his underaged student to eight years' jail on Tuesday, a district judge said these offences caused "a feeling of outrage and revulsion in the community". |
|
| Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang resigns |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo! announced on Tuesday that co-founder Jerry Yang has resigned from the board of directors, effective immediately, and all of his other positions with the Internet company. |
|
| Football: Relief for Hughes as QPR end FA Cup jinx |
| LONDON: Mark Hughes registered the first win of his reign at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday as the Premier League strugglers ended their 11-year FA Cup jinx to beat MK Dons 1-0. |
|
| US stocks close higher after Europe rally |
| NEW YORK: US stocks followed European counterparts higher on Tuesday buoyed by encouraging economic news from Germany and China, and a strong reading from a New York regional economic activity indicator. |
|
| Oil prices higher after positive economic data |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices climbed on Tuesday on positive US and Chinese economic data and after Saudi Arabia said it would like to keep prices high at around $100 a barrel, analysts said. |
|
| Cricket: Du Plessis clinches series for South Africa |
| BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa: Francois 'Faf' du Plessis made the top score and pulled off a spectacular run out as South Africa clinched a series victory in the third one-day international against World Cup finalists Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park on Tuesday. |
|
| Investors snap up eurozone debt despite downgrades |
| MADRID: Cash-flush investors snapped up eurozone debt on Tuesday despite a slew of sovereign downgrades, pouring money into the region's bailout fund as well as into Spanish and Greek paper. |
|
| Obama decries Syria violence |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday decried continued and "unacceptable" levels of violence in Syria and pledged to redouble international efforts to force President Bashar al-Assad to step down. |
|
| White House shooter charged with assassination bid |
| WASHINGTON: A man accused of firing shots at the White House in November has been formally charged with attempting to assassinate US President Barack Obama, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday. |
|
| Cricket: Ajmal on top as England struggle in first Test |
| DUBAI: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took a career-best seven wicket haul to destroy England's much vaunted batting line-up on the opening day of the first Test on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: PSG, Manchester City reach agreement over Tevez transfer |
| PARIS: Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez looks set to sign for Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint Germain after they and his present club Manchester City reached agreement on Tuesday, according to sources within PSG and club owners QSI. |
|
| MP speaks on plight of low-income workers |
| SINGAPORE : MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Zainal Sapari, wants to see stronger emphasis on the importance of increasing the wages of low-income workers in the way the National Bonus is decided. |
|
| Airbus stays ahead of Boeing with record 2011 orders |
| HAMBURG, Germany: European plane manufacturer Airbus said on Tuesday that it outgunned American rival Boeing in 2011, winning a two-thirds market share with a record number of aircraft orders and saw clear skies ahead. |
|
| Motor Racing: F1 driver Senna to drive for Williams |
| LONDON: Bruno Senna has found a drive for the 2012 Formula One season linking up with the Williams team in place of fellow Brazilian Rubens Marrichello, it was announced on Tuesday. |
|
| Eric Khoo chosen as Jury President for Asian Film Awards |
| HONG KONG : Singaporean movie director and producer Eric Khoo has made Hong Kong cinematic history. |
|
| British inflation slows sharply in December |
| LONDON: Britain's 12-month inflation rate fell in December by the biggest amount in more than two years, official data showed on Tuesday, driven by lower prices for clothing, gas and petrol. |
|
| Govt will continue to release sites via GLS programme |
| SINGAPORE : National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said the government will continue to release sites via the Government Land Sales Programme to ensure there is sufficient commercial and industrial space to meet demand over the medium term. |
|
| SIAS calls for lifting of suspension on China Sky shares |
| SINGAPORE : The Securities Investors Association (Singapore) is calling for a lifting of the suspension of the trading of China Sky Chemical Fibre shares. |
|
| OCBC's Group CEO David Conner to retire |
| SINGAPORE: OCBC Bank said its Group CEO David Conner will retire on 14 April. |
|
| Taiwan businessmen rejoice in President Ma's win |
| TAIPEI: Taiwanese business leaders have welcomed President Ma Ying-jeou's re-election. |
|
| Death toll rises to 11 as Italy ship captain grilled |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy - Divers searching for survivors inside a stricken cruise ship off the Italian coast found five more bodies on Tuesday, as prosecutors grilled the arrested captain over his role. |
|
| MP prefers to have fixed salary with adjustments for inflation |
| SINGAPORE: MP for Mountbatten Lim Biow Chuan suggested scrapping pensions for the civil service. |
|
| UN aid appeal for Philippine floods falls short |
| MANILA: Hundreds of thousands of people in the southern Philippines are in dire need of help one month after devastating floods, but a global appeal for aid has fallen well short of its target, the UN said Tuesday. |
|
| Football: LionsXII beat KL FA 2-1 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's LionsXII beat Kuala Lumpur FA 2-1 in a Malaysian Super League (MSL) match at Jalan Besar Stadium on Tuesday night. |
|
| Former MM Lee attends annual TOTAL meeting in Paris |
| SINGAPORE: Former Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew will be visiting Paris from 18 to 22 January 2012. |
|
| UOB ATMs down on Monday due to security checks |
| SINGAPORE: United Overseas Bank (UOB) customers were unable to withdraw cash from the bank's Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) on Monday night. |
|
| National School Games begin |
| SINGAPORE : The Education Ministry will be implementing a set of Baseline Safety Standards for the National School Games which was officially launched on Tuesday. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic, Murray ease into 2nd round of Aussie Open |
| MELBOURNE: Defending champion Novak Djokovic and the player he beat in last year's final, Andy Murray, advanced in contrasting styles at the Australian Open on Tuesday. |
|
| 29 missing on cruise wreck, captain questioned |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy - Hopes began to fade for 29 people still unaccounted for from the wreck of a luxury liner off the coast of Italy on Tuesday as a judge questioned the captain over his role in the disaster. |
|
| 70 plan class action suit over Italy cruise wreck |
| ROME - More than 70 passengers from the Costa Concordia luxury liner which sank off the coast of Italy have joined a class action suit against the owner, consumer rights association Codacons said Tuesday. |
|
| Travel concessions for poly students will cost transport operators S$28m |
| SINGAPORE : Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has said it will cost transport operators an additional S$28 million per year if polytechnic students are given travel concessions. |
|
| Iran warns Saudi Arabia to reconsider oil pledge |
| TEHRAN: Iran on Tuesday warned Saudi Arabia to reconsider its vow to make up for any shortfall in Iranian oil exports under new sanctions, saying Riyadh's pledge to step into the market was unfriendly. |
|
| HDB housing preferred option in easing rental flat demand |
| SINGAPORE: Housing residents in an HDB flat within an HDB community, with access to HDB estate facilities is preferred over dormitory-type temporary housing. |
|
| MND can now move on to help second-time flat buyers: Khaw |
| SINGAPORE : National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said his ministry can now move on to better help second-time flat buyers. |
|
| NUS honours J Y Pillay |
| SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) has set up two distinguished professorships, a fellowship and bursary at the Yale-NUS College, as well as a research centre at the NUS Global Asia Institute to honour renowned policy maker and corporate leader, Professor J Y Pillay. |
|
| Tharman on factors influencing COE prices |
| SINGAPORE : Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said that not allowing banks to finance Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices will not be effective in moderating the rise in premiums. |
|
| China's property market slows in 2011 |
| SHANGHAI: China's property market slowed last year, official figures showed Tuesday, as the government sought to bring down runaway housing prices amid fears of a speculative bubble. |
|
| Raffles College of Higher Education awarded EduTrust certification |
| SINGAPORE : Raffles Education Corporation's subsidiary Raffles College of Higher Education has been awarded the EduTrust certification for four years by the Council for Private Education. |
|
| SMRT Taxis, Smart Cab & Prime Taxi fail in booking service standard |
| SINGAPORE: Three taxi companies - SMRT Taxis, Smart Cab and Prime Taxi - have fallen short in their services for radiophone booking. |
|
| Steve Jobs doll scrapped |
| LOS ANGELES - A China-based firm has scrapped plans to market an action figure made to resemble the late Apple founder Steve Jobs following "immense pressure" from lawyers. |
|
| Singapore seeks membership to IRENA |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore is seeking for a membership to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). |
|
| Myanmar army told 'no attacks' in conflict areas |
| NAYPYIDAW - Myanmar has told the military to halt all offensives in ethnic minority conflict zones, a top official said Tuesday, as the government pursues peace deals with guerrillas as part of wider reforms. |
|
| JAL names ex-pilot as new president |
| TOKYO: Japan Airlines (JAL) on Tuesday named a former pilot as the company's new president as the once-troubled carrier continues on its flight path to recovery. |
|
| PAP MPs rebut WP's political pay proposal |
| SINGAPORE : On the second day of the debate on political salaries in Singapore, Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) rebutted the stand taken by the Workers' Party (WP) on the proposed pay for entry level ministers. |
|
| Former employment agent fined for lying |
| SINGAPORE: A former employment agent was slapped with a S$5,000 fine on Tuesday for falsely declaring the occupation of a foreigner in a work pass application. |
|
| Japan's pop princess to divorce Austrian hubby |
| TOKYO - Japanese pop princess Ayumi Hamasaki is to divorce her Austrian actor husband Manuel Schwarz after just a year of marriage, local media reported Tuesday. |
|
| Khaw pledges to find best solution for Rochor residents |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has emphasised that the government needs to be fair to all residents affected by land acquisition. |
|
| Vital to get ministerial pay system that works for S'pore: PM |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that it is vital to get a ministerial pay system which works for Singapore. |
|
| Asian stocks rally on China data, European gains |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets rose on Tuesday, led by Shanghai and Hong Kong, after better-than-expected Chinese economic growth data, while a successful French bond sale and gains in European stocks also lent support. |
|
| Employers encouraged to offer permanent jobs |
| SINGAPORE: Fewer young resident professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) have been hired on a contract basis in the past five years. |
|
| Govt working with tripartite partners to raise productivity levels |
| SINGAPORE : The government is working with tripartite partners to identify more measures to raise productivity levels, which will in turn lead to higher wages and better employment terms for low-wage workers. |
|
| Lee Yi Shyan allays concerns about anti-competitive practices |
| SINGAPORE : Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan on Tuesday sought to allay concerns about anti-competitive practices in the retail sector. |
|
| Buses move slower as daily ridership increases |
| SINGAPORE: More people are commuting by bus, as ridership grew by 16 per cent from 2.9 million a day in 2007, to 3.45 million per day in 2011. |
|
| Jay Chou celebrates the Lunar New Year early with underprivileged in S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: Taiwan singer Jay Chou, who was in Singapore for a series of promotional activities for his upcoming action film "The Viral Factor" on Monday, still found time to do attend a charity event during his whirlwind visit. |
|
| S'pore hosts 16th S'pore-Kagoshima conference |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore hosted the 16th Singapore-Kagoshima conference on Tuesday. |
|
| N.Korea heading for collapse: Kim Jong-Nam |
| TOKYO: The eldest brother of North Korea's new leader said reforms needed to avert the collapse of the country's economy will lead to the end of its Stalinist regime, according to a book to be published this week. |
|
| S'pore attracts record investment commitments in 2011: EDB |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore attracted record investment commitments in 2011 despite the challenging global economic environment, said the Economic Development Board (EDB). |
|
| Transport ministry has no plans to re-regulate taxi fares |
| SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said there is no need to re-regulate taxi fares as there is sufficient competition in the industry. |
|
| Minister of State for Health on dental subsidies |
| SINGAPORE: Subsidised dental treatment amounted to S$23 million in fiscal year 2010. |
|
| Masagos Zulkifli on sale of alcohol in residential estates |
| SINGAPORE: Stopping the sale of alcohol in residential estates is not likely to stop foreign workers congregating in HDB void decks in Little India. |
|
| Engelbert Humperdinck's recipe for success |
| SINGAPORE: Even after 40 years in the music industry, Engelbert Humperdinck still keeps the new material coming. |
|
| S.Korea says economic gap with N.Korea widens |
| SEOUL: South Korea's economy has widened its gap with North Korea, with gross national income (GNI) about 40 times bigger than its communist neighbour, according to official figures. |
|
| Yoga Lin once jumped off a building for love |
| TAIPEI: People do silly things for love and Taiwan singer Yoga Lin is no exception. |
|
| Hiring expectations up slightly in Q1 2012: survey |
| SINGAPORE: More Singapore companies are expected to increase their manpower in the first quarter this year, according to a survey by global recruitment firm, Hudson. |
|
| Police seize counterfeit goods worth more than S$1 million |
| SINGAPORE: Police arrested three individuals who are believed to be involved in selling and distributing pirated goods. |
|
| Singapore to take part in Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore will showcase its achievements in balancing rapid urban development with environmental sustainability at the International Exposition Yeosu Korea which will be held from May 12. |
|
| SCDF on fire safety during CNY period |
| SINGAPORE: The civil defence force has urged Singaporeans to exercise greater caution to minimise fire hazards and prevent fires during the Lunar New Year period. |
|
| Police issue advisory on car rentals |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporeans who are renting cars for the Lunar New Year period should ensure that they approach reputable companies. |
|
| Rio Tinto posts quarterly iron ore records |
| SYDNEY: Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Tuesday posted record iron ore production in the fourth quarter of 2011, but low grades saw copper output slump 23 percent. |
|
| Once Bitten, Twice Try |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore entertainment company Fly Entertainment's film making arm AI Films has been awfully quiet after their maiden film "Perfect Rivals" had a dismal showing at the box office last year. |
|
| Auditing firms cleared in Olympus cover-up |
| TOKYO: An independent panel probing the $1.7 billion losses cover-up at Japanese camera and medical equipment maker Olympus cleared two leading accounting groups of responsibility on Tuesday. |
|
| British finance minister in China for yuan talks |
| BEIJING: British finance minister George Osborne holds talks with Chinese officials Tuesday in a bid to attract investment in British infrastructure and make London a key trading hub for the yuan. |
|
| AirAsia X boosts Australia services after Europe cuts |
| SYDNEY: Asian budget carrier AirAsia X said Tuesday it will start flying daily services to Sydney from Kuala Lumpur, barely a week after announcing a suspension of flights to Paris and London. |
|
| How much of your salary do you save? |
| SINGAPORE: Two in three Singapore workers save no more than 20 per cent of their monthly pay. |
|
| Romney under pressure to release tax records |
| MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina: Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney said Monday he might release his tax records later in the year, under pressure from his fellow candidates, but resisted promising he would. |
|
| Oil prices higher in Asia on Iran fears |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices climbed in Asian trade Tuesday on fresh worries over tension between Western powers and major producer Iran. |
|
| Tennis: Ruthless Sharapova demolishes Dulko |
| MELBOURNE: Former champion Maria Sharapova demolished Argentina's Gisela Dulko 6-0, 6-1 in less than an hour in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. |
|
| China's urban population outnumbers rural for first time |
| BEIJING: China said Tuesday the number of people living in cities outnumbered those living in the countryside for the first time, as more and more people leave rural areas to seek better economic opportunities. |
|
| Asian shares up after European gains, China data |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets and the euro rose Tuesday, lifted by a successful French bond auction and gains in European stocks, while confidence was also boosted by better-than-expected Chinese economic data. |
|
| OCBC S'pore cycling team bags Continental Team licence |
| SINGAPORE: The OCBC Singapore cycling team has been awarded the Continental Team licence by Union Cycliste International (UCI), the international governing body for cycling. |
|
| US urges South Korea to cut Iranian oil imports |
| SEOUL: A senior US official urged South Korea and other countries Tuesday to reduce purchases of crude oil from Iran in line with a US-led drive to sanction Tehran for its nuclear programme. |
|
| Expect heavy traffic at Woodlands, Tuas checkpoints over CNY |
| SINGAPORE: Expect heavy traffic at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints throughout the Lunar New Year holidays starting from Friday (January 20-24). |
|
| Charge dropped for Aussie who 'mooned' queen |
| BRISBANE, Australia: A man who allegedly flashed his buttocks at Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Australia last year had a charge of wilful exposure against him dropped. |
|
| Tennis: Kvitova eases into second round |
| MELBOURNE: Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova powered into the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday, winning 12 straight games to sweep aside Russia's Vera Dushevina in straight sets. |
|
| Search for 29 missing in Italy liner as captain questioned |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Emergency workers searched Tuesday for 29 people missing from an Italian cruise disaster which killed six as the ship's captain faced an interrogation on accusations that he veered wildly off course. |
|
| Samsung Group to invest record US$41.56 billion this year |
| SEOUL: South Korea's Samsung Group said Tuesday it would invest a record 47.8 trillion won ($41.56 billion) this year and hire 26,000 new employees, also a record. |
|
| Singapore's NODX up 9% on-year in December |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's NODX grew by 9.0 per cent on-year in December 2011, following a 1.4 per cent increase in the previous month. |
|
| Wikipedia set for 24-hour "rally shutdown" |
| WASHINGTON: Free online knowledge site Wikipedia will shut down for 24 hours later this week in protest against draft anti-online piracy legislation before the US Congress, founder Jimmy Wales said Monday on Twitter. |
|
| US retail sales growth to slow in 2012 |
| WASHINGTON: US retail sales growth will slow to 3.4 percent this year, but still outpace the country's GDP growth, the National Retail Federation said Monday. |
|
| Guess who stole the show at Golden Globe? |
| PARIS: A growing pack of fans is howling for Uggie the terrier to get a sniff at the Oscars after the Jack Russell stole the show in the silent movie "The Artist" that scooped a slew of Golden Globe awards. |
|
| Football: Bologna upset Napoli |
| ROME: Napoli's title hopes took another blow as Walter Mazzarri's team were frustrated by lowly Bologna, who held them to a 1-1 draw at the San Paolo Stadium on Monday. |
|
| Ship wreck sparks oil leak fears |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Italian divers and mountain rescue teams scoured the wreck of a luxury liner crashed on the shores of Tuscany Monday, as fears rose of an environmental disaster in case of an oil leak. |
|
| Football: Dzeko goal seals City win |
| WIGAN: Edin Dzeko's first goal for two months earned Manchester City a hard-fought 1-0 win at Wigan on Monday which sent Roberto Mancini's side three points clear at top of the Premier League. |
|
| Pakistan PM to face contempt notice |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's beleaguered premier on Monday agreed to appear in court to face a contempt notice served on him for failing to re-open corruption cases, including proceedings against the president. |
|
| Captain abandoned stricken ship |
| ROME: The captain of a luxury liner that crashed off Tuscany did not respond to an order to return on board to oversee rescue operations, according to a taped telephone conversation released Monday. |
|
| RBS to sell aircraft-leasing arm |
| LONDON: The state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland announced Monday it has agreed to sell its aircraft leasing division to Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. for $7.3 billion (5.76 billion euros). |
|
| Beirut building collapse death toll rises |
| BEIRUT: At least 26 people were killed when an old six-storey building in the Lebanese capital collapsed, officials said on Monday, with more people still trapped under the rubble. |
|
| Cycling: CAS delays Contador verdict |
| PARIS: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) expects to announce their verdict on three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador's doping case "during the week of January 31," the organisation said Monday. |
|
| Football: Inter's Ranieri doubts Tevez signing |
| ROME: Claudio Ranieri poured cold water on plans to sign Carlos Tevez after watching his side stun champions AC Milan and thrust themselves back into the Serie A title race. |
|
| ECB downplays ratings firms' role |
| STRASBOURG: European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on Monday downplayed the importance of ratings agencies after Standard & Poor's mass downgrade of eurozone countries, saying markets had priced in the action. |
|
| Google, Facebook fight criminal charges |
| NEW DELHI: Google and Facebook on Monday fought in the Delhi High Court to quash criminal charges that they are responsible for obscene online content. |
|
| Al-Qaeda invades Yemeni town |
| ADEN: Al-Qaeda militants swept into the Yemeni town of Rada overnight and overran it within hours, marking a significant advance by the extremists towards the capital, officials said on Monday. |
|
| S&P downgrades EU bailout fund |
| PARIS: The Standard and Poor's ratings agency on Monday downgraded the EU bailout fund EFSF by one notch to AA+ but said it would restore the top AAA ranking if the fund obtains additional guarantees. |
|
| Football: Reds "must develop ruthless streak" |
| LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has demanded his shot-shy squad develop a ruthless streak in front of goal after losing more ground in the race for a top four finish in Saturday's goalless home draw with Stoke. |
|
| Greece "nears" debt deal |
| ATHENS: Greece "is close" to a critical debt write-down with private creditors, its prime minister said on Monday, before adding that abandoning the euro was "not an option" for the crisis-hit eurozone member. |
|
| Contracts useful guide to assess civil servant job fit |
| SINGAPORE: Fifty-six per cent of the civil servants in Singapore were appointed on contracts between 2007 and 2009. |
|
| More Mini Coopers recalled |
| BERLIN: German carmaker BMW has recalled around 235,000 Minis worldwide due to a fault in the electric water pump that cools the turbo charger, which could in some cases be a fire risk, a spokesman said Monday. |
|
| Huntsman confirms presidential bid exit |
| MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina: Jon Huntsman, the former US ambassador to China, ended his struggling presidential bid Monday and called on Republicans to unite in support of frontrunner Mitt Romney. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal, Federer play down feud |
| MELBOURNE: Long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal sought to play down a rare public spat between them as both enjoyed crushing round-one wins at the Australian Open on Monday. |
|
| China vows to back Mideast peace |
| ABU DHABI: China's prime minister vowed on Monday to keep promoting peace in energy-rich Middle East and North Africa through the United Nations, at a time of high tension between the West and major oil producer Iran. |
|
| Italy resumes search for cruise disaster victims |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Italian rescuers on Monday resumed an increasingly desperate search for survivors inside the wreck of a luxury liner that had to be halted when the vessel began moving in choppy seas. |
|
| Orchard Road hit by bird nuisance |
| SINGAPORE: Since Channel NewsAsia's report last month about mynahs being a public nuisance, viewers have given feedback that Orchard Road is plagued by this problem as well. |
|
| MND to explore new ways to address stray dog problem |
| SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan has said that his ministry will explore new initiatives this year to address the problem of stray dogs. |
|
| Retrenchments likely to rise as economy slows down: Tharman |
| SINGAPORE: 3,040 workers were laid off in the second and third quarters of last year. |
|
| Football: Gary Cahill completes protracted Chelsea move |
| LONDON: Bolton defender Gary Cahill on Monday completed his protracted transfer to Chelsea, the London club confirmed. |
|
| Next Gen NBN achieves 83% nationwide deployment |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's ultra-high speed Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN) has achieved 83 per cent nationwide deployment, as of 30 November 2011. |
|
| SGX sees 11.85% drop in Q2 profit |
| SINGAPORE: A dismal last three months of 2011 for equities trading hurt quarterly earnings at SGX. The exchange operator reported an 11.85 per cent drop in second quarter profit for the 2012 financial year. |
|
| British government sinks royal jubilee yacht suggestion |
| LONDON - Britain's government on Monday torpedoed suggestions by a minister that taxpayers could pay for a new royal yacht to mark the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. |
|
| Hindus celebrate Pongal, give thanks to sacred cow |
| SINGAPORE: Hindus in Singapore celebrated Pongal, the harvest festival, by giving thanks to the cow which is considered sacred to the community. |
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| Salary committee should have tried to benchmark all benefits, says MP |
| SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC, Zaqy Mohamad, said the Committee to Review Ministerial Salaries should have attempted to benchmark all benefits, perks, tax breaks and other hidden costs of political remunerations of other equally developed countries. |
|
| SIA overall load factor fell 1.2% points on-year |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) filled 68.6 per cent of the space available on its planes for passengers and cargo in December, up from 67.2 per cent recorded in November. |
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| World tourist numbers grow despite crisis: UN |
| MADRID: International tourist numbers expanded in 2011 despite the economic crisis, the Arab spring and Japanese disasters, and will hit one billion this year, a UN body said Monday. |
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| MPs express broad support for proposed political pay formula |
| SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament have expressed broad support for the proposed pay formula. But some objected to pegging the salary of political office-holders to that of top earners, describing it as "elitist" and "fundamentally flawed". |
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| SAP sets up regional headquarters in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: The shipping and logistics sectors are set to benefit from a new research centre that's being established in Singapore. |
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| MP defends S'pore's clean wage system |
| SINGAPORE: MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Inderjit Singh said he supports Singapore's clean wage system, saying the principle of paying Minister's high salaries is not a flawed one. |
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| 2 men arrested for suspected loanshark activities |
| SINGAPORE: Police arrested two men for their alleged involvement in loansharking activities in two separate cases on 15 January. |
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| WP proposes changes to ministerial bonuses |
| SINGAPORE: The Worker's Party proposed its own changes to the bonuses paid to political appointees. |
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| MP suggests pegging pay to simple top percentile income bracket |
| SINGAPORE: MP for Moulmein-Kallang GRC, Denise Phua said she does not completely agree with the recommendations carried in the report of the political salaries committee. But she added that the committee has moved in the right direction. |
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| Tennis: Wozniacki into second round of Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE - World number one Caroline Wozniacki moved smoothly through to the second round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Anastasia Rodionova on Monday. |
|
| Man fined S$18,000 for smuggling over 300 singing birds |
| SINGAPORE: A site engineer was fined S$18,000 on Monday after smuggling in more than 300 singing birds from Malaysia, three-quarters of which died as a result of their confinement. |
|
| Vapour leak "likely" cause of Korean ship explosion |
| SEOUL: South Korea's coastguard said Monday a failure to remove fuel vapour from a tank was the "likeliest" cause an explosion which split a tanker in two on Sunday and killed at least five crewmen. |
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| Political office should be a calling and a privilege: Chen Show Mao |
| SINGAPORE: Opposition MP Chen Show Mao said political office should be a calling and a privilege, not a burden or a sacrifice. |
|
| Lorry crashes into shop house along Jln Besar, driver runs off |
| SINGAPORE: A lorry crashed into a shop house along Jalan Besar on Monday morning. |
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| German finance minister rules out rescue fund hike |
| BERLIN: Germany's finance minister on Monday ruled out a hike in bailout fund guarantees by eurozone members following the ratings downgrade of nine countries by Standard and Poor's. |
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| Singapore shares slump 1.3% |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices slumped 1.3% on Monday, in line with the general weakness seen in regional equities markets. |
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| PR applications under PTS scheme halved in 2010 |
| SINGAPORE: The number of permanent residence (PR) applications approved under the Professionals, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme (PTS) more than halved in 2010. |
|
| Maintaining the balance in Taiwan |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou may have secured a second term by playing the China card. But observers point out that his biggest challenge in the next four years, will be maintaining the delicate balance in cross-strait ties. |
|
| IMF executive warns of eurozone 'spiral' |
| HONG KONG: A senior International Monetary Fund executive warned on Monday that Europe required bold action to avert a "downward spiral" that could drag the world economy into "catastrophe". |
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| 2 arrested for human smuggling near Punggol Jetty |
| SINGAPORE: The Police Coast Guard (PCG) said from 2009 to 2011, the number of suspicious boats entering Singapore waters declined by half, to 170. |
|
| S&P's downgrades spook Asian markets |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets fell and the euro remained under pressure on Monday after Standard & Poor's cut the credit rating of nine European nations, including France and Austria's triple-A status. |
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| DPM Teo moves motion to debate political pay in Parliament |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has moved a motion in Parliament to ask the House to adopt the proposals set out by the Committee to review political pay, and stressed the importance of having an open and transparent process to determine political salaries. |
|
| Tennis: Tomic wins epic to oust Verdasco at Aussie Open |
| MELBOURNE: Australian teen Bernard Tomic stole the show on day one of the Australian Open Monday with an epic five-set upset of Spain's Fernando Verdasco, as Juan Martin del Potro safely launched his campaign. |
|
| Japan probes radioactive apartment block |
| TOKYO: Japan's government was Monday investigating how an apartment had been built with radioactive concrete in the latest scare from the country's ongoing nuclear crisis. |
|
| Govt will continue to manage growth of foreign workforce |
| SINGAPORE: Several questions were tabled in parliament on the number of jobs that are filled by locals compared to foreign professionals. |
|
| At least 11 killed in Beirut building collapse |
| BEIRUT: At least 11 people were killed and 12 injured when a run-down six-storey apartment block collapsed without warning in the Lebanese capital, a Red Cross official told AFP on Monday. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal races into second round |
| MELBOURNE, Australia: Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal defeated American Alex Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in the opening round of the Australian Open on Monday. |
|
| India's December inflation slides to 7.47% |
| MUMBAI: India's annual inflation rate fell to 7.47 percent in December, down from 9.11 percent in November, latest official data showed, raising the prospect of central bank interest rate cuts. |
|
| Govt reviews childcare subsidies from time to time |
| SINGAPORE: Working mothers receive higher childcare subsidies from the government because they have more limited care arrangements, and are more in need of costlier, full day services. |
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| Pakistan court rules PM in contempt, ordered to appear |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's top court on Monday found Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt for not complying with orders related to re-opening corruption cases and summoned him to appear in person this week. |
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| More staff, resources for FSCs in event of spike in case loads |
| SINGAPORE: A central pool of professional staff will be deployed to Family Service Centres should there be sudden spikes in case loads. |
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| Service penalty framework "fairly stringent": Josephine Teo |
| SINGAPORE: Transport Minister of State Josephine Teo has defended the penalty framework used to judge bus operators' service standards. |
|
| Kazakh ruling party wins 80.74% in vote |
| ASTANA: The ruling party of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev won 80.74 percent of the vote in snap elections, retaining its dominant grip on parliament, early results showed Monday. |
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| Priority is to help S'poreans own first flat: Khaw |
| SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said imposing an income ceiling for resale flats will deprive flat owners of the full market value of their flats. |
|
| Nigerian president cuts petrol price, soldiers deployed |
| LAGOS: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan announced Monday a cut in petrol prices of around 30 percent in a bid to end a nationwide strike now into a second week, as soldiers seized the main protest site in Lagos. |
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| Speaker of Parliament accepts salary recommendations |
| SINGAPORE: The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Michael Palmer has accepted the recommendations made on his salary by the Ministerial Salaries Review Committee. |
|
| Britain seeks major slice of offshore yuan market |
| HONG KONG: Britain said Monday it will partner with Hong Kong to develop the City of London as a major offshore centre of trade in China's yuan currency. |
|
| Men nabbed for stealing S$20,000 worth of cooking pots |
| SINGAPORE: Three men have been arrested for stealing S$20,000 worth of cooking pots. |
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| Police arrest human smugglers and illegal immigrant |
| SINGAPORE: Police arrested two Singaporean human smugglers and an illegal immigrant on Saturday night. |
|
| Thai king treated for digestive ailment |
| BANGKOK: Thailand's frail king, the world's longest reigning monarch, has been treated with antibiotics for a digestive ailment, the palace said. |
|
| China struggles to meet surging demand for dairy |
| BEIJING: Despite a major safety scandal in 2008, China's demand for milk is surging as people grow wealthier, but the country's poorly kept and often undernourished dairy herds are struggling to keep pace. |
|
| Private home sales fall in December |
| SINGAPORE: Sales of new private homes in Singapore fell 62.9 per cent in December, based on latest data released on Monday. |
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| Police seeking help over ATM theft |
| SINGAPORE: Police are looking for a person who stole money left behind in an ATM's cash dispenser on January 7. |
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| Japan police probe find of body with severed genitals |
| TOKYO: Tokyo police were investigating Monday after finding the body of a naked man whose genitals had been sliced off with a kitchen knife, Japanese media reported. |
|
| Fly Entertainment, Singapore Hospice Council team up for outreach program |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore entertainment company Fly Entertainment marked the beginning of its three-year partnership with the Singapore Hospice Council (SHC), an umbrella body for hospice and palliative care providers, with a charity gala screening of "We Not Naughty" on Friday. |
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| Etoile FC will not participate in 2012 S.League |
| SINGAPORE: French club Etoile FC will not participate in this year's S.League competition. |
|
| French FM set for talks with Myanmar president |
| NAYPYIDAW: France's foreign minister is due to meet Myanmar's president on Monday during a visit to assess the regime's reformist credentials as Western powers weigh a possible relaxation of sanctions. |
|
| Philippines chief justice faces impeachment trial |
| MANILA: A historic impeachment trial of the Philippines' top judge will begin on Monday as President Benigno Aquino steps up his popular but sometimes controversial crusade to stamp out corruption. |
|
| S. Korea envoy leaves for US for three-way talks |
| SEOUL: A senior South Korean diplomat left for Washington Monday for talks with Japanese and US officials to coordinate policy after the sudden death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Oil higher in Asian trade on Nigerian unrest |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose in Asian trade on Monday as worries over supply disruptions in Nigeria outweighed concerns over the mass debt downgrade of eurozone nations, analysts said. |
|
| Huntsman to drop out of US presidential race |
| CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman is dropping his US presidential bid and will endorse frontrunner Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination on Monday, his campaign said. |
|
| S. Korea couple tell of 30-hour nightmare in sinking ship |
| SEOUL: A South Korean honeymoon couple have described their 30-hour nightmare trapped in a wrecked Italian cruise ship, saying they screamed for help for hours after waking up too late to evacuate the vessel. |
|
| Asian shares fall after European downgrades |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets fell and the euro sat near 16-month lows on Monday after Standard & Poor's cut the rating of nine European nations, including France and Austria's triple-A status. |
|
| Consumers urged to boost online security |
| SINGAPORE: Consumers have been urged to activate the two-factor authentication (2FA) for their email accounts and social networking sites ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays. |
|
| Eldest son of late Kim spotted in Beijing |
| SEOUL: The eldest son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has been spotted in Beijing almost a month after his father's death, South Korean media reports said Monday. |
|
| Massive size of cruiseliners a safety risk |
| PARIS: Stricken luxury liner Costa Concordia may have been big enough to house swimming pools and restaurants but its very size might have complicated evacuation and rescue efforts, industry experts said. |
|
| Nigeria unions cancel street protests, but strike continues |
| ABUJA: Nigerian unions have decided to call off street protests due to security concerns, but a week-old nationwide strike over soaring fuel prices will remain in place, a labour leader said on Monday. |
|
| Japan machinery orders soar 14.8% in November |
| TOKYO: Japan's core private-sector machinery orders, a leading indicator of corporate capital spending, jumped 14.8 percent in November from the previous month, official data showed Monday. |
|
| Italy ship crew recounts evacuation |
| ROME: The crew of the ill-fated Costa Concordia helped to evacuate between 500 and 600 people from the ship wrecked off the Tuscan island of Giglio, a member of the team told AFP Sunday. |
|
| Human pandemic response plans under way |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health has been working closely with clinicians and other public health stakeholders to develop and implement response plans for the next human pandemic. |
|
| Golden Globe rolls out red carpet |
| LOS ANGELES: Hollywood stars hit the red carpet Sunday for the annual Golden Globes show, with silent film "The Artist" hoping to add to its awards success in the run-up to the all-important Oscars. |
|
| Nigeria President, unions end talks |
| ABUJA: Nigeria's labour unions said they were considering their next moves after talks Sunday with President Goodluck Jonathan aimed at ending a week-old strike and mass protests over fuel prices. |
|
| Football: Marseille beat Lille |
| PARIS: Lille's French title defence received a significant setback on Sunday as their 17-game unbeaten run came to an end in a 2-0 defeat at resurgent Marseille in which Loic Remy claimed both goals. |
|
| BMW recalls Mini Coopers |
| WASHINGTON: German automaker BMW is recalling nearly 89,000 Mini Coopers, the US traffic safety agency announced Sunday, citing the threat of a smouldering circuit board that could set the cars on fire. |
|
| Stricken ship captain erred |
| ROME: Costa Crociere, the owner of the luxury liner that ran aground off the coast of Italy, killing at least five people, said Sunday the vessel's captain had made "errors of judgement". |
|
| Romney takes hit from Christian right |
| CHARLESTON, South Carolina: Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney hit a roadblock Sunday in South Carolina as Christian conservative leaders coalesced behind Rick Santorum in the race for the presidential nomination. |
|
| Football: Maradona in Dubai hospital |
| DUBAI: Former Argentinian football great Diego Maradona was successfully treated for kidney stones at a Dubai hospital on Sunday, the Al-Wasl club he coaches said. |
|
| US-Israel army drill "delayed" |
| JERUSALEM: Israel and the United States have agreed to postpone a major military defence exercise scheduled for spring, Israeli public radio reported Sunday, amid rising regional tension over Iran's nuclear programme. |
|
| Greece can "rebuild economy" |
| BERLIN: Greece can rebuild its economy by itself with structural reforms despite the austerity drive it has had to undergo, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a radio interview on Sunday. |
|
| Kazakh ruling party set to win poll |
| ASTANA: The ruling party of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was set for a crushing election win Sunday with 81 percent of the vote but with up to two other parties gaining a foothold in parliament, an exit poll said. |
|
| Mars probe "crashes into Pacific Ocean" |
| MOSCOW: Russia believes fragments of its Phobos-Grunt probe which spiralled back to Earth after failing to head on a mission to Mars crashed Sunday into the Pacific Ocean, a spokesman for its space forces said. |
|
| Football: Swansea shock Arsenal |
| LONDON: Arsenal lost ground in the race to secure a top-four finish as the Gunners slumped to a surprise 3-2 defeat against Swansea City, while Mark Hughes' debut as QPR boss ended in a 1-0 loss at Newcastle United on Sunday. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal hits out at Federer |
| MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal launched an Australian Open broadside at Roger Federer on Sunday, claiming the 16-time Grand Slam title winner should be doing more to support growing complaints over the professional tour. |
|
| British PM to meet Scottish leader on referendum |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron has agreed to meet Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond in a bid to resolve a row over an independence referendum, Cameron's spokesman said Sunday. |
|
| Egypt 2011 tourism earnings drop |
| CAIRO: Revenue from Egypt's lucrative tourist industry dropped by 30 percent in 2011 due to unrest that rocked the country following the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, the minister of tourism said on Sunday. |
|
| Football: Juve, Udinese drop points |
| ROME: Juventus and Udinese both dropped points to hand AC Milan the impetus in the Serie A title race on Sunday ahead of the evening's Milan derby. |
|
| Football: New QPR boss disappoints |
| LONDON: Mark Hughes's debut as QPR manager ended in disappointment as Leon Best gave Newcastle a 1-0 victory at St James' Park on Sunday. |
|
| Strong quakes rattle remote Antarctica |
| WASHINGTON: Two strong earthquakes 40 minutes apart rocked the remote South Orkney Islands in Antarctica on Sunday, experts from the US Geological Survey said. |
|
| China's Wen holds talks in oil-rich Saudi |
| RIYADH: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Saudi officials in Riyadh on the first stop of a Gulf tour, as tensions over Iran's nuclear programme spark fears of major oil supply disruptions, local media said. |
|
| ElBaradei's boycott of Egyptian presidency blow to military |
| CAIRO: Nobel peace prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei's decision to quit the race for the presidency was seen in Egypt as a slap in the face for military rulers and one depriving liberals of a key force. |
|
| Nigerian unions vow to resume strike if no deal |
| ABUJA: Nigeria's unions vowed to press ahead with a week-old nationwide strike on Monday if a deal over fuel prices is not reached before then, but a threat to halt crude production has been put on hold. |
|
| Football: Liverpool defend racism stance |
| LONDON: Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has defended the under-fire Premier League club's stance on racism after criticism of their handling of the Luis Suarez affair. |
|
| Sarkozy promises more reform after France downgrade |
| AMBOISE, France: President Nicolas Sarkozy, in his first public reaction to France's credit rating downgrade, called for calm Sunday and vowed to carry out more reforms to lead the country out of crisis. |
|
| S'pore will help citizens wrongfully detained overseas: Shanmugam |
| SINGAPORE: Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said Singapore will work with authorities overseas, to help Singaporeans when they are detained wrongfully. |
|
| UN chief urges end to Israeli occupation |
| BEIRUT: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, saying the illegal building of settlements worked against a two-state solution. |
|
| Cambodia probes bodies in Frenchman's car |
| KAMPONG SPEU, Cambodia: Cambodian police were on Sunday investigating the deaths of five people -- presumed to be a missing Frenchman and his four children -- whose skeletal remains were found in a submerged car. |
|
| UN chief demands Syria's Assad end violence |
| BEIRUT: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Sunday issued a call to Syria's Bashar al-Assad to stop killing his people, warning the embattled president he was heading for a dead end. |
|
| Cricket: Australia rout India to seal series |
| PERTH, Australia: Australia routed India by an innings and 37 runs inside three days on Sunday to seal a crushing 3-0 series victory against the hapless tourists. |
|
| Badminton: Lee eyes Olympics after Malaysia win |
| KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Lee Chong Wei equalled a badminton legend's record of eight Malaysia Open titles Sunday, trouncing his opponent in the final and declaring he had his sights set on Olympic gold. |
|
| Record participation in SAFRA AVventura cross-terrain race |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's largest cross-terrain adventure race, the SAFRA AVventura, saw a record of 448 participants this year. |
|
| Two Koreans, Italian found alive in Italy cruise disaster |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Two South Korean honeymooners were rescued Sunday from a cruise ship wreck on an Italian island as emergency crews searching for dozens missing said they could hear another voice inside. |
|
| Pakistan premier praises armed forces amid tension |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has moved to calm mounting tensions between the government and the armed forces, saying the civilian leadership fully supports the military. |
|
| S'pore breaks world record for largest AED training session |
| SINGAPORE: Some 5,000 people broke the record on Sunday for the world's largest Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training session. |
|
| Short film bags top prize at 3rd Creative Video Awards |
| SINGAPORE: A short film on speed dating gone wrong has bagged the top prize at the 3rd Creative Video Awards on Saturday night. |
|
| Students in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC receive bursaries |
| SINGAPORE: More than 9,000 students in the Bishan-Toa Payoh ward, have received bursaries totalling over S$2 million over the past five years. This includes some S$122,000 given out on Sunday to about 550 recipients. |
|
| Suu Kyi hints at possible government role |
| YANGON: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Sunday that she did not rule out taking a government position if she wins a parliamentary seat in upcoming by-elections. |
|
| Chan Chun Sing visits Jurong Spring |
| SINGAPORE: The first ministerial visit of the year kicked-off in Jurong Spring on Sunday by Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing. |
|
| Majority of Japanese against tax hike plan: polls |
| TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda faces a tough fight to push through his highly charged tax hike plan as the majority of Japanese are opposed to the rise, according to latest opinion polls. |
|
| Japan flight turns back after seat fire |
| TOKYO, Japan: A Japan Airlines flight bound for Sydney was forced to turn back after takeoff when a business class passenger seat caught fire, reports said Sunday. |
|
| Iran warns Gulf states not to make up for oil ban |
| TEHRAN: Iran has warned its Gulf neighbours to not step in to make up for any shortfall in its oil exports under new Western sanctions, its OPEC representative said in comments published on Sunday. |
|
| Japan frets over EU downgrades |
| TOKYO: Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi on Sunday expressed worries over his nation's own sovereign debt rating after Standard and Poor's downgraded nine debt-laden EU countries, including France. |
|
| China says shots fired at cargo boat on Mekong |
| SHANGHAI: Unidentified attackers fired on a Chinese cargo boat on the Mekong River in Laos, China's police said, less than two months after Beijing began joint patrols to protect shipping. |
|
| Ballet Revolucion hits S'pore with a Cuban twist |
| SINGAPORE: Expect a mix of modern and classical dance routines... with lots of attitude. |
|
| Name change for Primary Care Partnership Scheme |
| SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans will enjoy subsidised general practitioner care under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), which kicked in on Sunday. |
|
| China sets pace for smoggy Hong Kong: think-tank |
| HONG KONG: Beijing's decision to come clean on its dirty air has embarrassed Hong Kong, where smog kills hundreds of people a year, hurts business and drives away talent, a think-tank has said. |
|
| Taiwan's Ma wins vote but faces tough second term |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's re-election is a relief for China and the US, but observers say he could face a tough second term, forced to balance demands from Beijing with fears he is selling out. |
|
| China vows cooperation with Taiwan after poll |
| BEIJING: China said it will cooperate with Taiwan after the Beijing-friendly leader Ma Ying-jeou claimed victory in the island's presidential polls Saturday. |
|
| S'pore economy already starting to see slowdown: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore's economy is already starting to see a slowdown, particularly in the electronics sector. |
|
| PUB to implement anti-flood measures in coming months |
| SINGAPORE: National water agency, PUB will have its hands full over the next few months as it studies the anti-flood recommendations made by a panel of experts and takes short-term action on the ground. |
|
| Stricken Italian ship had 300 Filipinos aboard |
| MANILA: The Philippines said Sunday 300 Filipino crew members had been aboard a cruise ship that ran aground and keeled over in Italian waters, with 21 of them sustaining injuries. |
|
| Santorum secures key US evangelical backing |
| WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Saturday received a powerful shot in the arm as top US evangelical leaders endorsed his White House bid ahead of a crucial South Carolina primary. |
|
| Japan's growing yen for acquisitions |
| TOKYO: Japan Inc is on an acquisitions march across Asia and around the world, new figures show, as firms armed with ever more valuable yen take strategic advantage of the currency's post-war highs. |
|
| S&P action turns up the heat on EU leaders |
| BRUSSELS: Two weeks before a new summit, European leaders are under pressure to deliver a credible solution to the debt crisis after Standard & Poor's punished their policies with stinging credit downgrades. |
|
| S. Korea oil tanker explosion kills three |
| SEOUL: A South Korean oil tanker has sunk after an explosion on board, leaving three crew members dead and eight missing, the South Korean coastguard said. |
|
| French minister to meet Suu Kyi on Myanmar visit |
| YANGON: France's foreign minister is due to meet democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday during a historic visit to assess the Myanmar regime's commitment to change after a string of dramatic reforms. |
|
| UK faces EU re-negotiation if Scotland breaks away |
| BRUSSELS: Britain would have to re-negotiate its EU membership if Scotland voted for independence, senior EU sources told AFP as Scotland and England fight a high-stakes referendum battle. |
|
| China knocks US sanctions on state-run firm over Iran |
| SHANGHAI: China has criticised the United States for imposing sanctions on a state-run oil firm for exporting petroleum products to Iran, saying the move was "without reason". |
|
| Failed Russia Mars probe set for Sunday crash |
| MOSCOW: Russia's space agency on Sunday called off all predictions of the likely crash site of its ill-fated Mars probe only hours before the 13.5-tonne spacecraft was due to begin its fatal descent. |
|
| What does it take to be a part of Scoot's cabin crew? |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's first long-haul budget carrier Scoot said it could fly to five or more destinations other than Sydney, when it begins operations in June. |
|
| Iran nuclear drive could spark arms race: Hague |
| LONDON: British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Sunday warned that Iran's nuclear programme could spark a Middle East arms race, and that all options to deal with the threat were being considered. |
|
| Two found alive, many missing in Italy liner disaster |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: Rescuers have found two people alive on a cruise ship that hit rocks and keeled over off the west coast of Italy, as three were confirmed dead with dozens still missing. |
|
| Nigeria oil production shut down halted |
| ABUJA: Nigeria's government and union leaders ended talks late Saturday without a deal to end a week-old strike that has shut down the country, but a threat by workers to halt oil production was put on hold. |
|
| Football: PSG's Ancelotti sees winning start |
| PARIS: Carlo Ancelotti made a winning league start to his tenure as coach of French giants Paris Saint Germain on Saturday as a brace from Brazilian Nene and a goal from Argentinian Javier Pastore swatted Toulouse 3-1 to keep the capital club top of the heap. |
|
| Spain PM vows to restore credit confidence |
| MALAGA, Spain: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed Saturday to restore confidence in Spain's finances and push for European reforms, after his was among several countries to receive a credit downgrade. |
|
| Saudi, Chinese oil giants ink deal |
| RIYADH: Saudi state oil giant Aramco inked a deal Saturday with China's Sinopec to build an oil refinery in the Red Sea city of Yanbu that will process 400,000 barrels per day, state news agency SPA said. |
|
| China-Taiwan ties could get boost |
| BEIJING: Chinese state media said Sunday the victory of Beijing-friendly leader Ma Ying-jeou in the Taiwanese presidential election could offer a "new opportunity" to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait. |
|
| Kosovo police, protesters clash |
| PODUJEVO: Police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse hundreds of Kosovo Albanians who tried to blockade the border with "enemy" Serbia, arresting 146 protesters. |
|
| Italy cruise ship captain nabbed |
| GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy: The captain of a luxury cruise liner that keeled over off Tuscany, killing three people and leaving 41 unaccounted for, was arrested Saturday as survivors told of scenes "like the Titanic". |
|
| Tibetan sets self on fire |
| BEIJING: A Tibetan set himself on fire in southwest China on Saturday and police fired on hundreds of locals, possibly killing one, as they attempted to rescue the burned body from officials, rights groups said. |
|
| Pakistan quells militant attack |
| PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Pakistani security forces Saturday quelled a militant attack on a police station in which eight people were killed including four suicide bombers, one police and three civilians, police said. |
|
| Oprah Winfrey's girls graduate |
| HENLEY-ON-KLIP: US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey cried Saturday as the first graduates of her South African girls' academy thanked her for her effort to turn a handful of impoverished girls into elite leaders. |
|
| Badminton: Lee in M'sia final |
| KUALA LUMPUR: World number one Lee Chong Wei came back from the brink Saturday at the Malaysia Open with an inspired 21-18, 17-21, 21-13 victory over Chen Long to take him to the final in front of home fans. |
|
| Football: Scholes scores fairy-tale goal |
| LONDON: Paul Scholes scored a fairy-tale goal as Manchester United outclassed Bolton Wanderers 3-0 to go level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday. |
|
| Football: Chelsea beat Sunderland |
| LONDON: Fernando Torres failed to end his four-month Premier League goal drought but the striker could at least claim an assist for Frank Lampard's flukey goal that gave Chelsea a narrow 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. |
|
| US congratulates Taiwan's Ma |
| WASHINGTON: The United States congratulated Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday for securing a second four-year term and praised the island as "one of the great success stories in Asia." |
|
| Syria defector to form army council |
| DAMASCUS: A top Syrian army defector was set to take charge of the rebel army's operations on Saturday, as the United States accused Iran of supplying munitions to aid Damascus' bloody crackdown on protests. |
|
| Pakistan's Zardari meets army chief |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari met the chief of the powerful army on Saturday for rare face-to-face talks amid a civilian-military standoff that is shaking the government, a spokesman said. |
|
| Tunisia marks year after Ben Ali exit |
| TUNIS: Thousands of Tunisians Saturday turned out in central Tunis to demand jobs as the north African country marked a year to the day since its despot Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled into exile. |
|
| Football: LionsXII play to goalless draw against Kedah |
| SINGAPORE: The LionsXII played to a goalless draw with Kedah in their first away match of the 2012 Malaysian Super League campaign. |
|
| Service delivery model for occupational therapists "needs to evolve" |
| SINGAPORE: Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing, said the way occupational therapists are organised needs to evolve. |
|
| Football: We must win derby to be in title race - Ranieri |
| ROME: Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri admits his side must beat neighbours AC Milan to thrust themselves into the Serie A scudetto picture. |
|
| US congratulates Taiwan president on re-election |
| WASHINGTON: The United States congratulated Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday for securing a second four-year term and praised the island as "one of the great success stories in Asia." |
|
| Cambodia police find 5 bodies in Frenchman's car |
| PHNOM PENH: Cambodian police on Saturday found five bodies, two of them stuffed in a suitcase, in a car belonging to a Frenchman who had been missing for months with his four children, officials said. |
|
| Strong SAF underpins S'pore's peace and security: Tony Tan |
| SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam said a strong Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) underpins the peace and security of the country. |
|
| S'pore congratulates Ma Ying-jeou |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore has welcomed the successful conclusion of Taiwan's Presidential Election on January 14. |
|
| DBS/POSB roll out more security measures |
| SINGAPORE: DBS Bank is speeding up the rollout of additional security measures to further guard against unauthorised ATM withdrawals. |
|
| China watches Taiwan election online |
| BEIJING: Millions of people in China accustomed to one-party rule at home got a front-row seat of democracy in action on Saturday watching Taiwan's hotly contested presidential election live online. |
|
| Art Stage back in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: International arts fair, Art Stage, is back in Singapore for the second time and it claims to be bigger and better. |
|
| Mentoring youths through football |
| SINGAPORE: Football for a good cause - that is what the Masagos Cup hopes to do. The futsal tournament is part of Bedok Police Divsion's Youth Mentoring Scheme. |
|
| Taiwan's Ma wins second term as president |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's Beijing-friendly leader Ma Ying-jeou secured a second four-year term as president Saturday, promising better ties with China after an election watched intently by the United States. |
|
| Taiwan's President Ma claims election victory |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's China-friendly leader Ma Ying-jeou claimed victory in presidential polls Saturday, in a win that gives him a second four-year term after a vote watched intently by Beijing and Washington. |
|
| Smooth start at new Circle Line stations |
| SINGAPORE: It was a smooth start at the two new stations on the Circle Line. Bayfront and Marina Bay stations officially started operations on Saturday, adding 2.4 kilometres to the Circle Line route. |
|
| Golf: Handa S'pore Classic returns in April |
| SINGAPORE: The ISPS Handa Singapore Classic is returning for the third time. This year, organisers are staging the golf event in April instead of September, and they hope this will help to draw in the crowds. |
|
| Last-ditch talks to avert Nigerian oil production shut down |
| LAGOS: Nigeria's government and unions prepared for last-ditch talks Saturday to end a week-old nationwide strike over fuel prices and avert an oil production shutdown in Africa's largest crude exporter. |
|
| Obama promises tax incentives for job creation |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama promised Saturday new tax incentives for companies that create jobs in the United States -- and punishment for those who export them overseas. |
|
| Two Singaporean men drown in Indonesia |
| BINTAN, Indonesia: Two Singaporean men drowned after high waves struck while they were swimming off Indonesia's Sumatra island on Saturday, police said. |
|
| Taiwan's Ma ahead in vote watched by China, US |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's Beijing-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou appeared comfortably ahead in unofficial counting Saturday after the island voted in a poll eagerly watched in both China and the United States. |
|
| France downgrade "expected", should not be "dramatised": PM |
| PARIS: Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Saturday that France's credit rating downgrade had been expected and that his government was now prepared to make budgetary "adjustments" if necessary. |
|
| CDAC aims to help more families move up social ladder |
| SINGAPORE: Self-help group Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) has set aside more funds to help more families move up the social ladder. Its budget for this year is bigger by 15 per cent - at about S$25 million, and it aims to help 64,500 beneficiaries. |
|
| Taiwan's Ma opens early lead: unofficial counting |
| TAIPEI: Early counting in Taiwan's presidential poll on Saturday showed pro-China incumbent Ma Ying-jeou open an early lead over his main challenger Tsai Ing-wen, local television reported. |
|
| Ultra-marathoner to run for a good cause in Brazil |
| SINGAPORE: An ultra-marathon runner is going the distance again but this time to kill two birds with one stone. |
|
| Khaw spreads cheer to underprivileged at Sembawang nursing home |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan spread cheer to the underprivileged as he visited a nursing home in Sembawang on Saturday morning. |
|
| Thousands protest against nuclear power in Japan |
| TOKYO: About 2,000 demonstrators hit the streets of Yokohama on Saturday calling for an end to nuclear energy in Japan after the March 11 disaster that sparked the worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl. |
|
| Three dead, 4,000 evacuated in Italian cruise ship disaster |
| ROME: Three people died and several were missing Saturday after a cruise ship with more than 4,000 people on board ran aground and keeled over off an Italian island, sparking chaos as passengers scrambled to get off. |
|
| Lunar New Year goodie bags for elderly residents in Punggol South |
| SINGAPORE: Celebrations for the upcoming Lunar New Year came a little earlier for 480 residents of Punggol South on Saturday as they received goodie bags from Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. |
|
| Singaporean drowns, one missing in Indonesia |
| BINTAN, Indonesia: A Singaporean man drowned and another was missing after high waves struck while they were swimming off Indonesia's Sumatra island on Saturday, police said. |
|
| ESM Goh wants to see stronger economic links with India |
| SINGAPORE: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong wants to see stronger economic ties between Singapore and India, at the time when the Indian economy holds huge growth potential. |
|
| Basketball: Red-hot Bryant propels Lakers to Cavs win |
| LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant delivered his third-straight 40-point NBA game on Friday, scoring 42 as the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-92. |
|
| Tennis: Ferrer too good for Rochus in Auckland final |
| AUCKLAND: Top-seed David Ferrer retained his Auckland ATP title Saturday with a comfortable victory over Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-4 in a rain-disrupted final. |
|
| Chinese Premier Wen drops in on Nepal |
| KATHMANDU: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday for talks marking the first visit to Nepal in a decade by a leader of the world's second-largest economy. |
|
| DSTA staffer collapses, dies after run |
| SINGAPORE: A deputy director of the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) collapsed and died on Wednesday night after a run. |
|
| China, US watch as Taiwan votes for new president |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan voted in a tight presidential election Saturday to decide who will manage crucial relations with China for the next four years, in a poll also being eagerly watched by the United States. |
|
| Apple admits supplier abuse of workers |
| WASHINGTON: Apple admitted some of its suppliers continued to overwork and underpay employees, as it threw open its factory doors to monitors after a spate of suicides at a Chinese plant. |
|
| Myanmar frees hundreds of political prisoners |
| NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar has released more than 300 people deemed by the opposition to be political prisoners, a minister said Saturday, after the West hailed the move as a substantial sign of reform. |
|
| China oil firm sanctioned by US denies sales to Iran |
| BEIJING: A Chinese oil firm which the United States placed sanctions on saying it was the largest seller of refined petroleum products to Iran has denied the claim as "fiction", state-run media said Saturday. |
|
| China forecasts 10% growth in foreign trade |
| BEIJING: China is predicting sharply slower foreign trade growth of about 10 per cent year-on-year in 2012 as officials forecast "grim" export prospects, the official Xinhua news agency said Saturday. |
|
| N. Korea denies punishment of insincere mourners |
| SEOUL: North Korea on Saturday angrily hit back at allegations citizens who failed to appear sincere in the mourning of leader Kim Jong-Il were being rounded up and sentenced to hard labour. |
|
| Hong Kong pawnshop fights for stolen diamond |
| HONG KONG: A Hong Kong pawnshop which bought a 16-carat yellow diamond is fighting to keep the gem after a London jewellers claimed it was stolen from them in a raid five years ago, a report said Saturday. |
|
| Illegally imported bushmeat contained bacteria |
| WASHINGTON: Bushmeat illegally imported from Africa and seized at five top US airports often contained potentially dangerous bacteria, according to a new study made public here. |
|
| Taiwan elections have direct effect on cross-strait ties: analysts |
| SHANGHAI: Analysts say results of Saturday's elections will have a direct and obvious effect on cross-strait economic ties. |
|
| Imran Khan "not anti-West" |
| WASHINGTON: Imran Khan, the cricket star turned politician who is gaining support in Pakistan, rebutted charges he is anti-West and said his vision for an Islamic society looked like Scandinavia. |
|
| Two Malaysians charged over DBS/POSB ATM fraud |
| SINGAPORE: Two Malaysian men, 27-year-old Loke Siew Fei and 39-year-old H Ng Gaik Chin, were hauled to court on Saturday for allegedly possessing skimming equipment to make false ATM cards. |
|
| China's Wen departs for Middle East |
| BEIJING: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao leaves for the Middle East Saturday on a trip to key oil-producing nations, as rising tensions over Iran's nuclear programme spark fears of major oil supply disruptions. |
|
| Australian FM doubts 'Arab Spring' for China |
| NEW YORK: Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday voiced doubt that China was on the verge of an "Arab Spring," saying that the country has historically pushed ahead during leadership transitions. |
|
| Cruise ship runs aground off Italy, 3,000 evacuated |
| ROME: Eight people died in the early hours of Saturday after a cruise ship ran aground off the Italian coast in an accident which forced the coast guard to evacuate over 3,000 people, media reports said. |
|
| Taiwan presidential polls open |
| TAIPEI: Polling stations across Taiwan opened early Saturday for presidential elections that will decide who will run the island and manage crucial ties with China over the next four years. |
|
| Football: Ferguson defends Scholes' return |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his decision to recall Paul Scholes out of retirement after suggestions the 37 year old's return was a "regressive" step for his side. |
|
| S&P downgrades several countries |
| PARIS: Standard and Poor's said Friday it had downgraded France's top AAA rating by one notch to AA+, with a negative outlook, while leaving European powerhouse Germany unchanged at AAA, stable. |
|
| Obama eyes govt overhaul |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Friday asked Congress for the power to begin the biggest reorganisation of the US government in decades, and said he would start by streamlining trade agencies. |
|
| US to restore ties with Myanmar |
| WASHINGTON: The United States said Friday it would restore full diplomatic ties with Myanmar to reward its government for a prisoner release hailed by President Barack Obama as a big step towards democracy. |
|
| US stocks fall on rating cuts |
| NEW YORK: US stocks clawed back early sharp losses on S&P's downgrade of France, Spain, Austria and Italy and new worries over Greece Friday, but still ended the day in the red. |
|
| S&P downgrades Italy rating |
| ROME: Standard and Poor's has decided to downgrade Italy's credit rating by two notches to BBB+ from A, Italian news agency ANSA reported on Friday citing government sources. |
|
| Dutchman jailed for Peru murder |
| LIMA: Dutchman Joran van der Sloot, a key suspect in the disappearance of a US teen in 2005, received a 28-year sentence Friday after pleading guilty to the murder of a Peruvian woman in 2010. |
|
| How ratings agencies work |
| PARIS: Downgrades of credit ratings can lead to shifts of billions of dollars in investments, but the decisions come down to the work of a couple of analysts who use largely public sources of information. |
|
| Euro crisis deepens amid rating cuts |
| PARIS: The eurozone economy plunged back into crisis on Friday as France and Austria were stripped of their triple-A credit ratings and talks to agree a Greek debt write-down collapsed. |
|
| Racing: Coma reclaims Dakar lead |
| NASCA, Chile: Spanish motorcyclist Marc Coma reclaimed the overall lead in the Dakar Rally on Friday when he stormed to victory on the 12th stage from Arequipa to Nasca, replacing France's Cyril Despres. |
|
| Greek debt talks in "grave condition" |
| ATHENS: Greece's talks with bank creditors on a debt write-down vital to its economic survival are in "grave condition" and could break down altogether, a source close to the negotiation said on Friday. |
|
| France holds talks over "downgrade" |
| PARIS: President Nicolas Sarkozy held crisis talks with key ministers on Friday ahead of Standard & Poor's anticipated downgrading of France's top credit rating, an AFP correspondent reported. |
|
| US hails Myanmar amnesty |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Friday hailed a major prisoner release in Myanmar as a "substantial step" towards democracy and pledged additional US gestures towards the isolated state's leaders. |
|
| Badminton: Lee on course for 8th M'sia title |
| KUALA LUMPUR: World badminton number one Lee Chong Wei stayed on course Friday to win his eighth Malaysia Open title when he defeated former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat in straight games. |
|
| US Marines probed over urination video |
| WASHINGTON: All four US Marines seen in an online video urinating on the corpses of militants in Afghanistan have been identified and two of them have been questioned, American military officials said on Friday. |
|
| S&P downgrades France one notch |
| BRUSSELS: Standard & Poor's has decided to downgrade France's top credit rating by one notch but will spare Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, EU government sources told AFP on Friday. |
|
| Syrians rally in support of rebels |
| DAMASCUS: Thousands demonstrated in support of the rebel Free Syrian Army on Friday, as long-time Damascus ally Moscow kept up its opposition to call for tougher action against the regime, saying they were flagrant attempts to bring about its downfall. |
|
| Nigeria rallies enter fifth day |
| ABUJA: A nationwide strike and mass protests shut down Nigeria for a fifth day running Friday, but union leaders called for a weekend pause in demonstrations as talks sought to avert a halt in oil production. |
|
| Taiwan election campaigns wind up with massive rallies |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's top presidential candidates ended their campaigns Friday with huge rallies in Taipei, wooing floating voters who will decide a tight race watched intensely in Beijing and Washington. |
|
| Norway gunman gets new psychiatric test |
| OSLO: An Oslo court on Friday ordered a new psychiatric evaluation of Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in July, after an earlier and widely contested test found him criminally insane. |
|
| More than 100 baby seals rescued on Dutch coast |
| THE HAGUE: A Dutch marine rescue centre for baby seals said Friday more than 100 of the sea mammal pups had washed up along the country's northern coastline after recent storms. |
|
| US stocks drop on rumours of euro downgrades |
| NEW YORK - US stocks opened lower Friday amid reports that a long-expected S&P downgrade of France, Spain and Italy's credit ratings was imminent. |
|
| India pursues Web giants over obscene content |
| NEW DELHI - India's government authorised on Friday the prosecution of 21 Internet firms including Facebook, Yahoo! and Google in a case over obscene content posted online, two sources told AFP. |
|
| US trade gap rises |
| WASHINGTON: The US trade deficit rose in November from the previous month to $47.8 billion on a modest rise in imports and a slight fall in exports, the Commerce Department said Friday. |
|
| Greece could still leave eurozone: experts |
| SINGAPORE: Economic figures are showing that the German economy shrank last quarter, a prelude to an expected region-wide recession. If the eurozone's main engine of growth stalls, what hope is there for countries that are nearing default? |
|
| US sanctions Singapore-based Kuo Oil |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) says it will give its full cooperation within its laws to other countries and take action against individuals and companies that flout United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. |
|
| Taiwan candidates make final push for votes |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's presidential candidates were winding up a packed last day of campaigning Friday, wooing floating voters who will decide the outcome of a tight race watched intensely in Beijing and Washington. |
|
| Timor Leste to hold presidential election March 17 |
| DILI: Timor Leste will hold its second presidential election as an independent nation on March 17, President Jose Ramos-Horta said Friday, as UN peacekeepers prepare to pull out of the once-restive country. |
|
| PSA gives lukewarm outlook for shipping & ports business |
| SINGAPORE: The head of PSA International has given a lukewarm outlook for the shipping and ports business. |
|
| Football: Everton sign Gibson from Man Utd |
| LIVERPOOL, England: Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson has joined Everton from Premier League rivals Manchester United, the Merseysiders said Friday. |
|
| Important to regularly maintain mechanised carparks: experts |
| SINGAPORE: Experts have said that it is important for operators of automated carparks to put in place fire safety measures, and ensure that the system is well maintained. |
|
| MF Global Singapore court hearing on Friday |
| SINGAPORE: The hearing for the court application filed on Wednesday by MF Global Singapore's provisional liquidators is fixed for Friday, January 20. |
|
| Two suspects caught in DBS/POSB ATM fraud |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two Malaysians for possessing ATM skimming equipment. |
|
| Q4 corporate earnings expected to be lacklustre: analysts |
| SINGAPORE: It's the earnings season, but some analysts said there's little to celebrate. |
|
| JPMorgan posts record 2011 annual profit of US$19b |
| NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase on Friday announced it made a record annual profit of US$19 billion last year, even as banks fretted about increased regulation and mulled the end of a bumper earnings era. |
|
| More clarity needed on political pay, say observers |
| SINGAPORE: Under the recommendations, ministers' salaries are pegged to the median income of the top 1,000 Singaporean earners, with a 40 per cent discount. |
|
| Boxing: UK boxer Khan handed 'immediate' Peterson rematch |
| LONDON: The WBA has handed Amir Khan an "immediate rematch" with Lamont Peterson following the Briton's controversial loss to the American. |
|
| NEA, AVA to handle all complaints on bird nuisance |
| SINGAPORE: The public can now channel all complaints on bird nuisance - whether it's crows, pigeons or mynahs - to the National Environment Agency or the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. |
|
| Thailand detains suspect after US attack warning |
| BANGKOK: Thai authorities said Friday they had detained a Lebanese man with suspected links to the Hezbollah militant group, after the United States warned of a terrorist threat against tourists in the kingdom. |
|
| November retail sales up 6.4% on-year |
| SINGAPORE: November retail sales grew 6.4 per cent on-year, slightly weaker than market expectations of around 7 per cent growth. |
|
| Cricket: Warner inflicts ton of pain on India |
| PERTH, Australia: Australian opener David Warner slammed the equal fourth fastest century in Test cricket on a horror opening day for India in the third Test in Perth Friday. |
|
| SIT launches 7 new degree programmes |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Institute of Technology has launched seven new degree programmes for its August 2012 intake. |
|
| Jam Hsiao promises S'pore fans a "fierce" concert |
| SINGAPORE: Taiwan singer Jam Hsiao has a reputation for being a man of few words. |
|
| Uncertainty over Russia's Mars probe crash site |
| MOSCOW - Uncertainty over the location of the impending crash of Russia's failed Mars probe grew on Friday, with an official saying it may end up in the Atlantic and not Pacific Ocean as suggested. |
|
| Maid jumps to death after caught stealing from employers |
| SINGAPORE: A foreign domestic worker took her own life after she was caught for theft by her employers on May 27, 2011. |
|
| UN nuclear watchdog to visit Iran: diplomats |
| VIENNA - A high-level UN nuclear agency delegation will visit Iran in late January to try to clear up allegations of a covert weapons programme and soothe tensions between Tehran and the West, diplomats said Friday. |
|
| Challenges ahead for IPO market, say experts |
| SINGAPORE: Fans of social networking site Facebook can own a piece of the company when it puts out its US$10 billion IPO this year. |
|
| Singapore shares end sharply higher |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended 1.8% higher on Friday amid improved sentiment across the region following successful debt auctions in Europe on Thursday. |
|
| Asian shares up after strong European debt sales |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets were broadly higher on Friday, boosted by strong bond auctions in Italy and Spain as well as soothing words from the European Central Bank on the state of the region's finances. |
|
| Last-ditch efforts before Taiwan polls |
| KAOHSIUNG: With just a day before Taiwan goes to the polls, campaigning has hit fever pitch on the island. |
|
| Basketball: Depleted Hawks beat Bobcats |
| ATLANTA, Georgia: The Atlanta Hawks, rocked by news that injured centre Al Horford will miss at least three months, regrouped for a convincing 111-81 NBA victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Thursday. |
|
| Overstayer caught trying to leave S'pore in car |
| SINGAPORE: A Bangladeshi suspected of overstaying in Singapore, and a man who tried to smuggle him out of the country, were arrested early Friday morning at 2.30am. |
|
| 13 nabbed for suspected loansharking activities |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested 13 suspects for alleged involvement in loansharking activities in two separate operations. |
|
| US warns of possible terrorist threat in Bangkok |
| BANGKOK: The US embassy in Bangkok warned Friday of a possible terrorist threat against tourists in the Thai capital, urging its citizens to exercise caution in areas popular with foreigners. |
|
| Dr Tan Kim Siew visits SAF troops in New Zealand |
| SINGAPORE: The Permanent Secretary for Defence Development Dr Tan Kim Siew visited SAF troops participating in the annual artillery exercise, codenamed Exercise Thunder Warrior, at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand, on Friday. |
|
| Smart appliances set to transform the home |
| LAS VEGAS - You're at work when you get word of unexpected dinner guests. No problem. Smart appliances to the rescue. |
|
| Man jailed for trespassing in suicide scare |
| SINGAPORE: A Chinese national, who had threatened suicide at a construction site he had trespassed, was on Friday sentenced to 10 weeks' jail. |
|
| Govt looking to improve public transport sector |
| SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the government is studying how it can help bus operators grow their fleet and drivers in a sustainable manner. |
|
| S. Korea lifts ban on Internet for electioneering |
| SEOUL: South Korea's election watchdog on Friday lifted a ban using Twitter and other social networking sites for campaigning ahead of key polls later this year. |
|
| LG TV named best gadget, Microsoft bows out in style |
| LAS VEGAS: A razor-thin television from LG Electronics was crowned best gadget of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Microsoft was a big winner in its final appearance at the annual trade event. |
|
| Cosmetic surgery gone wild |
| PARIS - From US "Botox parties" to Asia's craze for eyelid jobs or Brazilian bum lifts, millions now reshape their bodies through cosmetic surgery each year. |
|
| Singaporeans more accepting of people with disabilities: survey |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporeans today are more accepting of people with disabilities as part of the community, workplace and everyday life. |
|
| China's forex reserves fall in Q4 2011 |
| BEIJING: China's forex reserves, the biggest in the world, fell to $3.18 trillion in the last quarter of 2011, the central bank said Friday, the first quarterly fall since 1998 during the Asian financial crisis. |
|
| Polio breakthrough: India marks disease-free year |
| NEW DELHI - India marked a year since its last new case of polio on Friday, a major milestone in a country once considered the epicentre of the disease and one that gives hope the scourge can be eradicated worldwide. |
|
| Iran sanctions will be seen as bid at regime change: Russia |
| MOSCOW: New sanctions against Iran will be perceived by the world community as an attempt at changing the regime in the Islamic republic, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gannady Gatilov said on Friday. |
|
| Former navy officer threatens to chop girlfriend and family |
| SINGAPORE: It started off as an argument over the phone after a former navy officer became upset with his girlfriend's supposed infidelity. |
|
| US warns Iran over blocking oil strait: report |
| WASHINGTON - The United States has used a secret channel to warn Iran's leaders against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying that doing so would provoke a US response, the New York Times reported. |
|
| North East CDC announces help packages for needy students |
| SINGAPORE: The North East Community Development Council (CDC) announced two help packages for students who may be affected by the economic slowdown. |
|
| N. Korea test-fires short-range missiles |
| TOKYO: North Korea test-fired three short-range missiles into the sea between Japan and the Korean peninsula this week, a report said Friday. |
|
| Taiwan candidates in hectic last campaign day |
| TAIPEI - Taiwan's presidential candidates kicked off a hectic last day of campaigning on Friday, wooing floating voters who will decide the outcome of a tight race watched attentively in Beijing and Washington. |
|
| More workplace childcare centres in pipeline? |
| SINGAPORE: The government wants to provide more options for working parents by encouraging more child care centres in the workplace. |
|
| Iran leader says CIA, Mossad behind scientist murder |
| TEHRAN: Iran's supreme leader has accused the US and Israeli intelligence services of being behind the "abominable" assassination in Tehran this week of a nuclear scientist who was to be buried on Friday. |
|
| Myanmar pardons political prisoners, ex-PM |
| YANGON - Myanmar pardoned a number of prominent dissidents and a former premier on Friday under a new prisoner amnesty, intensifying a surprising series of reforms by the army-backed regime. |
|
| Golf: DeLaet grabs early lead at Sony Open |
| HONOLULU, Hawaii - An eagle and a birdie-birdie finish helped Canada's Graham DeLaet grab the clubhouse lead on Thursday in the $5.5 million Sony Open, the first full-field event of the US PGA Tour season. |
|
| 2,694 healthcare professionals honoured with Health Quality Service Awards |
| SINGAPORE: 2,694 healthcare professionals are recognised at this year's Singapore Health Quality Service Awards. |
|
| Myanmar opposition says prisoner amnesty "positive sign" |
| YANGON - Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party on Friday welcomed a new political prisoner amnesty granted by the army-backed regime, describing it as a "positive sign". |
|
| Japan PM shuffles cabinet to rescue tax hike plan |
| TOKYO: Japan's premier on Friday reshuffled his cabinet just four months into the job in a bid to rescue his plans to raise sales tax and dig the country out from under its mountain of debt. |
|
| Myanmar to free leading dissident, ex-PM |
| YANGON - Myanmar is set to free prominent democracy activist Min Ko Naing on Friday under its latest prisoner amnesty, his family said, in the latest reformist move by the army-backed regime. |
|
| US to withdraw about 7,000 troops from Europe |
| WASHINGTON: The United States plans to withdraw about 7,000 US troops of the 81,000 troops based in Europe, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday. |
|
| Delayed iPhone launch sparks fury in China |
| BEIJING: Thousands of Chinese shoppers queued for hours in freezing temperatures on Friday as the new iPhone 4S went on sale, sparking angry scenes when staff at the Beijing Apple store refused to open its doors. |
|
| Dim sum bonds continue to attract interest |
| SINGAPORE: There appears to be a race among financial centres outside mainland China to launch more renminbi products as they aim to tap into plans by the Chinese government to promote the use of the yuan internationally. |
|
| US anxious as Taiwan votes |
| WASHINGTON: Taiwan's weekend election is being watched anxiously in Washington, where policymakers are eager to preserve a rare area of calm in relations with China but face charges of showing favoritism. |
|
| Swimming: Thorpe flops again on comeback trail |
| MELBOURNE: Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe's comeback again stalled Friday when he failed to qualify for the 100m freestyle final in his first competitive swim in Australia since 2006. |
|
| Football: Sundram returns to his old stomping ground |
| SINGAPORE: Kedah will forever hold fond memories for V Sundramoorthy. |
|
| S. Korea freezes key rate for 7th straight month |
| SEOUL: South Korea's central bank Friday froze its key interest rate for the seventh straight month, amid concern in the export-dependent nation at Europe's debt crisis and a global economic slowdown. |
|
| Tennis: Wozniacki's tough draw at Australian Open |
| MELBOURNE: World number one Caroline Wozniacki was drawn Friday to face French Open champion Li Na in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open as she searches for her maiden grand slam title in Melbourne. |
|
| Tennis: Federer, Nadal in same half of Australian Open draw |
| MELBOURNE: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are in the same half of a grand slam draw for the first time in seven years in the selection made Friday for next week's Australian Open in Melbourne. |
|
| Inpex, Total in gas deal |
| TOKYO: Japanese oil and gas producer Inpex said Friday it would invest in a $34 billion gas project off Australia along with France's Total, with most of the liquefied natural gas produced sent to Japan. |
|
| Ways to slow global warming |
| WASHINGTON: There are simple, inexpensive ways to cut back on two major pollutants -- soot and methane -- and taking action now could slow climate change for years to come, international scientists said Thursday. |
|
| US Marines urinate on dead insurgents |
| WASHINGTON: A video purportedly showing US Marines urinating on dead insurgents in Afghanistan prompted American condemnation and a Pentagon probe Thursday, but the Taliban said peace efforts would continue. |
|
| Twitter blocked in China? |
| LAS VEGAS: Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey arrived on a visit to China on Thursday and complained of the blocking of his popular service in an online exchange with Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. |
|
| US aims to "close down" Iran central bank |
| WASHINGTON: The latest round of American sanctions is aimed at shutting down Iran's central bank, a senior US official said Thursday, spelling out that intention directly for the first time. |
|
| Obama, Democrats raise US$68m for polls |
| GREER, South Carolina: Republicans got a stark reminder Thursday of President Barack Obama's juggernaut re-election campaign, as he and his Democratic party scooped up nearly $70 million in the last months of 2011. |
|
| World's top wine drinkers unveiled |
| BORDEAUX, France: US consumers were the world's top wine drinkers in 2011, while China displaced Britain to become the fifth largest wine consumer, according to new research released on Thursday. |
|
| Yemenis rally against Saleh immunity |
| SANAA: Thousands of Yemenis demonstrated on Thursday in several cities to voice their rejection of a Gulf Arab deal to grant President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution, witnesses said. |
|
| US stocks end higher |
| NEW YORK: US stocks shrugged off disappointing retail sales and jobs data Thursday to add gains after a mixed day in crisis-mired Europe. |
|
| "CIA, Mossad killed Iran scientist" |
| TEHRAN: The CIA and Mossad were behind the "abominable" assassination of a nuclear scientist in Tehran this week, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Thursday in a message of condolence to the man's family. |
|
| Football: Gerrard extends Liverpool stay |
| LONDON: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is to stay at Anfield after signing a contract extension with the Premier League club. |
|
| Duchess of York charged |
| ANKARA: Turkish prosecutors have charged Britain's Duchess of York for secretly filming a documentary critical of conditions in Turkish orphanages, the Turkish media reported Thursday. |
|
| US hails Myanmar-Karen peace deal |
| WASHINGTON: The United States said Thursday Myanmar and Karen rebels have taken a "good step" by signing a ceasefire deal in one of the world's longest-running civil conflicts. |
|
| BBC show incurs India wrath |
| LONDON: Indian diplomats protested on Thursday against a special edition of the BBC's popular "Top Gear" motoring show, claiming it had given a "disgusting" portrayal of their country. |
|
| Iran ready for nuclear talks |
| TEHRAN: Ali Larijani, the influential speaker of Iran's parliament, said Thursday during a visit to Turkey that his country was ready for "serious" talks with world powers on its controversial nuclear programme. |
|
| Air France-KLM to cut costs |
| PARIS: Air France-KLM said Thursday it would implement a three-year cost-cutting plan, including wage freezes and investment reductions, aimed at saving at least one billion euros ($1.3 billion) and reducing its debt. |
|
| Motor racing: Alonso slams limit testing |
| MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy: Former world champion Fernando Alonso hit out at Formula One legislators who have chosen to limit testing, claiming it would be like a footballer training without a ball. |
|
| Golf: Lightweights steal show in Joburg Open |
| JOHANNESBURG: Lightweights Damien McGrane of Ireland and Jamie Elson of England stole the show from reigning US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa Thursday in the storm-hit Joburg Open first round. |
|
| Tennis: Baghdatis beats Del Potro |
| SYDNEY: Former champion Marcos Baghdatis rediscovered some of his best form at the Sydney International on Thursday, ousting top seed Juan Martin del Potro from the quarter-finals in two close sets. |
|
| Michelle Obama opens Twitter account |
| WASHINGTON: US First Lady Michelle Obama quickly snapped up tens of thousands of Twitter followers Thursday, as she joined the social network and opened a new front in her husband's re-election campaign. |
|
| Nigeria workers vow to halt oil production |
| LAGOS: Nigerian oil workers vowed Thursday to begin shutting down production of Africa's top crude oil exporter, piling intense pressure on the government ahead of talks on the fourth day of a nationwide strike. |
|
| French breast implants "no problem" in Mexico |
| MEXICO CITY: Around 4,500 French-made breast implants at the centre of a scandal over their rupture risks were used in Mexico for 16 years, with no serious problems reported, according to plastic surgeons here. |
|
| Phuket newspaper owner killed |
| BANGKOK: Gunmen shot dead a Thai journalist, local newspaper owner and political activist Thursday in a targeted attack on the tourist-friendly island of Phuket, police and local media said. |
|
| Food prices at record high in 2011 |
| PARIS: The price of basic foodstuffs hit a record high in 2011, with the cost of cereals surging by more than a third over the last 12 months, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Thursday. |
|
| Malaysian PM hopes for elections "soon" |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Prime Minister said he hoped to call elections soon, a report said Thursday, as speculation over a poll date heats up following the court acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. |
|
| US jobless claims rise |
| WASHINGTON - New claims for US unemployment benefits rose last week, the government reported Thursday, as figures for the previous week were also revised up. |
|
| Port of Singapore continues to register good growth |
| SINGAPORE: The number of containers passing through the Port of Singapore reached a record in 2011. |
|
| Myanmar announces new prisoner amnesty |
| YANGON - Myanmar's president granted amnesty on Thursday to more than 600 people jailed across the country, an official said, although whether any political prisoners were included was not initially known. |
|
| Sky Wu to perform in S'pore on March 24 |
| SINGAPORE: Mandopop icon Sky Wu, who won the Honarary Award for his contributions to music at the 17th Singapore Hit Awards in November last year, will be performing at the Singapore Expo's MAX Pavilion on March 24 as part of his Sky World concert tour. |
|
| ECB rings in 2012 with rates on hold |
| FRANKFURT - As expected, the European Central Bank on Thursday held its key interest rates steady, leaving eurozone borrowing costs at historical lows following two straight months of rate cuts. |
|
| Document catering process to prevent food poisoning: NEA |
| SINGAPORE: There were more than 10 cases of food poisoning involving caterers in the past two years. |
|
| Ezra Holdings bags contracts worth up to US$120m |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore-listed Ezra Holdings has secured two contracts worth up to US$120 million. |
|
| Police arrest suspected loan shark runners |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested three suspects for acting as runners for loan sharks. |
|
| Floods may wipe 4.8% of Thailand's GDP |
| SINGAPORE: The floods that devastated Thailand last year may wipe US$15.4 billion from national revenue, according to estimates from the country's National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) released in Singapore. |
|
| Bank of England holds interest rate at record low 0.50% |
| LONDON: Bank of England policymakers kept its key interest rate at a record low 0.50 percent on Thursday and also opted against altering its stimulus plans despite the fragile state of the economy. |
|
| Indian factory output returns to growth |
| NEW DELHI: Indian industrial production returned to growth in November, rising 5.9 percent on an annual basis led by expansion in the manufacturing sector, government data showed Thursday. |
|
| Football: Mancini and Gerrard clash over Johnson tackle |
| MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard were embroiled in a war of words following the clubs' League Cup semi-final clash here at Eastlands. |
|
| AirAsia X to cut Europe routes, India flights |
| KUALA LUMPUR: The long-haul unit of Asian budget carrier AirAsia said Thursday it would suspend services to Paris and London and cut India flights in a bid to rein in costs. |
|
| First gene-link to inherited prostate cancer |
| WASHINGTON - US researchers said Wednesday they have found the first genetic mutation linked to an inherited form of prostate cancer, raising new hope of one day improving early screening for the disease. |
|
| Singapore shares end flat |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended flat on Thursday, as regional markets mostly fell as earlier optimism following another slowdown in Chinese inflation petered out and concerns over Europe's debt crisis returned to the fore. |
|
| New mall for S'pore shoppers |
| SINGAPORE: Residents at Jurong will soon have a retail mall that's more than half the size of ION Orchard right at their doorstep. |
|
| 2012 Budget Statement on 17 Feb |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Finance said on Thursday that the 2012 Budget Statement will be delivered by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Parliament on 17 February. |
|
| US reforms 'could force out Japan banks' |
| TOKYO: Tokyo has told Washington that proposed US bank reforms could force some Japanese financial institutions to pull out of Wall Street, in an unusually blunt letter to US regulators released Thursday. |
|
| Asian shares end mostly weaker on Europe debt woes |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly fell on Thursday as earlier optimism following another slowdown in Chinese inflation petered out and concerns over Europe's debt crisis returned to the fore. |
|
| iPhone attachment captures panoramic video |
| LAS VEGAS - Jeff Glasse is giving the iPhone eyes in the back of its virtual head. |
|
| Man gets 37 months' jail for cheating and causing hurt |
| SINGAPORE: A self-employed man took his wife's identity card and passed it to his Chinese girlfriend to help him cheat credit companies. |
|
| Online RISK game lets Facebook users conquer world |
| SAN FRANCISCO: US videogame superpower Electronic Arts is sending Facebook members out to conquer the world with a humor-infused version of the classic strategy board game RISK. |
|
| Advancing cruise tourism in ASEAN |
| SINGAPORE: ASEAN's Tourism Ministers have agreed on closer collaboration to advance cruise tourism in the region, at their recent meeting in Manado, Indonesia. |
|
| Microsoft says probing China plant protest |
| SHANGHAI: US computing giant Microsoft said it was probing unrest at a supplier plant in China after about 150 workers protested last week, some reportedly threatening suicide. |
|
| Karma hybrid car offers earth-friendly luxury |
| LAS VEGAS: Technology lovers stopped and stared as the world's first high-performance hybrid luxury sedan glided silently down a street outside the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. |
|
| Mechanised parking systems to ease constraints |
| SINGAPORE: The authorities are targeting to do pilot tests of mechanised parking systems in housing estates by year-end. |
|
| Two nabbed for entering casino using another's identification papers |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two persons for entering the casino at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) using another person's identification documents in two separate cases in September last year. |
|
| Furious Iran wants action over scientist's killing |
| TEHRAN: The assassination of one of Iran's nuclear scientists sparked deep fury in Tehran on Thursday against prime suspect Israel and against the United States, which said it had nothing to do with the murder. |
|
| China auto sales growth hits the brakes |
| BEIJING: Growth in China's auto sales hit the brakes in 2011, according to official data, after Beijing rolled back sales incentives and some cities imposed restrictions on car numbers. |
|
| 69 arrested by CNB during 5-day islandwide operations |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's anti-drug agency, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) continues to intensify enforcement efforts with another island-wide operation. |
|
| Royal Bank of Scotland to axe 3,500 more jobs by 2015 |
| LONDON: State-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland on Thursday announced about 3,500 more job cuts over the next three years as the group shrinks its investment banking activities. |
|
| Thai panel calls for reform to royal insult law |
| BANGKOK: An independent Thai commission has called for reform of the kingdom's law against insulting the monarchy, which has attracted mounting criticism for suppressing freedom of expression. |
|
| Tennis: Tomic beats Monfils to reach Kooyong final |
| MELBOURNE: Australian teenager Bernard Tomic beat France's Gael Monfils 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) on Thursday to book a place in the final of the Kooyong Classic, a warm-up event for the Australian Open. |
|
| South Korean activists seek court ban on cigarette sales |
| SEOUL - South Korean anti-smoking activists have gone to the constitutional court to try to shut down the country's cigarette industry, a court official said on Thursday. |
|
| Show Luo named most generous celebrity boss |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan singer Show Luo was named the most generous celebrity boss in Taiwan by Taiwan entertainment tabloid "Apple Daily", with Jay Chou and Singapore's own JJ Lin in second and third place respectively. |
|
| Tennis: Wozniacki cleared for Australian Open |
| SYDNEY: World number one Caroline Wozniacki will be fit for next week's Australian Open after a wrist injury threatened her participation in the season-opening grand slam, WTA officials said Thursday. |
|
| CapitaLand says great potential in China's second-tier cities |
| SINGAPORE: The head of CapitaLand Group says second-tier cities in China hold a great deal of potential for property development. |
|
| Australian airlines reject 'fat tax' |
| SYDNEY: Calls for overweight passengers to pay a surcharge to fly with Australian airlines fell flat Thursday with the major carriers all rejecting the idea. |
|
| Myanmar in talks with Karen rebel group |
| HPA-AN - Myanmar's government and the rebel Karen National Union began peace talks on Thursday, raising hopes of a ceasefire to end decades of fighting as part of the country's apparent bids to reform. |
|
| Basketball: Nowitzki lifts Mavericks over Celtics |
| BOSTON, Massachusetts: Reigning NBA finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki scored the go-ahead basket with five seconds remaining to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 90-85 win over the Boston Celtics. |
|
| India's anti-corruption movement loses steam |
| NEW DELHI: India's anti corruption movement seems to be faltering.
With its leader Anna Hazare still recovering from an illness, the team is searching for a way forward. |
|
| Samsung, LG fined US$38.5m for price-fixing |
| SEOUL: South Korea's competition watchdog said Thursday it has fined two top electronics makers a total of 44.64 billion won ($38.5 million) for fixing prices of their main home appliances. |
|
| The Scissor Sisters in Singapore: An explosive concert despite "Bali Belly" delay |
| SINGAPORE: The audience had been waiting for a long time, before American pop-disco band the Scissor Sisters came on stage for their gig at the Fort Canning Park on Monday. |
|
| Quake hits eastern Japan, nuclear plant stable |
| TOKYO: A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan on Thursday near the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, but did not cause any further problems at the power station, officials said. |
|
| LTA releases 22,160 COEs for February-July |
| SINGAPORE: The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) quota for the six-month period from February to July this year will be 22,160. |
|
| Chinese national jailed for overstaying and bribery |
| SINGAPORE: A Chinese national who was caught for overstaying tried to get out of it by bribing a police officer with sex. |
|
| All exports to be declared in advance come 2013 |
| SINGAPORE: From April 1, 2013, Singapore Customs will require declarations for the export of all goods to be submitted prior to their leaving Singapore. |
|
| Real danger of US military strike on Iran: Russia |
| MOSCOW: Russian Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev warned that military escalation is likely in Iran, with "real danger" of a US strike, in an interview published Thursday. |
|
| Tennis: Rejuvenated Li Na back on track ahead of Aussie Open |
| SYDNEY: A gruelling boot camp and a cure for her husband's snoring have put China's Li Na back on track before the Australian Open, where she is among the favourites as she seeks a second grand slam crown. |
|
| Japan to reduce Iran oil imports |
| TOKYO: Japan on Thursday said it was planning to reduce its dependence on Iranian oil imports in response to a US-led drive to squeeze Tehran into giving up its nuclear programme. |
|
| Motor Racing: Kubica suffers more injury woes |
| ROME: Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica, recovering from serious injuries suffered in a rally in February, has had a setback after falling on ice and fracturing an ankle, a medical source said. |
|
| Hospitals to implement initiative to encourage breastfeeding |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore hospitals with maternity wards will implement the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative this month, as recommended by the World Health Organization. |
|
| China's December inflation slows to 4.1% |
| BEIJING: China's consumer prices rose at their slowest pace in more than a year in December, official data showed Thursday, giving Beijing leeway to further ease credit restrictions to spur economic growth. |
|
| Ministerial pay review report misunderstood, says Committee |
| SINGAPORE: The committee to review ministerial salaries has clarified that the recommended S$1.1 million annual salary for entry-level ministers includes basic pay and bonuses amounting to seven months. |
|
| Basic wage increases expected to drop in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Basic wage increases this year is expected to drop to 3.6 per cent compared to the 4.1 per cent growth seen in 2011. |
|
| Olympics: Youth Olympics get winter world premiere in Innsbruck |
| INNSBRUCK, Austria: The eyes of the sporting world may be on London for this summer's Olympics, but Innsbruck will steal the show briefly on January 13-22, as it hosts the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games. |
|
| Obama slams Republicans on tax |
| CHICAGO: US President Barack Obama said Wednesday that Republicans would fight to their "last breath" to protect the rich, as he stepped up the pace of his 2012 reelection bid in his hometown of Chicago. |
|
| Japan's current account surplus down 85.5% in November |
| TOKYO: Japan's current account surplus fell 85.5 per cent in November as the nation ran a trade deficit due to higher energy costs, government data showed Thursday. |
|
| North Korea says Kim's body to lie in state |
| SEOUL: North Korea Thursday announced plans to honour late leader Kim Jong-Il, saying his body would lie in state in a Pyongyang palace and memorial towers would be built nationwide. |
|
| Suu Kyi says Myanmar on 'verge of breakthrough' |
| NEW YORK: Myanmar's opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi said Wednesday that her country was "on the verge of a breakthrough to democracy" as she prepares to seek a seat in parliament following reforms. |
|
| N. Korea says US offered food for nuke shutdown |
| SEOUL: North Korea said Wednesday that the United States had offered food aid and a suspension of sanctions if it halted its uranium enrichment programme. |
|
| US to host Japan, S. Korea for talks on N. Korea |
| WASHINGTON: The United States said Wednesday it plans to host high-level talks this month with Japan and South Korea on regional issues, including the situation in North Korea following Kim Jong-Il's death. |
|
| Italy wins Merkel praise as German economy slows |
| BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday assured Italy its tough austerity measures would be "rewarded", amid signs her own economy was grinding to a halt as tensions in eurozone markets simmered. |
|
| World's nuclear stockpiles are not secure: study |
| WASHINGTON: The world's nuclear stockpiles are far from safe and could fall into the hands of terrorists, the American non-governmental organization Nuclear Threat Initiative said Wednesday in a new study. |
|
| Football: Mystery over Etoile's position |
| SINGAPORE: Ever since the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) confirmed Johann Gouttefangeas as the deputy chief executive officer of the S-League last Thursday, speculation has been rife over whether Etoile FC would take part in the competition this year. |
|
| Poly students design portable under-vehicle surveillance system |
| SINGAPORE: Three final-year students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's automation and mechatronic systems course have developed a portable speed hump equipped with an under-vehicle surveillance system that can be used at police sentry posts. |
|
| Euro sinks further against greenback |
| NEW YORK: The euro dropped again Wednesday against the US dollar a day before the European Central Bank and Bank of England hold meetings to discuss interest rates amid weak growth. |
|
| Football: Gerrard gives Liverpool League Cup edge |
| MANCHESTER, England: Steven Gerrard's penalty handed Liverpool an important advantage in their League Cup semi-final with Manchester City as the visitors came away from Eastlands with a 1-0 first leg lead. |
|
| Football: Spurs sink Everton to fire title challenge |
| LONDON: Tottenham's surprise challenge for the Premier League title gathered pace as a 2-0 win over Everton moved the north Londoners within three points of leaders Manchester City on Wednesday. |
|
| US stocks end quiet day mixed |
| NEW YORK: US stocks closed mixed Wednesday in markets that barely budged a day after a burst of buying on the promising first results of the corporate earnings season. |
|
| Rising US crude reserves hit oil prices |
| NEW YORK: A surprisingly big increase in US crude oil reserves hit oil prices already under pressure Wednesday from eurozone debt worries heightened by slowing growth in Germany. |
|
| Iran nuclear plant violates UN resolutions: envoys |
| UNITED NATIONS: Western UN envoys on Wednesday condemned Iran's enrichment of uranium at a new underground bunker facility as a "clear breach" of UN sanctions resolutions over Tehran's nuclear program. |
|
| US economy growing slowly: Fed report |
| WASHINGTON: The US economy continued to grow in recent weeks, but only at a moderate pace at best though there were continued signs of improvement, the Federal Reserve said in a report Wednesday. |
|
| US says no deal yet for Taliban Qatar office |
| WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that Afghan and Taliban statements show there is support for a Taliban political office in Qatar, but said nothing has been concluded yet. |
|
| Nigerians defy order to end strike, Christians shot dead |
| LAGOS: Tens of thousands of protesting Nigerians defied an order to end a three-day-old strike Wednesday as unions threatened oil production and a mob rampaged in one city, leaving a police officer dead. |
|
| EU leaders may change debt crisis summit date over strike |
| BRUSSELS: European Union leaders are set to change the date of their next summit on the debt crisis to avoid meeting during a general strike called across Belgium on January 30, sources said Wednesday. |
|
| US denies blame in killing of Iranian scientist |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday denied that it was to blame for the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist by a car bomb, after Tehran said Washington and Israel were responsible for the attack. |
|
| Ford recalls 450,000 SUVs, minivans |
| WASHINGTON: Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday issued a recall for some 450,000 minivans and sport utility vehicles for problems that could lead to dangerous losses of power or fires. |
|
| British PM clashes with Scotland on independence |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Scotland Wednesday to bring its independence referendum forward after the head of the Edinburgh government said he would not hold a vote until late 2014. |
|
| EU takes first steps to sanction deficit offenders |
| BRUSSELS: Battling to beat the debt crisis, the European Union took its first step Wednesday towards imposing new penalties on countries breaching budget deficit reduction targets needed to save the euro. |
|
| France demands probe into killing of TV reporter in Syria |
| PARIS: Paris demanded an investigation on Wednesday after French television reporter Gilles Jacquier was killed in the Syrian city of Homs, a centre of opposition to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. |
|
| Obama offers contrast with Romney on jobs |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama sought to strike an implicit contrast with his most likely Republican election foe Mitt Romney on Wednesday, hosting a forum on bringing back American jobs outsourced overseas. |
|
| Iran accuses Israel, US of killing nuclear scientist |
| TEHRAN: An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed by a car bomb on Wednesday that Tehran immediately blamed on Israel and Washington, worsening a tense international stand-off over its atomic programme. |
|
| Football: QPR owner backs Hughes to polish "rough diamond" |
| LONDON: Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes believes new manager Mark Hughes's ambition for the club matches his own for the "rough diamond" Premier League strugglers. |
|
| Assad takes defiant message to Damascus street |
| DAMASCUS: President Bashar al-Assad made a rare public appearance on Wednesday, vowing to defeat a "conspiracy" against Syria a day after he blamed foreign interests for stoking months of deadly violence. |
|
| Pakistan army issues angry warning over PM comments |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's army warned Wednesday of "grievous consequences" for the country over criticism by the prime minister that has escalated tensions between the powerful military and the government. |
|
| Britain "working very hard" with US to close Guantanamo |
| LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron said Wednesday that Britain was working "very hard" with the United States to help close Guantanamo Bay detention camp, on the tenth anniversary of its opening. |
|
| Taiwanese to decide future of cross-strait ties: observers |
| Taiwan: The results of the Taiwan election is a way for the island's people to decide the future of cross-strait ties, says international observers who are in Taiwan to witness the presidential and legislative election. |
|
| World's deepest sea vents reveal unknown creatures |
| PARIS - The ocean's deepest volcanic vents, kilometres below the surface, are teeming with life forms never before seen that thrive near super-hot underwater geysers, according to a new study. |
|
| EU emissions trading scheme under siege |
| SINGAPORE: Airlines flying to Europe are expected to incur higher costs as a result of the EU emissions trading scheme. |
|
| Tennis: Kvitova closes on top ranking as Wozniacki loses |
| SYDNEY - Caroline Wozniacki was dumped from the Sydney International on Wednesday, opening the way for rival Petra Kvitova to seize the world number one ranking heading into next week's Australian Open. |
|
| Changi Airport staff recognised for helping passenger wash up |
| SINGAPORE: Twenty-five Changi Airport workers were on Wednesday recognised for taking service levels to greater heights. |
|
| Automakers embrace high-tech in safety drive |
| LAS VEGAS: Automakers displaying the latest technology at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) are relying on sensors, digital cameras and connectivity in a drive towards a common goal -- eliminating accidents. |
|
| New global forum urges govts to support SMEs |
| SINGAPORE: A new global forum has called on governments and regulators around the world to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). |
|
| DBS/POSB bank sends SMS alerts on ATM withdrawals |
| SINGAPORE: DBS has started sending out SMS alerts for suspicious ATM transactions including alerts for Internet banking and credit card transactions. |
|
| SLA steps in to help resolve tenancy issues at Turf City |
| SINGAPORE: A dispute has arisen at the Turf City family mall between existing tenants and their landlord. |
|
| Hong Kong downgrades bird flu alert |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong is downgrading the current bird flu warning from 'serious' to an 'alert' level from tomorrow. |
|
| Singapore Bowling works with private sector to groom champs |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) is working with the private sector to increase the base of bowlers and groom more champions. |
|
| Mandarin oranges cheaper by 10% |
| SINGAPORE: With Lunar New Year fast approaching, stallholders are counting on brisk business for Mandarin oranges. |
|
| Skyscrapers have 'unhealthy' link to financial crises |
| LONDON: The construction of enormous skyscrapers has an "unhealthy" link with looming financial crises and investors should therefore keep a close eye on China and India, Barclays Capital said Wednesday. |
|
| Boy held after joyride in father's Maserati |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong police said Wednesday they had briefly detained a 10-year-old American boy who took his father's Maserati GranTurismo coupe out for a spin. |
|
| Hyundai, Kia muscle into Europe, US markets |
| DETROIT, Michigan: Still little known in Europe and surging in the United States, Korean automaker Hyundai and sister Kia are muscling their way into markets dominated by national players and the Japanese. |
|
| China to free pandas into wild |
| DUJIANGYAN, China: China on Wednesday released six young captive pandas into semi-wild enclosures as part of a project aimed at helping the endangered bears adapt to the wild and eventually go free. |
|
| Strong response for EC at Choa Chu Kang |
| SINGAPORE: There's been a strong take-up rate for the latest executive condominium (EC) project at Choa Chu Kang. |
|
| ASEAN supports lifting of sanctions against Myanmar |
| SINGAPORE: ASEAN's Foreign Ministers have noted the positive developments in Myanmar and expressed their support for the lifting of sanctions against the member state. |
|
| S'pore, Thai studying giant freshwater stingrays in the wild |
| SINGAPORE: Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) and Thailand's Chulalongkorn University are working on a pioneering project to tag and track giant freshwater stingrays in the wild. |
|
| Singapore shares up 1% on Wall Street gains |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended 1% stronger on Wednesday, in line with the broader strength in regional markets. |
|
| S'pore, Japan should cooperate in anti-piracy acts |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore and Japan should cooperate in anti-piracy activities off the coast of Somalia. |
|
| SingPost deliveryman pleads guilty to stealing on the job |
| SINGAPORE: A sub-contract delivery man for Singapore Post pleaded guilty on Wednesday to stealing valuables while making his rounds. |
|
| Malaysia's November exports growth slows to 8.0% |
| KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia said on Wednesday its exports growth eased to 8.0 percent year-on-year in November due to softening in demand from traditional markets such as Singapore, Thailand and the United States. |
|
| PUB, MWA satisfied with assistance provided on water safety |
| SINGAPORE: The water agencies of Singapore and Thailand have expressed satisfaction with the progress of the assistance to improve water safety in Bangkok following the floods in the country last year. |
|
| Asian stocks up on Wall Street rally |
| HONG KONG - Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday following another Wall Street rally caused by positive corporate earnings and upbeat US sentiment, although ongoing European debt woes continue to weigh. |
|
| NMPs likely to be named after debate on political salaries |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's parliament will debate a motion on political salaries next week, following a report submitted by the Review Committee recently. |
|
| South Korea rocked by cash-for-vote scandal |
| SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday raided the home of a former aide to parliament Speaker Park Hee-Tae amid a bribery scandal rocking the ruling conservative party before elections this year. |
|
| China calls for cooperation between Iran and IAEA |
| BEIJING: China on Wednesday called on Iran and the UN atomic watchdog to cooperate over a new uranium enrichment plant, amid mounting international tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme. |
|
| Google sees Android enhancing home appliances |
| LAS VEGAS - Google's Android software is best known for powering smartphones, but executive chairman Eric Schmidt sees a future where it could also help devices communicate at home. |
|
| German economy grows 3.0% in 2011 |
| WIESBADEN: The German economy, Europe's biggest, grew robustly last year and the public deficit fell sharply, but a fourth quarter slowdown highlights the impact of the eurozone crisis, data showed on Wednesday. |
|
| Steven Ma announces split from girlfriend of 8 years |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Steven Ma revealed during a promotional event on Monday that he had broken up with Vivian Xu, his girlfriend of eight years, about a year ago, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| South Korea airport plans $3 billion casino resort |
| SEOUL: The operator of South Korea's main airport plans to build a $3 billion casino resort to woo increasingly wealthy travellers from China and elsewhere in Asia, its spokeswoman said Wednesday. |
|
| iDroid debuts at Asia toy fair |
| HONG KONG: A smartphone-controlled robot that fires foam bullets and a model of a tyrannosaurus with real bones are among the attractions drawing the crowds at Asia's largest toy show this week. |
|
| Woman swindles money with help from Facebook |
| SINGAPORE: An unemployed woman was on Wednesday charged with allegedly cheating another woman of S$2,000 by impersonating as her cousin. |
|
| Thai navy chief in S'pore for introductory visit |
| SINGAPORE: The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Admiral (ADM) Surasak Runroengrom called on Singapore's Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday afternoon. |
|
| Tennis: Li Na into Sydney semi-finals |
| SYDNEY: China's Li Na said she was playing her best tennis since before last year's Wimbledon as she battled into the semi-finals of the Sydney International on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Man City buoyant despite United defeat |
| MANCHESTER: Costel Pantilimon says Manchester City have emerged from the FA Cup loss to Manchester United with their confidence intact as they prepare to face Liverpool in a League Cup semi-final first-leg clash on Wednesday. |
|
| China's Xinhua plans to list website |
| SHANGHAI: China's official Xinhua news agency plans to list its website by year-end, a report said Wednesday, as the government ushers more state media giants to the stock market. |
|
| Cecilia Cheung laments her lack of suitors |
| CHANGSHA, China: Hong Kong singer-actor Cecilia Cheung lamented her lack of suitors during a recording session of a Chinese variety show on Monday, reported Chinese media. |
|
| Nuclear scientist killed in Tehran car blast |
| TEHRAN: An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed and two people injured when a magnetic bomb attached to a car by a duo on a motorbike exploded outside a Tehran university on Wednesday, Iranian news agencies said. |
|
| Ascott wins management contract in Indonesia |
| SINGAPORE: The Ascott, CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, has secured a new management contract for its first Citadines Apart'hotel in Surabaya, Indonesia. |
|
| DBS CEO says sorry for ATM fraud |
| SINGAPORE: DBS Bank's CEO Piyush Gupta said the bank is sorry for what the customers went through after it was hit by a string of fraudulent withdrawals of funds recently. |
|
| Hong Kong wants to slap tax on garbage disposal |
| HONG KONG: Environmentalists Wednesday welcomed plans for Hong Kong to introduce a "pay-as-you-throw" tax on rubbish disposal as the city moves to tackle a growing waste problem. |
|
| Jay Chou: "Honestly, going on matchmaking sessions is just tragic!" |
| HONG KONG: Taiwan superstar Jay Chou, who will soon turn 33, revealed that he plans to get hitched before 35, but would never go for matchmaking sessions even if he doesn't meet Mrs Right by that time, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| Hiring activity expected to pick up in second half of 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Recruitment consultancy firm Kelly Services expects hiring activity in Singapore to pick up in the second half of the year. |
|
| India opens retail sector to foreign brands |
| NEW DELHI: India's government has allowed foreign brands such as Adidas or home furnishings giant Ikea to open 100-percent owned shops, but will continue to block the entry of supermarkets. |
|
| Iran's showdown with West sparks widespread concern |
| TEHRAN: Iran's showdown with the West led to warnings that the row is sliding into dangerous territory, as international alarm over a new uranium enrichment plant raised the stakes. |
|
| Tennis: Petkovic out of Australian Open with back injury |
| SYDNEY: Germany's world number 10 Andrea Petkovic has withdrawn from next week's Australian Open with a stress fracture of her lower back, tennis officials said Wednesday. |
|
| Tennis: Petkovic out of Australian Open with back injury |
| SYDNEY: Germany's world number 10 Andrea Petkovic has withdrawn from next week's Australian Open with a stress fracture of her lower back, tennis officials said Wednesday. |
|
| N. Korea could stage 3rd nuclear test: think-tank |
| SEOUL: North Korea could conduct a third nuclear test or long-range missile launch this year as its new leader Kim Jong-Un tries to strengthen his authority, a South Korean think-tank said Wednesday. |
|
| Taiwan ex-leader Lee endorses opposition candidate |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's ex-leader Lee Teng-hui on Wednesday formally endorsed opposition presidential hopeful Tsai Ing-wen, saying she can maintain sovereignty for the long-term benefit of the island. |
|
| Hyundai plant ends strike caused by suicide bid |
| SEOUL: South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor said employees at key engine plants resumed work on Wednesday, a day after launching a strike in protest at the management's response to a worker's fiery suicide bid. |
|
| Football: Great Eastern extends S.League sponsorship |
| SINGAPORE: Insurance company Great Eastern on Wednesday extended its Co-title Sponsorship of the S.League for a further two years for 2012 and 2013. |
|
| Construction demand for 2012 to remain strong |
| SINGAPORE: Despite the subdued economic backdrop, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) expects overall construction demand to remain strong, from between S$21 billion and S$27 billion for 2012. |
|
| Taiwan-China ties could falter after poll: experts |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's warming ties with China could slow down or even freeze if President Ma Ying-jeou fails in Saturday's vote to secure a new mandate for his Beijing-friendly platform, analysts say. |
|
| HDB launches 5 BTO projects |
| SINGAPORE: The Housing and development Board (HDB) launched five new Build-To-Order (BTO) projects on Wednesday, offering 3,923 new flats in Choa Chu Kang, Punggol, Sengkang and Tampines. |
|
| Romney vows to beat Obama in November |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney Tuesday savored his victory in New Hampshire's critical nominating primary and vowed to beat President Barack Obama in November. |
|
| Sixteen dead as Nigeria chaos grows |
| KANO, Nigeria: Ethnic and religious violence in Nigeria claimed 16 more victims Tuesday, with gunmen killing eight in the north and a mob torching an Islamic school in the south, as a fuel strike added to the deadly tension. |
|
| First Intel-powered smartphone to debut in China |
| LAS VEGAS: US chip titan Intel on Tuesday announced it will move into the booming smartphone market with a China debut of a handset made by computer powerhouse Lenovo. |
|
| Romney wins New Hampshire: US media |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: White House hopeful Mitt Romney on Tuesday seized a second victory in his fight to be the party's presidential nominee, winning New Hampshire's key primary, US media said. |
|
| Football: Mancini defends calls for fresh investment |
| MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini reckons the Premier League leaders' squad needs strengthening even though he has spent |
|
| ESM Goh ends Saudi Arabia visit |
| JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: Singapore Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has wrapped up his five-day visit to Saudi Arabia. |
|
| Football: Real thrash Malaga |
| MALAGA, Spain: Holders Real Madrid beat Malaga 1-0 in the Spanish Cup on Tuesday as Karim Benzema took them through to a near certain, mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Barcelona. |
|
| Jetstar unveils new routes, services |
| SINGAPORE: Jetstar on Tuesday announced new routes and services, which would add 8,500 seats weekly for the budget carrier's hub here. |
|
| Beyonce, Jay-Z baby sets New York abuzz |
| NEW YORK: New York was abuzz Tuesday over the birth of baby girl Blue Ivy to one of the Big Apple's most glamorous couples, rapper Jay-Z and R&B singer Beyonce. |
|
| A roar, and football magic returns |
| SINGAPORE: Red-clad LionsXII fans milled about two hours before kick-off, wearing expectant faces, chatting happily, football magic on their minds. |
|
| High-tech gadget show kicks off in Vegas |
| LAS VEGAS: The International Consumer Electronics Show kicked off on Tuesday with a dazzling array of high-tech gadgetry including ultra-thin laptops, snazzy smartphones, iPad rivals and flat-screen and 3D TVs. |
|
| Google makes search personal |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Tuesday wove content from its social network and Picasa photo-sharing service into its search formula to serve up personalised results to online queries. |
|
| Key US lawmaker to visit Myanmar |
| WASHINGTON: A US congressman who has spearheaded sanctions aimed at pressuring Myanmar will pay his first visit to the country from Thursday to assess the pace of recent reforms, his office said. |
|
| Haiti marks 2 years since quake |
| PORT-AU-PRINCE: In the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petionville, some 2,500 people subsist in a crowded public park near open ditches flowing with human waste, a grim scene frozen in time two years after Haiti's earthquake disaster. |
|
| US stocks score gains |
| NEW YORK: US stocks posted moderate gains Tuesday, lifted by a positive start to the corporate earnings season and Chinese trade data that spurred speculation Beijing would loosen monetary policy. |
|
| Oil exporters to up output if Iran embargoed |
| PARIS: If Iran is hit with an oil embargo over its nuclear policy, other major exporters will increase their production in order to steady world markets, the French foreign minister said Tuesday. |
|
| Scotland govt seeks independence vote |
| LONDON: Scotland's government said Tuesday it wants to hold a referendum on independence from Britain in late 2014, after the government in London said the vote could go ahead but under its terms. |
|
| Merkel to meet IMF chief |
| BERLIN: Ratings agency Fitch offered a ray of light for the eurozone Tuesday ahead of talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Greece's struggle to cut its debt. |
|
| Basketball: Yi joins Mavericks |
| DETROIT, Michigan: Yi Jianlian joined the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks for his first workout on Tuesday, the 24-year-old Chinese forward declaring himself ready for the challenge of the NBA campaign. |
|
| Indonesia quake sparks tsunami warning |
| JAKARTA: An earthquake measuring 7.3 in magnitude struck off the west coast of Northern Sumatra on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey reported. |
|
| US to create China trade-watch task force |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama intends to create a task force to monitor and tackle possible trade and other commercial violations by China, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. |
|
| Breast implant firm to face South American lawsuits |
| PARIS: About 1,000 South American women plan to sue French firm PIP over the potentially faulty breast implants the company supplied to about 300,000 women across the world, their lawyer said Tuesday. |
|
| US ship rescues Iranians |
| WASHINGTON: A US ship on Tuesday rescued six Iranian mariners in the Gulf after their vessel broke down, the Pentagon said, in the latest such gesture despite soaring tensions between Washington and Tehran. |
|
| Kodak to undergo restructuring |
| WASHINGTON: US photography giant Eastman Kodak, fighting to keep bankruptcy at bay, announced Tuesday a major restructuring plan to speed up its transformation into a digital company. |
|
| Chinese immigrants rally in Rome |
| ROME: Thousands of Chinese immigrants took to the streets of Rome on Tuesday to protest against a lack of security in the Italian capital after the murder of a Chinese man and his baby daughter, last week. |
|
| Football: Kompany ban upheld |
| LONDON: Manchester City's bid to overturn Vincent Kompany's four-match ban following his sending off against Manchester United was dismissed on Tuesday, the Football Association (FA) confirmed. |
|
| Football: FIFA launches anti-corruption drive |
| ZURICH: FIFA on Tuesday announced a series of new measures to combat match-fixing, including an appeal for assistance to Interpol and the establishment of protection programmes for informants. |
|
| Italian luxury yacht deal highlights China's clout |
| ROME - A Chinese firm's takeover of the world's leading luxury yacht maker Ferretti announced Tuesday highlights Asia's fast-growing taste for elegant opulence in contrast to crisis-stricken Western markets. |
|
| Suu Kyi becomes party chief as by-election looms |
| YANGON: Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi has become head of her political party, a spokesman said Tuesday, as she prepares to fight by-elections to enter Myanmar's army-dominated parliament. |
|
| Pakistan's top court threatens to disqualify president, PM |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday warned it could disqualify both the president and prime minister from office for disobeying its orders to re-open high profile corruption cases. |
|
| Football: Hughes confirmed as QPR boss |
| LONDON: Mark Hughes was confirmed as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, taking over on a two-and-a-half-year contract following the sacking of Neil Warnock. |
|
| DBS, POSB begin new notes exchange for Lunar New Year |
| SINGAPORE: From now till January 21, DBS and POSB customers can start exchanging old notes for new ones in preparation for the coming Lunar New Year. |
|
| Mt Vernon Road residential site gets top bid of S$388.11m |
| SINGAPORE: A consortium - comprising Intrepid Investments, Sunmaster Holdings and TID Residential - has submitted the highest bid in the tender for a residential site at Mount Vernon Road. |
|
| China's economy may slow, but still looking bright |
| SINGAPORE: China's economic growth may be slowing, but it is not all doom and gloom. |
|
| Israel, India seek to boost trade ties |
| JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met visiting Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna on Tuesday and called for greater cooperation, which would include increasing trade. |
|
| British opposition leader Miliband in relaunch bid |
| LONDON: Britain's embattled opposition chief Ed Miliband sought to relaunch his leadership Tuesday, with a crucial policy speech saying that only his Labour party can deliver "fairness in tough times." |
|
| No complaints received on price increases for LNY goods |
| SINGAPORE: It's two more weeks to the Lunar New Year, and the Retail Price Watch Group says it has not received any complaints on price increases for Lunar New Year goodies so far. |
|
| Shortage in cleaners leads to mess |
| SINGAPORE: It's less than a fortnight to the Lunar New Year and many foreign workers have started heading home for the festive season. |
|
| Football: Kelantan leading LionsXII 2-1 in Malaysia Super League |
| SINGAPORE: It was a long wait but local fans finally got to witness Singapore's return to the Malaysia Cup after a 17-year absence. |
|
| Funding remains key challenge for SMEs |
| SINGAPORE: Amid the global slowdown, financing remains a key challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises in Singapore. |
|
| Comatose bus-fall victim wakes up |
| SINGAPORE: The woman who went in a coma after falling onboard an SMRT bus on December 18 has regained consciousness. |
|
| Woman arrested for cheating |
| SINGAPORE: Police have nabbed a 23-year-old woman, believed to be involved in at least seven cases of cheating island-wide by impersonating as the victims' cousin. |
|
| Milk in India often contaminated with salt, detergent |
| NEW DELHI: More than two-thirds of Indian milk is contaminated with substances ranging from salt to detergent and may not be safe to drink, according to a survey by an Indian government watchdog. |
|
| Siemens increasingly cautious on earnings outlook |
| FRANKFURT: German engineering and industrial giant Siemens said on Tuesday that its earnings targets for the current year were "very ambitious" and it was becoming more difficult to achieve them. |
|
| S'pore consortium to develop prime site in Chongqing |
| SINGAPORE: A consortium led by CapitaLand is pumping in 21 billion yuan (S$4.3 billion) into developing a prime site in Chongqing, China. |
|
| North Korea military pledges support for new leader |
| SEOUL: North Korea's powerful military has held a mass rally to pledge loyalty to the country's new chief Kim Jong-Un, vowing to become "rifles and bombs" to protect him, official media said on Tuesday. |
|
| S. Iswaran to attend ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting in Indonesia |
| SINGAPORE: The Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry, Mr S. Iswaran, will make a two-day visit to Manado, Indonesia, from Wednesday for the ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting. |
|
| Microsoft to bring Kinect to Windows PCs |
| LAS VEGAS - Microsoft plans to bring its Kinect technology to bear on personal computers following its phenomenal success with the gesture and voice-recognition sensor in the Xbox 360 game console. |
|
| Fitch not planning to downgrade France in 2012 |
| PARIS - Ratings agency Fitch said on Tuesday it does not plan to downgrade France's top triple-A credit rating in 2012 unless the country suffers major economic shocks. |
|
| Football: Brunei DPMM FC rejoin S-League for 2012 season |
| SINGAPORE; Brunei football club DPMM FC has rejoined the S-League for the 2012 season. |
|
| "Double Bonus" leaves Terence Cao smiling despite crushed finger |
| SINGAPORE: It was hard to miss Singapore actor Terence Cao's bandaged and braced right hand ring finger, when he appeared during the press event for the currently airing Lunar New Year drama "Double Bonus". |
|
| Taiwanese face dual vote in 2012 |
| TAICHUNG, Taiwan: This will be the first time in Taiwan that both the presidential and legislative elections are being held at the same time. |
|
| Hong Kong Disneyland shrinks losses |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong's money-losing Disneyland on Tuesday posted its smallest annual loss since opening in 2005, as the theme park recorded a 13 per cent rise in visitors and a surge in hotel occupancy. |
|
| NS man dies while undergoing in-camp training |
| SINGAPORE: A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Operationally-Ready National Serviceman died Tuesday after completing a 2.4 kilometre run. |
|
| Japan's shadow shogun "knew nothing" of funding |
| TOKYO: Japanese political strongman Ichiro Ozawa on Tuesday told a court he knew nothing about how money for his campaign fund was managed, as he took the stand in a closely watched trial. |
|
| Taiwan's 'blue camp' supporters split between Ma and Soong |
| KAOHSIUNG: Taiwan's southern Kaohsiung city has the island's largest number of military dependents' villages. |
|
| Gender not an issue in upcoming Taiwan polls |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's 13 million voters will decide on a new leader this weekend. And, for the first time, a woman is vying for the presidential seat. |
|
| Landmark Egypt vote nears conclusion |
| CAIRO: Egyptians were voting on Tuesday in second-round run-offs for the third and final phase of staggered elections to choose the first parliament since mass protests ousted Hosni Mubarak in February last year. |
|
| Suicide bombers storm Afghan govt building, kill 2 |
| KABUL: At least two policemen were killed and one wounded on Tuesday when a group of suicide bombers stormed a government building in southeastern Afghanistan, the interior ministry said. |
|
| Bomb blast kills 26 in tribal Pakistan |
| PESHAWAR, Pakistan: A remote-controlled bomb blast killed at least 26 people and wounded more than 60 others in a tribal region of northwest Pakistan Tuesday in the deadliest such attack in months, officials said. |
|
| Malaysia seizes smuggled ivory from South Africa |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has seized elephant tusks worth 2.4 million ringgit ($760,000) from South Africa in the first haul of smuggled ivory destined for the Southeast Asian country, according to officials. |
|
| Man dies from bird flu in Indonesia |
| JAKARTA: A 24-year-old Indonesian man infected with bird flu died in the capital Jakarta, the health ministry said, in the country's third fatal case in three months. |
|
| Upsizing of Stamford Canal not the best solution: flood panel |
| SINGAPORE: The expert panel on drainage design and flood prevention measures released its final findings and recommendations Tuesday. |
|
| China's Wen to visit oil-rich Mideast states |
| BEIJING: China's Premier Wen Jiabao will this week visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, amid mounting international tensions over oil-rich Iran. |
|
| Abdullah Tarmugi appointed to Presidential Council for Minority Rights |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam has appointed former MP and Speaker of the House, Abdullah Tarmugi as a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights. |
|
| New oil leak as wreck's stern sinks off N. Zealand |
| WELLINGTON: Fresh oil leaking from the wrecked cargo ship Rena off the New Zealand coast is expected to reach shore overnight, salvage officials said Tuesday. |
|
| Acquittal poses new challenge for Malaysia's Anwar |
| KUALA LUMPUR - Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal will electrify his fractious Malaysian opposition but he now must reinvent himself from serial victim to viable leader of the multi-ethnic nation, analysts say. |
|
| Aerospace sector has grown despite volatile economy: Lui Tuck Yew |
| SINGAPORE: Despite the volatile economy, the aerospace industry in Singapore has enjoyed healthy growth, said Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew. |
|
| Oscar hints for best director wins |
| LOS ANGELES: French director Michel Hazanavicius won another nod for his silent movie "The Artist" Monday, joining Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese among nominees for Directors Guild of America (DGA) best film. |
|
| Tennis: China star Li adjusting to Grand Slam fame |
| SYDNEY: China's Li Na said on Tuesday she has adjusted to her off-court demands after becoming the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam last year. |
|
| Jay Chou heading to Singapore to promote "The Viral Factor" |
| SINGAPORE: Asian superstar Jay Chou and Hong Kong director Dante Lam will be heading to Singapore on January 16 to promote their new blockbuster film "The Viral Factor". |
|
| Jolie and ex-husband Thornton feature new films in Berlin |
| BERLIN: Angelina Jolie's directorial debut about the Bosnian war and a drama made by and starring her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton will feature at the Berlin film festival next month, organisers said Monday. |
|
| Music stops for New York City Opera |
| NEW YORK: New York City Opera shut its doors Monday after a contract dispute brought the company known for daring modern productions, as well as for nuturing greats such as Placido Domingo, to a halt. |
|
| Brunei Prince visits Sembawang Air Base |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted Brunei Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah at the Sembawang Air Base (SBAB) Tuesday morning. |
|
| 'Off the scale' smog grounds flights in Beijing |
| BEIJING: More than 150 flights to and from Beijing were cancelled or delayed Tuesday as a thick cloud of acrid smog shrouded the city, with US figures saying the pollution was so bad it was off the scale. |
|
| Nokia declares war in US smartphone market |
| LAS VEGAS: Nokia declared war in the US smartphone market with a Microsoft-powered handset tailored to take on Apple iPhones and Google-backed Android devices. |
|
| S'pore kids pick President as "coolest" job: survey |
| SINGAPORE: A survey on the career choice of children in Singapore revealed that nearly 10 per cent of them think that being the President is the "coolest" job in the world. |
|
| Asian shares up on US data but Europe caps gains |
| HONG KONG: Asian shares rose Tuesday, following a lead from Wall Street after more upbeat US data, although a meeting between France and Germany on ramping up plans to save the euro received a tepid response. |
|
| Cameron will attend hacking inquiry if asked: Downing St |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday said he would appear before the country's phone-hacking inquiry if asked, following reports that he will be summoned to explain his links to Rupert Murdoch. |
|
| New FARC chief says willing to negotiate |
| BOGOTA: Colombia's Marxist FARC guerrillas said they were willing to negotiate with President Juan Manuel Santos, in a statement signed by the group's new leader, named just two months ago. |
|
| China urges US to be "cautious" over military plan |
| BEIJING: Beijing has urged the United States to exercise caution as it refocuses its defence policy to counter China's rising military power and growing assertiveness in Asia. |
|
| In N. Hampshire, Romney rivals seek second place |
| STRATHAM, New Hampshire: With Mitt Romney expected to win the New Hampshire primary, the "non-Romneys" in the hunt for the Republican presidential nomination spent Monday fighting for second and third places. |
|
| Belgium says 674 PIP breast implants fitted |
| BRUSSELS: Women in Belgium have been fitted with a total of at least 674 potentially faulty breast implants made by the now defunct French firm PIP, the health ministry said Monday. |
|
| Indonesia, Australia boost people-smuggling fight |
| JAKARTA: Jakarta and Canberra on Monday agreed to boost their fight against people-smuggling, amid concerns that Indonesia's planned visa policies may result in a surge of asylum-seekers to Australia. |
|
| Japan to hand over Australian anti-whaling activists |
| SYDNEY: An Australian customs vessel was Tuesday steaming towards the Southern Ocean to pick up three anti-whaling activists held on a Japanese ship after Tokyo agreed to release them. |
|
| British government mulls Scottish independence vote |
| LONDON: The British government discussed proposals Monday to give Scotland the legal powers to hold a referendum on independence, which could happen within the next 18 months. |
|
| Olympus sues 19 current, ex-board members over scandal |
| TOKYO: Scandal-hit Olympus said Tuesday it had lodged lawsuits against 19 current and former executives for damages relating to a massive investment loss cover-up. |
|
| N. Korea to free prisoners |
| SEOUL: North Korea announced Tuesday it would grant an amnesty for prisoners to mark the upcoming birth anniversaries of its late leaders. |
|
| Murdoch staff defend tabloid at inquiry |
| LONDON: Current and former editors of Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid The Sun defended the newspaper, at the country's phone-hacking inquiry on Monday, saying it could be a "powerful force for good". |
|
| Mandela's life story to be made into TV series |
| JOHANNESBURG: Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela's life story is to be turned into a six-part television mini-series co-created by his grandson, the producers behind the multinational project said Monday. |
|
| Football: Sawa wins women's player of the year |
| ZURICH, Switzerland: Japanese midfielder and World Cup star Homare Sawa claimed the women's equivalent of the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award Monday at a star-studded ceremony in Zurich. |
|
| Football: Henry makes stunning return for Arsenal |
| LONDON: Former France striker Thierry Henry made a sensational start to his second spell at English Premier League side Arsenal when he scored 11 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute in the FA Cup third round clash with Leeds United. |
|
| Tennis: Williams pulls out of Australian Open |
| WASHINGTON: Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open on Monday as she struggles to return from the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome. |
|
| Grief boosts "heart-attack risk" |
| WASHINGTON: Grief over the death of a loved one can cause a huge spike in a person's risk of heart attack, especially in the early days after the loss, said a US study on Monday. |
|
| Nicotine therapy "no help" to smokers |
| WASHINGTON: Gums, patches and nasal sprays that supply smokers with nicotine do not help people quit cigarettes over the long term any better than going it alone, a US study said on Monday. |
|
| US stocks make gains |
| NEW YORK: US stocks managed modest gains Monday as Wall Street awaited the unofficial kickoff of the fourth-quarter earnings season, which came shortly after the closing bell. |
|
| US chief of staff to quit |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said Monday his chief of staff Bill Daley, brought into the White House to repair tarnished ties with big business, was stepping down in an early election-year staff shake-up. |
|
| Tennis: Williams pulls out of Australian Open |
| WASHINGTON: Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams withdrew from the Australian Open on Monday as she struggles to return from the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome. |
|
| Honda to boost overseas production |
| DETROIT, Michigan: Honda will further boost exports of US-built vehicles and expand its overseas production in order to hedge against an "abnormally high" yen, the Japanese automaker's chief said Monday. |
|
| Iraqi attacks kill 17 |
| BAGHDAD: Attacks across Iraq on Monday, many of which targeted Shiites, killed 17 people and wounded dozens, including 15 Afghans visiting the country for religious commemorations, officials said. |
|
| Football: Messi wins Ballon d'Or |
| PARIS: Lionel Messi became only the second man to win three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards on Monday and the question now begging to be asked is: could he become the greatest player of all time? |
|
| Mexico gas station sees dumped bodies |
| MORELIA, Mexico: Mexican police found 13 bodies dumped near a gas station in the western state of Michoacan, authorities said Monday. |
|
| Chrysler's 2011 sales soar |
| DETROIT, Michigan: Chrysler is poised to rake in almost $2 billion in cash this year after sales of cars and trucks soared in 2011, the head of the US automaker and Italy's Fiat, Sergio Marchionne, said Monday. |
|
| Iran uranium enriched "at new site" |
| VIENNA: The UN atomic agency confirmed Monday Iran has started enriching uranium at a new site in a difficult-to-bomb mountain bunker, in a move set to further heighten tensions with the West. |
|
| World's slimmest smartphone unveiled |
| LAS VEGAS: Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, seeking to expand its presence in the United States and Europe, unveiled the world's slimmest smartphone on Monday. |
|
| Detroit auto show held |
| DETROIT: Glamour and glitz returned to the Detroit auto show as once-struggling General Motors served champagne at a sneak peek of its newest Cadillac and Mercedes launched its latest roadster with a jazzy serenade at a swank cocktail party. |
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| Golf: Woods to play at Pebble Beach |
| PEBBLE BEACH, California: Tiger Woods will play his first US PGA event of the 2012 season at next month's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the 14-time major champion announced Monday on his website. |
|
| US slams US-Iranian man's death sentence |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday condemned the death sentence handed to US-Iranian ex-Marine Amir Mirzai Hekmati in Iran and said allegations he worked for the CIA were "false." |
|
| Tennis: Schiavone beats Stosur |
| SYDNEY: Francesca Schiavone upset US Open champion Samantha Stosur's preparations for next week's Australian Open with a straight-set opening round win at the Sydney International on Monday. |
|
| DPM Teo's comments on youth arrests |
| SINGAPORE : There were 2,890 youth arrests made in the first 11 months of last year. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, said the number of youth arrests has remained stable at around 4,000 a year for the last five years. |
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| DPM Teo on S'poreans emigrating |
| SINGAPORE : In the last decade from 2000 to 2010, an average of some 1,000 Singaporeans renounced their citizenship annually. |
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| Gold remains star performer |
| SINGAPORE: Gold may be the star performer in financial markets this year, as it was in 2011. |
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| Understanding deleveraging and its impact |
| SINGAPORE : Last week, the International Monetary Fund warned that bank deleveraging in Europe may result in capital outflows from Asia. |
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| 7% of places in secondary schools taken up by DSA |
| SINGAPORE: Between 2009 and 2011, an average of 870 students were admitted to secondary school through sports via the Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme. |
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| Impact of MAS' new investment ruling |
| SINGAPORE : A new investment ruling that kicked-in on January 1 has not gone down too well with financial firms. |
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| Sale of cigarettes to be less easily accessible to the young |
| SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry will continue to explore ways to make cigarettes less easily accessible to the young. |
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| Govt to consider allowing private health sector to tap MAF |
| SINGAPORE: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said the government will need to carefully consider further expansion of the scope and the possibility of access by the private sector to the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF). |
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| 3 MHA senior officers issued warning letters for clerk's fraud |
| SINGAPORE: The Home Affairs Ministry served letters of warning to three senior Home Affairs officers whose oversight allowed a clerical officer to embezzle S$617,087. |
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| Defence Minister Ng on NS defaulters |
| SINGAPORE : Over the past three years, five National Service (NS) defaulters have been sentenced to jail by the court. |
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| S'pore will need about 30,000 construction workers this year |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore will need about 30,000 construction workers this year to meet its building programme. |
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| Health Minister on average age of doctors leaving for private sector |
| SINGAPORE : The average age of doctors leaving the public healthcare clusters for private sector increased slightly - from 35 years old in 2001 to 36 years old in 2010. |
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| Govt to review subletting policy for hawker stalls |
| SINGAPORE : The government will be reviewing the subletting policy to tighten the conditions under which hawker stalls can be sublet. |
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| Rochor residents will be compensated: Khaw |
| SINGAPORE: All HDB flat owners at Rochor Centre will be compensated for their existing flats based on the prevailing market values as at the date of announcement of the acquisition, which is 15 November 2011. |
|
| Spot checks to ensure fair deal for shoppers |
| SINGAPORE : With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, it is time to make spot checks to ensure that shoppers are not shortchanged when they buy festive goodies. |
|
| Football: City appeal Kompany red card |
| MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City lodged an appeal with the Football Association on Monday as they sought to overturn the red card handed out to Vincent Kompany in their FA Cup defeat by Manchester United. |
|
| Germany bond yield turns negative for first time |
| FRANKFURT - Germany paid a negative return to investors at a debt auction for the first time on Monday, highlighting the status of Europe's biggest economy as a safe haven in the current debt crisis. |
|
| Bayfront, Cove Stations' names create confusion |
| SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority is changing the Chinese name of the soon-to-be-opened Bayfront MRT Station, after it was told by MediaCorp that the same name is already in use. |
|
| Keppel AmFELS secures deal to construct, upgrade rig |
| SINGAPORE: Keppel AmFELS, a US wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine has secured a contract valued at around US$150 million from Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc to construct and upgrade a deepwater semi-submersible rig. |
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| Synear Food expects loss in Q4 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore-listed Synear Food Holdings warned that it expects to report a loss in the fourth quarter, three months ending 31 December 2011. |
|
| Spain faces "unprecedented" deficit challenge |
| MADRID: Spain must squeeze an "unprecedented" 40 billion euros (US$51 billion) out of the budget in 2012 so as to meet its deficit-cutting target, Moody's warned Monday. |
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| Immediate priority is to regain public confidence: SMRT's interim CEO |
| SINGAPORE : SMRT's interim CEO said his immediate priority is to regain public confidence in the rail network. |
|
| Industrial rent dips on slower growth |
| SINGAPORE: Rents for business park space and offices have stagnated over the last six months. |
|
| Global tech sales to surpass US$1 trillion in 2012: forecast |
| LAS VEGAS: Smartphones and tablet computers will help push worldwide consumer electronics spending over US$1 trillion this year but growth is sluggish compared to last year, according to industry analysts. |
|
| Football: LionsXII gears up for first MSL match |
| SINGAPORE: The LionsXII kicks off their Malaysian Super League campaign at the Jalan Besar Stadium tomorrow. |
|
| CID to be primary investigation arm for COI |
| SINGAPORE: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will be the primary investigation arm for the Committee of Inquiry tasked to look into last month's two massive train disruptions. |
|
| S'pore makes clean sweep at sailing championships |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore has won all the world titles at the 2011 Optimist World Championships in New Zealand. |
|
| Number of households on Public Assistance Scheme has been stable |
| SINGAPORE : Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing, has said the number of households on the Public Assistance Scheme has been fairly stable over the past few years. |
|
| Tibetan monk self-immolates in China |
| BEIJING: A Tibetan monk died after self-immolating in China, state media said Monday, taking to 15 the number of people who have set themselves on fire in Tibetan areas in protest in less than a year. |
|
| Iran judge condemns American to death for spying |
| TEHRAN: A judge has sentenced a US-Iranian man to death for spying for the CIA, a report said Monday, exacerbating Tehran-Washington tensions already high because of Western sanctions on the Islamic republic. |
|
| Coating lets smartphones survive under water |
| LAS VEGAS - As sleek new smartphones prepared to make splashes at the Consumer Electronics Show here on Tuesday, a California firm was out to prevent water from being the death of them. |
|
| Shanmugam to attend ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs, K Shanmugam, will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Tuesday and Wednesday. |
|
| Hu Jintao orders party to fight corruption |
| BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday ordered Communist Party leaders to fight harder against corruption and be more disciplined ahead of a major leadership transition that begins this year. |
|
| Anwar Ibrahim's trial "a travesty of justice" |
| Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted of sodomy charges, after the high court judge found insufficient evidence to convict him. |
|
| Baby disappears in sewer system |
| MOSCOW: Russian rescuers scoured the sewer system in the central city of Bryansk on Monday in search for an 18-month baby who tumbled through the ground with his mother when the pavement suddenly collapsed. |
|
| Singapore stocks close 0.9% lower |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore closed 0.9 per cent lower on Monday amid lingering concerns over the debt crisis in Europe. |
|
| Hundreds protest at D&G store in Hong Kong |
| HONG KONG: More than a thousand people protested outside a Dolce and Gabbana store in Hong Kong on Sunday after the Italian clothing store allegedly prevented people from taking photographs of its shop front. |
|
| SMRT buses collide, one injured |
| SINGAPORE: Two off-service SMRT buses heading back to Woodlands Depot were involved in an accident along Woodlands Ave 9, opposite Blk 876, early Monday morning. |
|
| Tracy Lee: From nervous to getting a real 'Double Bonus' |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore actress Tracy Lee may not have a huge role in the upcoming Channel 8 drama, "Double Bonus", but she said that this is her "favourite project" so far. |
|
| Campbell Lane closed for Pongal celebrations |
| SINGAPORE : Police have said that Campbell Lane - between Serangoon Road and Clive Street - will be closed to traffic for the Pongal Festival celebrations, organised by the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association. |
|
| Football fans urged to take public transport to Jalan Besar Stadium |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore takes on Kelantan in its first match of the Malaysian Super League on Tuesday night, and a sell-out crowd is expected. |
|
| Football: Singapore set for Malaysia league return |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore will look to make an immediate impact on the Malaysian Super League when they return to the competition after an 18-year break on Tuesday. |
|
| Koyuki Kato gives birth to baby boy |
| TOKYO: Japanese actress Koyuki Kato, who is best known for playing Tom Cruise's character's love interest Taka in the hit film "The Last Samurai", has given birth to her first child with actor husband Matsuyama Kenichi, in a Tokyo hospital last week on Thursday. |
|
| Lawrence Wong visits HK to study its higher education system |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Defence and Education, Mr Lawrence Wong, will lead a delegation to study the higher education system in Hong Kong. |
|
| Ethics emphasised throughout teaching career |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Education Lawrence Wong has said professional ethics and guidelines on appropriate behaviour are emphasised upon throughout a teacher's career. |
|
| Australia eases Myanmar sanctions |
| SYDNEY: Australia said on Monday it would scale back sanctions against Myanmar in recognition of steps taken by the formerly isolated military regime towards democracy and greater regional engagement. |
|
| Govt to increase budget for Home Improvement Programme |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of National Development is accelerating its Home Improvement Programme (HIP). |
|
| N.Koreans sent home after drifting to Japan |
| TOKYO: Three North Korean men, who reached Japan in a small wooden boat last week, were sent home on Monday under an agreement between Pyongyang and Tokyo, press reports said. |
|
| Taiwanese wary of China hope for opposition win |
| TAINAN, Taiwan: Tainan, Kaohsiung, Chiayi -- cities little known outside Taiwan, but in Saturday's presidential election they could hand victory to an opposition candidate expected to cool relations with China. |
|
| GCE O-Level Exam results out |
| SINGAPORE: Three students have topped last year's GCE O-Level examinations with 10 A1s each. |
|
| Stamford Canal's capacity needs to be increased by at least 30% |
| SINGAPORE: The capacity of Stamford Canal will be increased by at least a third to reduce the risk of flooding along Singapore's shopping belt of Orchard Road. |
|
| Qi Yuwu turns art curator for a day for fan gathering |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore actor Qi Yuwu played art gallery curator for a day and conducted an intimate tour of an art gallery exhibiting the works of acclaimed Japanese appropriation artist Yasumasa Morimura, for his fans in Singapore on Saturday. |
|
| GM posts record China sales in 2011 |
| SHANGHAI: US auto giant General Motors said on Monday its sales in China hit a record high in 2011, despite a broader slowdown in the world's largest vehicle market. |
|
| British High Commission in S'pore marks 200 days to Olympics |
| SINGAPORE: It's 200 days to go to the London Olympics, and the British High Commission in Singapore marked the occasion with a flag raising ceremony. |
|
| Strong 6.6 quake rattles Solomon Islands |
| SYDNEY: A strong 6.6-magnitude earthquake Monday struck the Santa Cruz islands, part of the Pacific's Solomons group, the USGS said, but there was no threat of a widespread tsunami, according to officials. |
|
| China launches manhunt for serial killer |
| BEIJING: Thousands of police in east China have begun a major manhunt for a serial killer believed to be a former armed police officer who has evaded arrest for at least eight years, state media reported Monday. |
|
| South Korean president to visit China |
| BEIJING: South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak arrives in China on Monday for talks with his counterpart Hu Jintao that will focus on the North Korean leadership transition following the death of Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Germany, France seek to heal rift in euro unity |
| BERLIN: The leaders of France and Germany hold the first major meeting of the year on the euro Monday, as cracks emerge in the strategy to tackle the crisis and markets kept up the pressure on the debt-wracked zone. |
|
| Australian survives bungee jump horror |
| SYDNEY: An Australian woman whose bungee jumping cord snapped, plunging her head-first into raging waters in Africa's Zambezi River with her feet still tied, on Monday described her "miracle" survival. |
|
| Japan PM to sack ministers in reshuffle, say reports |
| TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda plans to sack two troublesome ministers in a cabinet reshuffle as he bids to clear the way for tax increases, according to reports Monday. |
|
| SLA identifies sites along Rail Corridor for interim community use |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) has identified three sites along the Rail Corridor and adjacent vacant state land for interim community use. |
|
| Elvis Presley's 77th birthday kicks off big year for fans |
| MEMPHIS, Tennessee: On what would have been Elvis Presley's 77th birthday on Sunday, hundreds of fans from around the world made the annual pilgrimage to the Graceland mansion where the "King of Rock and Roll" lived. |
|
| Princess Catherine tiptoes into royal limelight at 30 |
| LONDON: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, turns 30 on Monday after a near-faultless nine months of low-key royal engagements as she makes a gentle entrance into royal life alongside her husband Prince William. |
|
| 'Couch potato pill' may also prevent heatstroke |
| PARIS: A drug discovered nearly four years ago that builds muscles in lazy mice may also prevent heatstroke, according to lab research reported on Sunday. |
|
| T-ara's Ham Eun Jung sent to hospital after repeat injury |
| SEOUL: Korean girl group T-ara's Ham Eun Jung was sent to hospital on Friday, after spraining her ankle for the second time in a little over a week, while performing during a recording session for a music show, reported Korean media. |
|
| Spielberg 'honoured' by War Horse's royal premiere |
| LONDON, Jan 8, 2012 (AFP) - Prince William and his wife Catherine on Sunday attended the British premiere of Steven Spielberg's new film "War Horse" along with 600 serving and ex-serving military personnel and their families. |
|
| Small blasts after Malaysia's Anwar verdict |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Three small explosions were heard on Monday outside the court where opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was cleared in a sodomy trial, with police blaming firecrackers. |
|
| S. Korea govt told to pay out for soldier suicide |
| SEOUL: A South Korean court said Monday it has ordered the state to compensate the family of a conscript soldier who committed suicide after suffering maltreatment from other service members. |
|
| Joel Edgerton 'in talks' on Osama bin Laden film |
| KATHMANDU: Hollywood actor Joel Edgerton confirmed on Saturday he is in talks to lead a stellar cast in a film about the killing of Osama bin Laden by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow. |
|
| Euro tumbles below US$1.27 in Asia |
| SINGAPORE: The euro tumbled below $1.27 in Asia on Monday as traders flocked to the dollar following a slew of positive US economic data amid persistent eurozone worries, analysts said. |
|
| Philippine Catholic pilgrims defy terror alert |
| MANILA: A human sea of Catholic pilgrims flooded the Philippine capital on Monday to join a religious march, police said, defying government warnings of a potential terror attack on the annual festival. |
|
| London marks 200 days till Olympics |
| LONDON: London marks 200 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games on Monday with several setbacks in the ticketing system failing to affect the organisers' upbeat mood. |
|
| Australian anti-whaling activists could face Tokyo charges |
| SYDNEY: The Australian government was Monday working to secure the release of three anti-whaling activists held on board a Japanese ship, but conceded they could face charges in Tokyo. |
|
| Top international scientists meet in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: Some 120 top international scientists including Nobel Laureates, Prof Ada Yonath and Prof Kurt Wuthrich are now in Singapore to discuss cross-disciplinary science. |
|
| "Justice served", Anwar declares after acquittal |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Monday that "justice had been served" with his acquittal in a contentious sodomy trial and pledged to topple the government in the next elections. |
|
| Euro "not in crisis": Italian PM |
| ROME: Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Sunday rejected talk of a euro crisis and said Rome was open to the idea of a tax on financial transactions championed by France -- but only if the measure was part of an EU-wide effort. |
|
| Gingrich backs Huntsman in China row with Romney |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: Republican White House hopeful Newt Gingrich on Sunday scolded frontrunner Mitt Romney for trying to use Jon Huntsman's service as ambassador to China against him in their primary battle. |
|
| Crowds gather for Malaysia's Anwar verdict |
| KUALA LUMPUR: At least 1,000 supporters of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim gathered outside a courtroom in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to await the verdict in his sodomy trial. |
|
| Iranian leader launches tour of US foes in LatAm |
| CARACAS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, facing new sanctions over his nation's suspect nuclear program, arrived in Venezuela on Sunday to start a five-day tour aimed at shoring up ties in Latin America. |
|
| Acer unveils world's thinnest laptop |
| LAS VEGAS: Acer on Sunday unveiled the world's thinnest laptop computer as an array of "ultrabook" rivals prepared to debut this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. |
|
| Football: Espanyol dent Barcelona's title hopes |
| MADRID: Barcelona suffered a major setback to their hopes of retaining their La Liga title when they were held to a 1-1 draw by city rivals Espanyol on Sunday, a result which left them five points behind Real Madrid. |
|
| Hungary's Orban says ready for talks with IMF |
| BUDAPEST: Hungary is ready to start unconditional talks with the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sunday in comments to the MTI news agency. |
|
| Global banking checks to begin early 2012, say regulators |
| GENEVA: Checks of banks in the European Union, Japan and the United States are to beginning early in 2012 to see if they have put the globally agreed Basel rules into practice, central bank governors said on Sunday. |
|
| Romney emerges unscathed from US debates |
| CONCORD, New Hampshire: Republican presidential hopefuls tried to blunt frontrunner Mitt Romney's progress but failed to land any telling blows in back-to-back weekend debates ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. |
|
| Musharraf to return to Pakistan this month |
| KARACHI: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he would return home by the end of January after more than three years of self-exile, piling more pressure on the civilian government. |
|
| Mass rallies as countdown begins to Taiwan poll |
| TAIPEI: The Taiwan president and his main challenger drew huge crowds to campaign rallies on Sunday, as the rivals pulled out all the stops to attract wavering support ahead of next weekend's election. |
|
| Malaysia braces for verdict in Anwar's sodomy trial |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia braced on Monday for a verdict in the politically charged sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, whose supporters have vowed to bring thousands onto the streets of the capital. |
|
| Squash: David captures World Series Finals title |
| LONDON: World number one Nicol David captured the World Series Finals title on Sunday when the Malaysian star defeated Ireland's Madeline Perry 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 in the Queen's Club final. |
|
| Football: Liverpool, Man Utd Cup tie set to stoke Suarez row |
| LONDON: Liverpool will face bitter rivals Manchester United in a home FA Cup fourth round tie that will be played against the backdrop of Luis Suarez's ban for racially abusing United's Patrice Evra. |
|
| Israel increases defence budget by US$700m |
| JERUSALEM: Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday an increase of nearly $700 million in the defence budget, after saying last year that he would cut military spending to finance social reforms. |
|
| Football: QPR sack manager Warnock |
| LONDON: Neil Warnock has been sacked as manager of Premier League strugglers Queens Park Rangers, Sky Sports reported on Sunday. |
|
| Tennis: Raonic wins thrilling Chennai Open final |
| CHENNAI: Big-serving Milos Raonic enhanced his reputation as one of the hottest young stars in men's tennis when he won the ATP Chennai Open title on Sunday in a nail-biting encounter. |
|
| Badminton: Lee Chong Wei beats Lin Dan in Korea Open |
| SEOUL: World number one Lee Chong Wei stormed back to defeat arch-rival and holder Lin "Super" Dan in the final of the Korea Open on Sunday to prevent a rampant China for sweeping all five titles. |
|
| Football: AC Milan, Juventus and Udinese advance in Italian Serie A |
| ROME: AC Milan, Juventus and Udinese all won on Sunday to put daylight between themselves and the pack in the Serie A title race. |
|
| US will respond if Iran blocks Strait: Panetta |
| WASHINGTON: The United States will respond if Iran tries to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday, saying such a move would cross a "red line." |
|
| Romney's White House rivals attack him in debate |
| CONCORD, New Hampshire: Frontrunner Mitt Romney's rivals for the Republican presidential nomination on Sunday slammed him as a "timid" moderate who would lose the November election to President Barack Obama. |
|
| Poly grads earning more than peers |
| SINGAPORE: Polytechnic graduates continue to enjoy strong job prospects and are earning higher salaries, according to a recent survey. |
|
| Golf: Oosthuizen wins second Africa Open title |
| EAST LONDON, South Africa: A birdie off a long putt at the penultimate hole on Sunday set up South African Louis Oosthuizen for his second consecutive Africa Open title. |
|
| Football: Man Utd knock City out of FA Cup in derby thriller |
| LONDON: Manchester United knocked holders Manchester City out of the FA Cup with a 3-2 third round win in an incident-packed derby at Eastlands on Sunday. |
|
| Stephen Hawking celebrates 70th birthday |
| CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom: British scientist Stephen Hawking celebrated his 70th birthday Sunday, an age many experts never expected the motor neurone disease sufferer to reach. |
|
| EU-wide financial tax would harm Europe |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday he would block any attempt to introduce an EU-wide financial transaction tax because he fears it will harm jobs and prosperity in Europe. |
|
| Beyonce welcomes baby girl, Ivy Blue Carter |
| NEW YORK: US pop diva Beyonce has given birth to a girl named Ivy Blue Carter, media reports said. The baby and mother are doing well. |
|
| CEOs host garden party for 1,500 needy at Istana |
| SINGAPORE: The big wigs of the corporate world came together to host a party for the needy. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal unsure of form for Australian Open |
| MADRID: Spain's former tennis world number one Rafael Nadal, who has struggled with a sore left shoulder since the end of last season, said on Sunday he is not sure he will be playing at his peak at the Australian Open later this month. |
|
| Philippine leader warns over terrorist plot |
| MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino said Sunday that authorities had discovered a plot by a terrorist group to disrupt a huge religious procession in Manila, and warned that members had not been arrested. |
|
| 984 students receive Edusave awards |
| SINGAPORE: 984 students in Sembawang received some financial boost for the rest of their school year, in the form of Edusave merit bursaries and scholarships. |
|
| Brunei Crown Prince in Singapore for official visit |
| SINGAPORE: The Crown Prince of Brunei Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah is in Singapore for a four-day official visit. |
|
| 100 artists share portraits of inspiration |
| SINGAPORE: A hundred artists have come together to share their stories of the people who have inspired them. |
|
| Saudi Arabia keen to work with S'pore to explore opportunities |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is keen to work with Singapore to explore new business opportunities in East Asia and Southeast Asia. |
|
| Walk to raise awareness of colorectal cancer |
| SINGAPORE: Some 500 residents hit the streets to spread the word on early detection in the fight against colorectal cancer at Punggol Waterway on Sunday. |
|
| Singapore history in pictures |
| SINGAPORE: Travel back in time through an exhibition on early Singapore art. |
|
| Economy key issue in Taiwan vote: experts |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has overseen the most dramatic improvement in relations with China in the island's history, but economic anxieties could dash his re-election hopes in next Saturday's vote. |
|
| S'pore to attend Parliamentary Forum in Japan |
| SINGAPORE: The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Seah Kian Peng, will be leading a delegation to attend the 20th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Tokyo, Japan. |
|
| Labour chief calls for efforts to help needy |
| SINGAPORE: Labour chief Lim Swee Say said the community needs to step up efforts to help the needy, in what he calls an "all-care way". |
|
| China issued more loans in December |
| BEIJING: Chinese banks ramped up lending at the end of 2011, official data showed Sunday, after Beijing relaxed credit restrictions and ordered banks to boost support for small businesses. |
|
| Bikers ride out in force for charity |
| SINGAPORE: The bikers community in Singapore rode out in force on Sunday in the name of charity. |
|
| Tennis: Andy Murray wins Brisbane Open |
| BRISBANE, Australia: World number four Andy Murray laid down a marker for the Australian Open with a 65-minute demolition of Alexandr Dolgopolov in the final of the Brisbane International on Sunday. |
|
| South West District residents turn trash into savings |
| SINGAPORE: All that trash is turning into food and savings for some residents in the South West District. |
|
| Myanmar's Suu Kyi could get govt role |
| YANGON: Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi could be given a job in Myanmar's nominally civilian government if she is elected to parliament in April by-elections, a presidential adviser said on Sunday. |
|
| Malaysia's Anwar prepared for jail |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Sunday he was prepared to go to jail as he geared up for last-ditch rallies on the eve of a trial verdict that threatens his political career. |
|
| Death toll in Philippine landslide rises to 31 |
| MANILA: Rescuers retrieved three more bodies from a landslide that buried part of an illegal gold-mining site in the southern Philippines, raising the death toll to 31, officials said Sunday. |
|
| Service industry to get manpower boost |
| SINGAPORE: Industry players said a national initiative to grow a stable pool of part-time workers is timely, especially with slower economic growth expected this year. |
|
| Indian premier set sights on 9-10% growth |
| JAIPUR, India: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said he hoped the nation's economy would overcome a recent dip in confidence to post annual growth rates closer to 9 or 10 per cent. |
|
| 11 Syria troops killed in heavy clashes |
| NICOSIA: Heavy clashes broke out before dawn on Sunday between the Syrian army and deserters, leaving 11 of its soldiers dead, human rights activists said. |
|
| Polytechnic students develop healthcare devices |
| SINGAPORE: Students from a local polytechnic have come up with several devices that promise to help hospital patients recover with ease. |
|
| Esplanade explores expansion plans on 10th birthday |
| SINGAPORE: The Esplanade celebrates its 10th birthday in October this year, and it's exploring expansion plans, said its CEO Benson Puah. |
|
| Olympus mulls suing executives |
| TOKYO: Scandal-hit Olympus said Sunday it was considering lodging law suits against current and former executives for damages caused by their decision to hide massive investment losses. |
|
| Philippines says peace talks entering important phase |
| MANILA: The Philippines said Sunday it was preparing to enter a "substantive" phase of peace talks with Muslim rebels aimed at ending a long-running insurgency in the country's troubled south. |
|
| Seven injured as turbulence hits Qantas A380 |
| SYDNEY: Seven passengers were injured and four needed treatment in hospital after a Qantas A380 flight from London to Singapore was rattled by strong turbulence, the Australian airline said on Sunday. |
|
| ECB to ring in New Year with rates on hold |
| FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank, after cutting interest rates for the past two months, is unlikely to do so again this month, analysts say, but additional cuts could still be on the cards later this year. |
|
| Malaysia's Anwar rallies support on eve of verdict |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim wraps up a defiant nationwide tour with rallies in Malaysia's capital Sunday as he bids for support on the eve of a trial verdict that could end his political career. |
|
| China local government debt threatens economy |
| BEIJING: Local governments across China have borrowed billions of dollars to build bridges, apartments and shopping malls, leaving many insolvent and endangering the country's financial system, analysts say. |
|
| Power fault causes delay on East-West Line |
| SINGAPORE: Train service on the East-West Line from Boon Lay Station to Joo Koon Station is being delayed due to a power fault. |
|
| Merkel, Sarkozy kick off year of eurozone wrangling |
| BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday, kicking off a week of high-level talks to lay the groundwork for a crunch EU summit on taming the eurozone crisis. |
|
| India stocks reform only a partial boost, say experts |
| MUMBAI: The Indian government's decision to allow foreign nationals to invest directly in stock markets is an attempt to revive its reform agenda but any benefits will only be seen long-term, analysts say. |
|
| Anti-Wall Street activists protest at Republican debate |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: Protesters inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement gathered at the Republican presidential debate Saturday to blame "corporate greed" for economic turmoil being felt around the globe. |
|
| China's massive holiday migration begins |
| BEIJING: The world's largest annual migration of people begins in China on Sunday with millions of travellers boarding public transport to journey across the vast country for the Lunar New Year celebrations. |
|
| Stricken New Zealand cargo ship breaks up |
| WELLINGTON: A cargo ship which caused New Zealand's worst maritime pollution disaster when it ran aground three months ago broke in two in a storm on Sunday, raising fears of a fresh environmental crisis. |
|
| KPI for political leaders must match rigour of private sector: SPP |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore People's Party (SPP) said the government's measures of accountability and key performance indicators (KPIs) for political leaders must match the rigour of the private sector for the good of Singapore. |
|
| Tibetan dies after setting himself on fire |
| BEIJING: A Tibetan man died after he and another man set themselves on fire in southwestern China, state media said Sunday, taking the total number of similar acts to 14 in the restive region in less than a year. |
|
| Activists board Japanese whaling ship |
| SYDNEY: The Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group said three Australian activists were being held as "prisoners" by the Japanese harpoon fleet Sunday after sneaking aboard one of their vessels overnight to protest. |
|
| Australian boy killed as truck slams into house |
| SYDNEY: An 11-year-old boy was killed as he slept when a truck ploughed into his house on Sunday in a horrifying smash which killed another man and injured seven other people, police said. |
|
| US "concerned" over renewed Bahrain violence |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Saturday expressed concern over fresh violence in Bahrain between police and demonstrators, and urged a probe into the most recent clashes. |
|
| British PM vows crackdown on executive pay |
| LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to give shareholders the right to veto executive pay packages, amid mounting political pressure and public anger over huge salaries and bonuses. |
|
| Football: Henry gets Arsenal Champions League nod |
| LONDON: Thierry Henry will be part of Arsene Wenger's Champions League squad for Arsenal's last-16 tie against AC Milan next month, the coach confirmed on Saturday. |
|
| SPP responds to ministerial pay review |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore People's Party (SPP) has issued a response to the recommendations of the ministerial pay review released earlier this week, highlighting two aspects of the review it plans to focus on at the parliamentary debate scheduled for January 16. |
|
| Football: Fan arrested in Liverpool race row |
| LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom: A 20-year-old man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence during Liverpool's FA Cup clash with Oldham. |
|
| Football: Rampant Real open six-point lead |
| MADRID: Real Madrid extended their lead over Barcelona at the top of La Liga to six points on Saturday with a 5-1 rout of Granada in the minnows' first trip to the Santiago Bernabeu in 36 years. |
|
| Romney assails Obama, urges supporters to vote |
| DERRY, New Hampshire: Days from New Hampshire's bellwether primary, Mitt Romney and his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday wooed voters and prepared to clash in a pair of debates just 12 hours apart. |
|
| Football: Lazio title hopes suffer in Siena collapse |
| ROME: Lazio's hopes of remaining in the Serie A title race were damaged by a vibrant and adventurous Siena in a 4-0 thrashing in Tuscany on Saturday. |
|
| IMF doubts Greece's ability to fix economy |
| BERLIN: The International Monetary Fund has growing doubts about Greece's long-term ability to reduce its debts, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported Saturday. |
|
| Nigerian state slaps 24-hour curfew after church attacks |
| KANO, Nigeria: A northeastern Nigerian state where attacks on Christians left around 30 people dead was put under round-the-clock curfew Saturday amid a new wave of violence blamed on Islamists. |
|
| Tennis: Tsonga wins Qatar Open |
| DOHA: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defied treacherous conditions to defeat French compatriot Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-3 on Saturday to win the 20th edition of the Qatar Open. |
|
| Football: Wigan woe in FA Cup third round |
| LONDON: Premier League strugglers Wigan were the highest profile casualties as the FA Cup third round lived up to its fabled giant-killing tradition on Saturday. |
|
| Belgium says will freeze spending to appease EU |
| BRUSSELS: Belgium will freeze more than a billion euros ($1.3 billion) in spending for several months after the European Commission raised concerns, the country's budget minister said Saturday. |
|
| Syria buries Damascus dead, threatening "iron fist" |
| DAMASCUS: The Syrian regime held funerals on Saturday for 26 people killed in a Damascus suicide bombing that it called a "terrorist attack," promising an "iron fist" response to the second such incident in two weeks. |
|
| Egypt Copts celebrate Christmas amid heavy security |
| CAIRO: Egypt's Coptic Christians celebrated Christmas on Saturday amid tight security, looking over their shoulders at the violence they have suffered in recent years and ahead, as Islamists emerge as the dominant force in the new parliament. |
|
| No cancer found in Argentine president: spokesman |
| BUENOS AIRES: Medical tests performed after Argentine President Cristina Kirchner had her thyroid removed in a three and a half hour operation found that she did not have cancer as initially believed, her spokesman said Saturday. |
|
| Singapore magicians set mind-reading record |
| SINGAPORE: Two local magicians have set a Singapore and possibly a world record for reading the minds of 100 people in one sitting. |
|
| Taiwan confiscates 2,200 guns ahead of polls |
| TAIPEI: Taiwanese authorities have confiscated more than 2,200 guns in a bid to thwart election-related crime in the run-up to next week's presidential and legislative polls, a report said Saturday. |
|
| Students pit creativity to concoct new ice cream flavour |
| SINGAPORE: Ten groups of Secondary Three school students on Saturday pitted their creativity to concoct a new ice cream flavour. |
|
| Iran welcomes US rescue of nationals from pirates |
| TEHRAN: The Iranian government on Saturday welcomed a US navy rescue of 13 of its nationals from pirates near the entrance to the Gulf, in a rare respite from months of rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. |
|
| Lower fish supplies from region driving up prices ahead of Lunar New Year |
| SINGAPORE: It will be Lunar New Year in a few weeks but fish markets in Geylang are not as busy as they have been in previous years. |
|
| MediaCorp celebrates Family Day at Universal Studios Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: It is a day of thrills and spills for MediaCorp employees and family members as the broadcaster held its Family Day on Saturday at Universal Studios Singapore. |
|
| Banks, customers should stay vigilant against card skimming: experts |
| SINGAPORE: Information security experts say the battle against card skimming scams is one to be fought by both banks and customers. |
|
| Football: Abuse by Liverpool fan 'disgraceful' |
| LIVERPOOL: Oldham captain Dean Furman has said he understood the reactions of teammate Tom Adeyemi to the abuse he suffered in the FA Cup tie at Liverpool saying that the taunts had been an "absolute disgrace." |
|
| Million dollar boost for LionsXII |
| SINGAPORE: The LionsXII got a million dollar boost on Saturday before they start their Malaysia Super League campaign. |
|
| ESM Goh in Saudi Arabia to renew ties with leaders |
| RIYADH: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong is in Saudi Arabia on an official visit to renew ties with key Saudi leaders and hold talks with prominent figures from the financial sector. |
|
| Hong Kong detains another 27 over vote-rigging |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong anti-corruption authorities said on Saturday they had arrested another 27 people for alleged vote-rigging in local elections that were dominated by pro-Beijing candidates. |
|
| STTA plans to field entire team of young paddlers for future SEA Games |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) plans to field an entire team of youngsters for future SEA Games. |
|
| Britain warns of increased risk of terror attack in Kenya |
| LONDON: Britain said Saturday it believed there was a "heightened" terrorism threat in Kenya and said London fears the planning of attacks was almost complete. |
|
| Demand for luxury homes still upbeat despite economic uncertainty |
| SINGAPORE: Demand for luxury private and public homes in Singapore is still upbeat despite a gloomy economic outlook. |
|
| Badminton: Lee Chong-Wei to meet Lin Dan in dream final |
| SEOUL: World number one Lee Chong-Wei powered into the final at the Korea Open on Saturday, setting up a mouthwatering clash with arch-rival Lin Dan as the battle at the top of the men's game hots up. |
|
| Singapore Buddhist Lodge gives out more than S$670,000 to the needy |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Buddhist Lodge (Welfare Foundation) has given out twenty per cent more red packets for the Lunar New Year this year. |
|
| Britain sends new warship to Gulf amid Iran tensions |
| LONDON: Britain's newest warship is heading to the Gulf for its first mission at a time of tensions over Iran's threat to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key transport route for oil. |
|
| Obama vows to do 'whatever it takes' to grow economy |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama promised Saturday to do "whatever it takes" to maintain growth in the US economy as he announced a summit with business leaders dedicated to job creation at home. |
|
| Airbus agrees A380 deal worth US$3.8b with Hong Kong Airlines |
| HONG KONG: Airbus and Hong Kong Airlines have struck a deal worth about $3.8 billion at list prices to buy 10 superjumbo A380 jets, reports said. |
|
| Four loanshark runners arrested |
| SINGAPORE: Police arrested four loanshark runners in Ang Mo Kio and Yishun on January 6. |
|
| Pakistan frees 179 Indian fishermen |
| KARACHI: Pakistan freed 179 Indian fishermen on Saturday who were imprisoned for violating territorial waters, the prisons chief said. |
|
| Residents flee homes after Islamists attack in Nigeria |
| KANO, Nigeria: Hundreds of residents fled their homes Saturday in a town in northeastern Nigeria in the wake of all-night gun battles between Islamists and security forces, police and residents said. |
|
| National paddlers join SembCorp volunteers to spring clean homes of needy elderly |
| SINGAPORE: It is two more weeks to the Lunar New Year and 25 needy elderly in Marsiling got some much needed help in spring-cleaning. |
|
| Tennis: Murray, Dolgopolov to meet in Brisbane final |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Top seed Andy Murray brushed aside the challenge from rising Australian star Bernard Tomic on Saturday to cruise into the final of the Brisbane International in front of new coach Ivan Lendl. |
|
| Taiwan politician detained on vote-buying charge |
| TAIPEI: An independent politician running for a seat in Taiwan's parliament has been detained for alleged vote-buying ahead of polls next week, prosecutors said Saturday. |
|
| NKF launches first major public fundraising campaign in 6 years |
| SINGAPORE: The National Kidney Foundation has launched its first major public fundraising campaign in six years. |
|
| Death toll in Philippine landslide rises to 28 |
| MANILA: The number of dead from a landslide in a remote gold-mining community in the southern Philippines hit 28 Saturday but rescuers said they expected the toll to rise with about 35 people unaccounted for. |
|
| DBS/POSB should beef up ATM security, say customers |
| SINGAPORE: Most Singaporeans Channel NewsAsia spoke to said they will continue to use ATMs despite the latest fraud which hit 400 POSB and DBS customers this week. |
|
| SAF open mobilisation exercise |
| SINGAPORE: The Defence Ministry is conducting an SAF Open Mobilisation and Civil Resource Requisition Exercise on Saturday. |
|
| Japan defence minister 'faces sack' over gaffes |
| TOKYO: Japan's defence minister faces the sack, reports said Saturday, after a series of gaffes including describing the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen as a "sexual orgy incident". |
|
| Santorum booed on US campaign trail |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: Republican White House candidate Rick Santorum was roundly jeered Friday as he spoke at a campaign event in a parking lot outside a room that was too small for the crowd. |
|
| Seven whales die in New Zealand stranding |
| NELSON, New Zealand: Conservationists in New Zealand were struggling Saturday to save 18 long-finned pilot whales after a mass stranding in which seven of the animals died. |
|
| Carrefour joins shark fin boycott in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: French retail giant Carrefour will halt sales of shark fin products in its Singapore outlets after current stocks run out as a supermarket boycott of the delicacy gains steam, media reported Saturday. |
|
| Debt-wracked eurozone under pressure again |
| PARIS: The eurozone's debt-wracked economies came under renewed pressure as bad economic data undermined leaders' attempts to reassure markets that an end to the crisis is in sight. |
|
| Sony's Stringer "to step down" as president |
| TOKYO: Howard Stringer, the Welsh-born American head of Japanese games, music and electronics giant Sony, is to step down as the firm's president, reports said Saturday, while remaining CEO and chairman. |
|
| Euro sinks to multi-month lows |
| NEW YORK: The euro fell below $1.28 for the first time since in 16 months on Friday, as the eurozone debt crisis rolled on. |
|
| US jobs picture improves but risks remain |
| WASHINGTON: US unemployment fell for the fourth straight month in December and jobs creation picked up, but economists warned that Europe's debt crisis and a rise in oil prices could yet scuttle the recovery. |
|
| Romney says rivals will close ranks to fight Obama |
| TILTON, New Hampshire: Mitt Romney predicted Friday that he and his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination will ultimately close ranks to ensure that Barack Obama is turned out of the White House. |
|
| Iran must prove nuclear drive peaceful: UN chief |
| UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon called Friday for "peaceful" efforts to ease tensions between Iran and Western nations but stressed that Iran must prove its nuclear program is not aimed at producing weapons. |
|
| Football: S-League champs eye temporary home in Clementi |
| SINGAPORE: Reigning Great Eastern-Yeo's S-League champions Tampines Rovers want to move to the Clementi Stadium before the start of the 2013 season. |
|
| Bowling: SBF renews call for new bowling training centre |
| SINGAPORE: It was another successful season for Singapore's bowlers last year. |
|
| UN chief to visit Ramallah, Jerusalem |
| UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon will visit the Palestinian territories and Israel as tensions between the two grow over Israel's settlement drive in the occupied territories, diplomats said Friday. |
|
| IMF sees bigger Greek writedown for banks |
| WASHINGTON: The IMF's top economist said Friday that banks holding Greek debt could be forced to take larger writedowns than planned because of Athens' weaker-than-expected finances. |
|
| US stocks dip despite solid jobs news |
| NEW YORK: US stocks were broadly lower Friday despite better-than-expected official data showing that job creation surged and the unemployment rate fell a fourth straight month in December. |
|
| Football: Gerrard returns to lead Liverpool Cup romp |
| LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom: Steven Gerrard helped Kenny Dalglish celebrate his first anniversary back in charge of Liverpool with a 5-1 FA Cup win over Oldham at Anfield on Friday. |
|
| Oil prices mixed on profit taking, Iran tensions |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices closed mixed Friday after a positive US jobs report spurred profit-taking in New York, while the global market remained bolstered by tensions between key producer Iran and the West. |
|
| Pakistani jailed for 3 years in US on nuclear charges |
| WASHINGTON: A Pakistani citizen who pleaded guilty last year to attempting to export nuclear-related material to his homeland was sentenced by a US court Friday to 37 months in prison, the Department of Justice said. |
|
| 11 dead in New Zealand hot air balloon crash |
| WELLINGTON: All 11 people on board a hot air balloon which crashed in New Zealand Saturday were killed, a media report said. |
|
| Syria vows "iron fist" after deadly Damascus bomb |
| DAMASCUS: A suicide bombing in the Syrian capital on Friday killed 26 people and wounded dozens, mostly civilians, with the interior ministry vowing an "iron fist" response to this "terrorist escalation." |
|
| Iranian president to tour US foes in Latin America |
| CARACAS: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, under increasing pressure from debilitating Western economic sanctions, Sunday begins a tour of Latin America aimed at shoring up ties with his few remaining allies. |
|
| Tennis: Soeda stuns champion Wawrinka in India |
| CHENNAI, India: Japanese qualifier Go Soeda upset defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland to storm into the semi-finals of the ATP Chennai Open on Friday. |
|
| Tennis: Injured Federer, beaten Nadal out of Qatar Open |
| DOHA: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal was hustled out of the Qatar Open in the semi-finals on Friday, joining second-seeded Roger Federer at the Doha exit door after the Swiss star pulled out with a back injury. |
|
| US Navy rescues Iranians held hostage by pirates |
| WASHINGTON: A US Navy ship has rescued 13 Iranians held hostage by Somali pirates for weeks in the Arabian sea, US military officers said Friday. |
|
| Turkey ex-army chief arrested for alleged bid to topple govt |
| ISTANBUL: Turkey's former army chief Ilker Basbug was arrested Friday for an alleged bid to topple the Islamist-rooted government in the latest confrontation likely to inflame tensions with the powerful military. |
|
| "The Iron Lady" should have been delayed: British PM |
| LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday "The Iron Lady" should have been delayed until after Margaret Thatcher's death, as the film showing the former premier in the grip of dementia opened in Britain. |
|
| Pope Benedict XVI announces 22 new cardinals |
| VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI said Friday he will create 22 cardinals in February, in a key announcement for the Catholic Church as 18 of them will have the power to elect his successor. |
|
| Gunmen in Nigeria fire on mourners, 17 dead |
| KANO, Nigeria: Gunmen fired on Christian mourners in northern Nigeria on Friday, killing 17 in the latest attack to hit the region amid mounting fears of sectarian clashes, residents and a relief source said. |
|
| Presidential scandal another headache for Merkel |
| BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced dual setbacks Friday as support for her coalition partners plummeted to a record low in an opinion poll and the president fought for his political life. |
|
| 5 Hong Kong men arrested for allegedly manufacturing drugs |
| MANILA: Five Hong Kong men were arrested in the Philippines on Friday for allegedly manufacturing illegal drugs at an upscale gated community in Manila, police said. |
|
| DBS' reputation may be hit |
| SINGAPORE: DBS Bank's reputation may be hit following a string of fraudulent withdrawals of funds involving 400 of its customers. |
|
| Man stable after 90kg tumour removed |
| HANOI: A Vietnamese man was in a stable condition in hospital Friday after doctors removed a giant tumour from his right leg that weighed more than the rest of his body, hospital officials said. |
|
| Social issues priority as Asian countries head to poll |
| SINGAPORE: A number of key Asian countries are going to the polls this year. |
|
| 400 POSB, DBS customers affected by ATM fraud |
| SINGAPORE: About 400 POSB and DBS Bank customers were affected by the largest ATM fraud in Singapore. |
|
| Euro slumps to fresh 16-month low on US jobs data |
| LONDON: The euro tumbled to yet another 16-month dollar low on Friday as the single currency's fortunes were hit by positive US jobs data and ongoing fears over the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| How the money went missing from DBS/POSB accounts? |
| SINGAPORE: One information security expert Channel NewsAsia spoke to said fraudsters may have done a quick job to swipe bank information from DBS/ POSB customers. |
|
| Indonesia Freeport workers threaten more strikes |
| JAKARTA: Workers at a giant Indonesian gold and copper mine owned by US company Freeport-McMoRan said Friday they would not return to work, three weeks after officially ending the country's longest-ever strike. |
|
| SGX applies for court order on China Sky |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has applied for a court order to enforce its directive on textile maker China Sky Chemical Fibre to appoint a special auditor. |
|
| Football: Coach Clement leaves Blackburn |
| LONDON: English Premier League side Blackburn confirmed on Friday that assistant manager Paul Clement has left the club and he is now expected to join Carlo Ancelotti at Paris St Germain. |
|
| Net worth of Hong Kong's 40 richest down 7.4% |
| HONG KONG: The net worth of Hong Kong's 40 richest individuals saw a 7.4 per cent decline to US$151 billion last year. |
|
| Gloomy economic news fuels fears of recession |
| SINGAPORE: The eurozone was hit by a raft of gloomy economic news on Friday that unemployment was stuck at a record high, retail sales fell, and consumer and business confidence sunk as recession looms large. |
|
| Tennis: Clijsters pulls out after injury |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Kim Clijsters was forced to pull out of her Brisbane International semi-final against Daniela Hantuchova with a hip injury on Friday, but remained confident of making the Australian Open. |
|
| Tennis: Kvitova beats number one Wozniacki at Hopman Cup |
| PERTH, Australia: Petra Kvitova helped the Czech Republic reach the Hopman Cup final on Friday, defeating world number one Caroline Wozniacki in another sign the Dane's days at the top may be numbered. |
|
| Football: Henry rejoins Arsenal on loan deal - club |
| LONDON - Thierry Henry has rejoined Arsenal on a short-term loan deal from the New York Red Bulls, the Premier League club confirmed on Friday. |
|
| Sales of dragon stamps red-hot |
| SHANGHAI: China has just released a limited edition postage stamp for the Year of the dragon. |
|
| US probe of MF Global "expands to CME" |
| NEW YORK: US regulators investigating the collapse of MF Global have widened their inquiry to the CME Group, which operates the massive exchange where the firm did business, the New York Times reported Friday. |
|
| Temperature rises in KL, ahead of Free Anwar rally |
| Kuala Lumpur: Police in Malaysia are allowing a rally in support of opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, to take place on Monday - the day the high court delivers its verdict on his long drawn sodomy trial. |
|
| Basic pay for top management may rise 4-5% |
| SINGAPORE: Top management at public-listed companies are likely to see a four to five per cent increase in their basic pay this year. |
|
| Football: No need for Liverpool talks, Ferguson says |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists there is no need for conciliatory talks with Liverpool over the Luis Suarez racism row. |
|
| Man bribes police with S$2,000 |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 30-year-old Bangladeshi man for overstaying, possession of another person's work permit and attempting to bribe officers. |
|
| S'pore shares end steady after late rebound |
| SINGAPORE: Share prices in Singapore ended steady after staging a late rebound, helped by positive starts in European markets. |
|
| CNB seizes first large drug haul of the year |
| SINGAPORE: Narcotics officers have seized 4.9 kilograms of heroin worth about S$740,000 - the first large drug seizure of the year. |
|
| NEA officer jailed 3 years for corruption |
| SINGAPORE: A senior technical officer with the National Environment Agency was jailed three years and ordered to pay a penalty of S$119,700 after accepting bribes from a contractor to aid his business. |
|
| Chinese dragon stamp "too fierce" |
| BEIJING: A Chinese postage stamp depicting a dragon with its fangs and claws bared has drawn sharp criticism on the nation's microblogs, with many saying it puts too frightening a face on their rising country. |
|
| ACI (I) school sees IB students get perfect score |
| SINGAPORE: Results of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) examination held in November 2011 were released on Friday. |
|
| Raring to go |
| MOST people, especially those working or living overseas and have come back for the holidays, would have spent a lot of time with their families and friends. Well, not violinist Siow Lee-Chin (picture). |
|
| Popular Korean stage show "bibap" to hit Singapore in March |
| SINGAPORE: "bibap", the popular Korean non-verbal action comedy show, from the creators of hit productions like "JUMP", "BREAKOUT!" and "Nanta", will be coming to Singapore on March 30. |
|
| SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa resigns |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa has resigned. |
|
| Dragon on stamp "too fierce" |
| BEIJING - A Chinese postage stamp depicting a dragon with its fangs and claws bared has drawn sharp criticism on the nation's microblogs, with many saying it puts too frightening a face on their rising country. |
|
| DBS Bank finds 400 cases of unauthorised withdrawals |
| SINGAPORE: DBS Bank on Friday said it has found 400 cases of unauthorised withdrawals from the accounts of its customers. |
|
| Three North Koreans found off Japan |
| TOKYO: Japan's coastguard said Friday they had found three people adrift in a small boat off the country's west coast with media reporting they are from North Korea but are not defectors. |
|
| More ITE courses for GCE O-Level students |
| SINGAPORE: GCE O-Level school leavers, who will receive their results on Monday, will now have more Institute of Technical Education (ITE) courses to choose from, especially with the introduction of new Higher Nitec courses in April 2012. |
|
| 200 million people use illegal drugs |
| PARIS: About 200 million people around the world use illicit drugs, according to a study published on Friday in The Lancet. |
|
| Over 3,000 killed in South Sudan massacre: local official |
| JUBA, South Sudan - More than 3,000 people were killed in South Sudan in brutal massacres last week in bloody ethnic violence that forced thousands to flee, a top local official in the affected area said on Friday. |
|
| Quitting smoking early can cut mortality risk |
| SINGAPORE: Elderly smokers who quit now may be able to see the health benefits sooner than they thought. |
|
| Hong Kong breaks tourists record in 2011 |
| HONG KONG: Tourist arrivals hit a record high in Hong Kong in 2011 with nearly 42 million visitors, boosted by a huge increase of people from mainland China, tourism officials said. |
|
| Tennis: Serena hints she will play Australian Open |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Five-times Australian Open champion Serena Williams has given a hint on Twitter that she may be fit for this year's tournament after an injury scare. |
|
| Smuggled tiger parts found in the mail |
| BANGKOK: Thai customs officials said they had seized four boxes of smuggled tiger skins and bones worth tens of thousands of dollars, believed to be destined for interior decoration. |
|
| Hong Kong breaks tourists record |
| HONG KONG: Tourist arrivals hit a record high in Hong Kong in 2011 with nearly 42 million visitors, boosted by a huge increase of people from mainland China, tourism officials said. |
|
| Britain's Hague calls for more reform in Myanmar |
| YANGON: Britain's foreign secretary called Friday for "much more" work to be done in Myanmar before sanctions on the isolated nation could be lifted, after a historic meeting with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. |
|
| Malaysia police give rare nod for Anwar court rally |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said Friday they would allow a rally for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to take place when the court delivers a verdict in his sodomy trial at the start of next week. |
|
| Mindset change key to rehiring law's success: Tan Chuan-Jin |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said the success of the Retirement and Re-employment Act (RRA), which came into force this year, lies with Singapore's ability to change ageist mindsets and embrace more enlightened attitudes. |
|
| Transport Minister Lui to make statement on MRT disruptions |
| SINGAPORE: The year's first sitting of Parliament on Monday will see Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew making a Ministerial Statement on the disruptions of the MRT train services in December. |
|
| POSB/DBS customers check accounts following fraud cases |
| SINGAPORE: Many POSB and DBS customers have been checking their bank accounts following reports of unauthorised withdrawals affecting some 200 customers. |
|
| S. Korea to seek exemption from Iran oil sanctions |
| SEOUL: South Korea will seek an exemption from new US sanctions that will further restrict Iran's crucial crude oil exports, a senior Seoul official said Friday. |
|
| Pro-bono efforts to get boost as part of new legal initiatives |
| SINGAPORE: The public may soon get access to more pro-bono services in Singapore. |
|
| Kodak edges toward bankruptcy |
| NEW YORK: Eastman Kodak, the company which brought photography to the masses a century ago, faces a gloomy future amid new reports that it is on the edge of bankruptcy. |
|
| China hikes threshold for oil tax, helping firms |
| SHANGHAI: China has raised the threshold for a tax on crude oil charged to the nation's two biggest producers, the firms said, helping ease their financial burden and encourage output. |
|
| Football: Tevez set to snub Inter for Milan |
| ROME: Carlos Tevez looks set to snub interest from Inter Milan in order to join their bitter city rivals AC Milan, according to the Argentine's agent, Kia Joorabchian. |
|
| Yuhua residents get preview of Gardens by the Bay |
| SINGAPORE: It was a rare day out for 60 physically challenged and the elderly from Yuhua constituency. |
|
| Court denies Malaysians abroad right to vote |
| KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian high court ruled Friday that six Malaysians working in Britain do not have the right to cast their ballots abroad despite promises of electoral reforms. |
|
| AKB48 beats Morning Musume to be named group with most singles sold in Japan |
| TOKYO: Japanese girl group AKB48 has become the new record holder for being the group with the highest number of single sales in Japan, after recent sales data revealed that its 24 singles have sold a combined total of 11.787 million copies, reported Japanese media. |
|
| Eve Arnold, famed photographer for Magnum, dies |
| NEW YORK: Eve Arnold, a US photographer who took famous pictures of Marilyn Monroe among other renowned figures and was a pioneering member of the Magnum photo agency, has died, Magnum said Thursday. She was 99. |
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| Beijing to issue new air quality data after outcry |
| BEIJING: Authorities in Beijing said Friday they will start publicising data on the tiny particles that make up much of the city's pollution this month, after a public outcry over air quality measurements. |
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| Hawking defies science to celebrate 70th birthday |
| LONDON: When Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with motor neurone disease aged just 21, he was given only a few years to live. But the British scientist marks his 70th birthday on Sunday, as questioning as ever. |
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| Merlion closed for routine cleaning |
| SINGAPORE: The Merlion at Merlion Park will be closed for routine cleaning for five days from this Sunday (January 8-12). |
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| Paint it black? No way! Fashion colours up for 2013 |
| PARIS: As the economy splutters, fashion will naturally turn to solemn greys and blacks, right? Wrong, according to fabric gurus who unveiled their top trends for spring-summer 2013 in Paris on Thursday. |
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| China retail sales up 17% in 2011 |
| SHANGHAI: China's retail sales rose an estimated 17 percent year-on-year to 18 trillion yuan ($2.86 trillion) in 2011 as the government sought to boost domestic consumption, the Commerce Ministry said. |
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| Taiwan's jailed ex-leader addresses supporters |
| TAINAN, Taiwan: Taiwan's jailed ex-leader Chen Shui-bian addressed hundreds of supporters in a 20-minute speech at a ceremony for his late mother-in-law Friday, just a week before the island goes to the polls. |
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| FAS unveils new S.League CEO |
| SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore has appointed Mr Lim Chin as the new CEO of the S.League. |
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| Euro edges up amid eurozone debt tension |
| TOKYO: The euro edged upward but faced persistent selling pressure in Asia Friday after tumbling on intensifying tensions over European sovereign debts. |
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| Andy Lau opens up about wife's pregnancy |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actor Andy Lau directly confirmed for the first time that his wife, Malaysian Carol Chu, is pregnant, during a promotional event in Hong Kong for his film "A Simple Life" on Wednesday, reported Hong Kong media. |
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| Etta James out of hospital, 'stable' |
| LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning soul legend Etta James, famous for her hit "At Last," left hospital Thursday in California, where she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, her agent said. |
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| Jackson kids to make dad's footprint in Hollywood |
| LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's three children are to sink their father's shoes and famous sequined glove into the cement outside a storied Hollywood cinema and tourist site, organizers said Thursday. |
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| Asian markets fall, Europe fears outweigh US data |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets fell and the euro continued its struggles as fresh concerns over Spain and Italy rattled investors despite another strong batch of jobs data from the United States. |
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| Oil prices slip in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: Oil prices slid in Asian trade Friday as dealers took profit from recent gains, while concerns over the European debt crisis and weaker US energy demand dampened sentiment, analysts said. |
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| Romney rivals seek boost from N. Hampshire debates |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: A pair of weekend debates could be the last chance for conservative Republican presidential hopefuls to prove who is the best alternative to frontrunner Mitt Romney ahead of next week's New Hampshire primary. |
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| Search for Philippine landslide missing resumes |
| MANILA: Philippine rescuers resumed the search Friday for up to 150 people who remained missing a day after a deadly landslide buried a remote gold mining community in the country's south, the military said. |
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| Whistleblower to give up Olympus management bid |
| TOKYO: The whistle-blowing former head of Olympus said Friday he would abandon his bid to retake the helm of the scandal-hit firm, citing a "depressing" lack of support from Japanese institutional shareholders. |
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| Deadly mushroom meal prepared in Australia bistro |
| SYDNEY: A New Year's Eve meal containing Death Cap mushrooms that left two Chinese people dead was prepared by a chef for his co-workers at a Canberra restaurant, health officials said on Friday. |
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| Quake hits roads, buildings in Dominican Republic |
| SANTO DOMINGO: A 5.3-magnitude quake in the Dominican Republic early Thursday triggered rockslides and damaged several buildings, but no casualties were reported, officials said. |
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| Samsung tips record Q4 operating profit of US$4.5b |
| SEOUL: Samsung Electronics said Friday it expects a record operating profit in the fourth quarter of 5.2 trillion won ($4.5 billion), 73 percent up year-on-year thanks mainly to strong smartphone sales. |
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| Qantas says no risk after cracks found in A380 wing |
| SYDNEY: Australian airline Qantas Friday reassured passengers there was no risk to safety after cracks were found on the wings of some A380 superjumbo jets, including one in its fleet. |
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| Brain power can decline from age 45 |
| PARIS: Cognitive skills can start to fall from the age of 45, not from around the age of 60 as is commonly thought, according to research published on Friday by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). |
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| Football: Etoile FC cry foul over Gouttefangeas |
| SINGAPORE: He led the first European side into the S-League in 2010, and in a remarkable feat, Johan Gouttefangeas went on to make history when he became the first chairman of a foreign team to win the competition, when French outfit Etoile FC lifted the title in their first year here. |
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| NUS server hacked, passwords reset for some |
| SINGAPORE: Hackers infiltrated one of the National University of Singapore's Web servers on Thursday, leading to the re-setting of passwords for affected accounts. |
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| No shark's fin products at FairPrice by end-March |
| SINGAPORE: Shark's fin products will no longer be sold at over 100 FairPrice outlets by the end of March this year. |
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| Euro weakens on rising eurozone worries |
| WASHINGTON: The euro slumped to 16-month dollar lows on Thursday amid a sharp upsurge in eurozone debt tensions and strong US jobs data. |
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| Chile blaze claims six firefighters |
| SANTIAGO: Six Chilean firefighters died on Thursday and four were injured tackling one of a series of wildfires that President Sebastian Pinera says were intentionally lit by criminals. |
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| Football: Jonas strike gives Valencia upper hand |
| MADRID: Brazilian striker Jonas scored the only goal as Valencia edged Sevilla 1-0 in their Spanish Cup last 16 first leg clash on Thursday while second division Cordoba surprised top-flight Espanyol 2-1. |
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| Football: England face Norway and Belgium in Euro warm-ups |
| LONDON: England will play Norway and Belgium in their final two friendly internationals before Euro 2012, it was announced on Thursday. |
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| EU to open office in Myanmar |
| BRUSSELS: The European Union will open an office in Myanmar's main city Yangon to manage aid programmes and play a "political role", the spokesman of the bloc's top diplomat Catherine Ashton said on Thursday. |
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| Britain's Hague concludes historic Myanmar visit |
| YANGON: Britain's foreign secretary concludes a historic trip to Myanmar on Friday following talks with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi in the latest international effort to encourage reforms in the isolated nation. |
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| US stocks mixed on jobs data |
| NEW YORK: US stocks closed mixed on Thursday, helped by data showing solid improvement in the US jobs market in December. |
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| Europe, US worries weigh on oil prices |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices slid on Thursday as the euro sank against the dollar on renewed European debt jitters and US crude stockpiles unexpectedly rose, raising concerns about demand. |
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| Another Kennedy set to run for US Congress |
| NEW YORK: Joseph P. Kennedy III, a 31-year-old Massachusetts prosecutor, will run for Congress this year in a bid to resurrect the dynasty of America's most famous political family, reports said on Thursday. |
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| Obama unveils strategy for a leaner US military |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama unveiled a strategy on Thursday for a leaner US military focused on countering China's rising power while signalling a shift away from large ground wars against insurgents. |
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| Tennis: Federer notches up 20th successive win |
| DOHA: Roger Federer scored a 20th successive win which carried him into his sixth semi-final in six tries at the Qatar Open and a re-match with the man with whom he played one of the all-time great Grand Slam matches. |
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| Motor Racing: Attiyah in trouble again as Holowczyc wins Dakar Rally fifth stage |
| FIAMBALA, Argentina: Qatar's defending champion Nasser al-Attiyah suffered another disastrous drive on Thursday's fifth stage of the Dakar Rally, losing more than 20 minutes after his Hummer overheated. |
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| Golf: Aiken fires 64 to lead Africa Open |
| EAST LONDON, South Africa: South African Thomas Aiken made light of a two-week lay-off from the game by returning a nine-under-par 64 on Thursday to take the Africa Open first-round lead. |
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| Karzai orders Afghan takeover of Bagram prison |
| KABUL: The Afghan government, angry at being sidelined over peace talks, flexed its muscles on Thursday by ordering the takeover of a US military prison and parading British detainees at a news conference. |
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| Israel ex-PM indicted for corruption |
| JERUSALEM: Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert was on Thursday indicted alongside a number of other people for allegedly taking bribes in a massive property scandal, judicial sources said. |
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| 68 dead as Iraq bombs hit Shiites |
| BAGHDAD: A wave of attacks against Shiite Muslims killed at least 68 people on Thursday, the worst toll in nearly five months, as Iraq grappled with a weeks-long political row that has stoked sectarian tensions. |
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| Cricket: Sri Lanka in danger of innings defeat |
| CAPE TOWN: Sri Lanka were in danger of an innings defeat after losing 12 wickets on the third day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday. |
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| Skiing: Bjoergen notches up fourth Tour de Ski win |
| TOBLACH, Italy: Norway's Marit Bjoergen claimed her fourth straight win in the sixth leg of the Tour de Ski on Thursday to take the lead in the overall standings. |
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| Tennis: Top seeds cruise into ATP Chennai Open quarter-finals |
| CHENNAI, India: Top seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and number two Nicolas Almagro of Spain eased into the quarter-finals of the $450,000 ATP Chennai Open on Thursday. |
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| US service sector expands slightly in December |
| WASHINGTON: Activity in the US economy's service sector expanded slightly December, with companies reporting cautious gains in business, according to a monthly survey released on Thursday. |
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| Proposed ministerial pay structure "closer to market norms" |
| SINGAPORE: The proposed new structure for ministerial salaries follows market norms, and it is about as close as it gets, according to experts. |
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| Egyptian prosecutor urges death sentence for Mubarak |
| CAIRO: A prosecutor in Hosni Mubarak's trial on Thursday demanded the death sentence for him and his former security chief, saying the fallen Egyptian president had ordered the killings of anti-regime demonstrators. |
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| IE Singapore leading more companies to CES 2012 in US |
| SINGAPORE : The US may be heading for slower economic growth, but IE Singapore is still eyeing the US$165 billion market for consumer electronics. |
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| US unemployment claims fall |
| WASHINGTON: New claims for US unemployment benefits fell last week, the government reported on Friday, resuming a downward trend that pointed to growing strength in the jobs market. |
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| ESM Goh to visit Saudi Arabia and India |
| SINGAPORE : Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong will visit Saudi Arabia from January 6 to 11 to renew his ties with key Saudi leaders and to meet prominent figures in the Saudi financial services sector. |
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| Suspect caught for mobile phone theft |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with a series of criminal breach of trust cases involving mobile phones. |
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| Coordinated effort against midges |
| SINGAPORE: The battle against the nuisance of midges from Bedok Reservoir is shaping into a multi-agency exercise. |
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| StanChart has no immediate plans to shift HQ |
| HONG KONG : Standard Chartered has said there are no immediate plans to shift its headquarters from London to Asia. |
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| M'sians welcome S'pore role in Iskandar |
| Putrajaya, Malaysia: Malaysians generally welcome Singapore's involvement in their country's economic development, especially in the southern region of Johor. |
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| Grace Fu criticised over Facebook comments on pay review |
| SINGAPORE : A Senior Minister of State appears to have become a lightning rod for online unhappiness, after she shared her thoughts on the proposed pay cuts for political leaders on Facebook. |
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| Upward trend for visitor arrivals in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE : Visitor arrivals continue to see an upward trend in Singapore. |
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| Sales of ECs expected to remain healthy |
| SINGAPORE : Sales of executive condominiums (ECs) are expected to remain healthy, despite a ramped-up supply this year. |
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| Armed robbery suspect arrested |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 28-year-old man who is believed to be involved in a series of armed robbery and snatch theft in Ang Mo Kio and Potong Pasir housing estates. |
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| Football: Warnock rages after FA snub Barton appeal |
| LONDON - Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock hit out at the Football Association on Thursday after the club's attempt to appeal Joey Barton's red card was turned down. |
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| European banks' impact on Asia |
| SINGAPORE: Banks unwinding their debts in Europe will have a "pretty serious" impact on Asia, according to Dr Zhu Min, the deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund. |
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| Yale-NUS College to offer 2 additional degree programmes |
| SINGAPORE : The Yale-NUS College will offer two additional degree programmes for its students when it opens its doors in 2013. |
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| Civil servant jailed for cheating |
| SINGAPORE : An assistant executive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was jailed 8 years and 8 months on Thursday for cheating the ministry of S$617,087 over four years. |
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| SATS manager charged with corruption |
| SINGAPORE : A duty terminal manager with the Singapore Airport Terminal Services was charged with corruption on Thursday. |
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| CDL China acquires site in Chongqing |
| SINGAPORE : CDL China Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary and the China division of Singapore's City Developments Limited (CDL), has acquired its third site in the past 13 months. |
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| Oil spill following collision of 2 ships off southern S'pore |
| SINGAPORE : Two ships collided off southern Singapore on Wednesday night, causing a minor oil spill. |
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| E&Y's wishlist for Budget 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Measures that reduce business costs, enhance cash lines and increase productivity to help businesses glide through rougher economic tides are among the wishes of accounting firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) for the upcoming Singapore Budget 2012. |
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| Japan's new Shin Tomei highway to be ready by 2020 |
| SHIZUOKA, Japan: A new expressway linking Japan's major cities is being built and will be ready by 2020. |
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| Unauthorised withdrawals from POSB/DBS accounts |
| SINGAPORE: Police are investigating several cases of unauthorised withdrawals from POSB and DBS Bank accounts allegedly made in Malaysia. |
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| Singapore stocks close flat |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore closed flat on Thursday after a mixed session, which saw profit-taking erasing some of the earlier gains on concerns over Europe's debt crisis. |
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| Aaron Kwok suffers nasty fall during Hong Kong concert |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actor Aaron Kwok fell two metres and landed on his back, when an automated elevator platform malfunctioned during his concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Tuesday, reported Hong Kong media. |
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| ISA detainees freed |
| SINGAPORE: Eight men detained under the Internal Security Act are now free after the Home Affairs Ministry allowed their Restriction Orders to lapse. |
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| China hikes pay amid labour shortages, unrest |
| SHANGHAI - China is raising minimum wages in some key cities and provinces as local officials try to combat labour shortages and growing worker unrest. |
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| Asian stocks mostly lower on eurozone debt fears |
| HONG KONG - Concerns over Europe's debt crisis returned to the forefront on Thursday, leaving Asian markets mostly lower while the euro continued to be pressured by the dollar and yen. |
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| STATS ChipPac holds ground breaking ceremony for new factory |
| SINGAPORE : The outlook for the semiconductor industry remains cloudy amid the global economic slowdown. |
|
| Japan auto sales down 15% in 2011 |
| TOKYO: Japan's domestic sales of new cars, trucks and buses slumped 15 percent in 2011 mainly due to the huge disruption sparked by March's quake and tsunami, industry groups said Thursday. |
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| Chinese authorities to review Ai Weiwei tax case |
| BEIJING: Chinese authorities agreed Thursday to review a fine imposed on a firm linked to controversial artist Ai Weiwei, who has said the $2.4 million penalty is an effort by the government to stifle his activism. |
|
| Car makers head to Indian expo |
| NEW DELHI: The world's leading car makers jostled for space at the start of India's Auto Expo on Thursday, eyeing a market that has slowed sharply but remains a hotspot compared with depressed Western economies. |
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| HK environmentalists outraged at landfill proposal |
| HONG KONG: Environmentalists lashed out on Thursday at a proposal by the Hong Kong government to create 25 man-made islands off the city's coast, claiming effects on marine ecology would be "irreversible". |
|
| Secondary school students take part in cooking competition |
| SINGAPORE : Eighty-two teams from secondary schools took part in a cooking competition over a span of six months. Hosted by Republic Polytechnic, the finals were held on Thursday in the school's training kitchen - housed within its School of Hospitality - where the 10 finalists were given specific ingredients and a time limit. |
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| COE prices down for all but one |
| SINGAPORE: COE prices closed lower for all categories except motorcycles on Thursday. |
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| Malaysia's Anwar says opposition will survive jailing |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his coalition will survive even if he is jailed on sodomy charges, as his nationwide tour ahead of next week's verdict rolls on despite police warnings. |
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| US wants China to urge restraint on new N. Korea leaders |
| SEOUL: The United States has urged China to stress the need for restraint to its North Korean allies as Pyongyang undergoes a leadership transition, a senior US diplomat said Thursday. |
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| Taiwan's jailed ex-leader to make pre-vote appearance |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's jailed ex-leader Chen Shui-bian will pay his respects to his late mother-in-law on Friday, his office said, arguing his appearance will boost his old party's chances in imminent presidential polls. |
|
| Fresh blasts hit Baghdad's Shiite districts |
| BAGHDAD: A spate of blasts against Shiite enclaves in Baghdad killed at least 21 people on Thursday, officials said, as Iraq grapples with a political row that has stoked sectarian tensions. |
|
| IKEA recalls ANTILOP high chair |
| SINGAPORE: Furniture store IKEA is recalling its ANTILOP high chair because its belt can open unexpectedly when in use, thereby creating a fall hazard. |
|
| Two Malaysian athletes fail drugs tests |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Two medal-winning Malaysian athletes failed drugs tests at November's Southeast Asian Games but no action has been taken against them, a government minister said according to a report Thursday. |
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| 31 killed in Mexican prison brawl |
| NUEVO LAREDO: Fighting between inmates left at least 31 dead and 13 wounded in a jail holding alleged drug gang members in northeast Mexico, authorities said. |
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| Nicholas Tse on rumours of him reuniting with ex-wife: "It is all false" |
| SHANGHAI: Hong Kong singer-actor Nicholas Tse on Wednesday denied rumours that he might be getting back together with ex-wife Cecilia Cheung, reported Chinese media. |
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| Obama to unveil strategy for leaner US military |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama will unveil a revised US military strategy on Thursday designed to reflect fiscal constraints and a greater focus on the potential threat posed by a rising China, officials said. |
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| Doctors remove Vietnamese man's 90kg tumour |
| HANOI: A man left unable to walk by a tumour on his right leg that weighs more than the rest of his body went under the knife in Vietnam on Thursday to have the growth removed, hospital officials said. |
|
| China trade surplus narrows to US$160b |
| SHANGHAI: China's trade surplus narrowed to about US$160 billion last year, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Thursday, amid weaker demand from key export markets like the United States and Europe. |
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| Malaysia may sell electricity to Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: The Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore have discussed the possibility of Malaysia selling electricity to Singapore. |
|
| London 2012 tickets mistakenly oversold: organisers |
| LONDON - Organisers of the London 2012 Olympics on Wednesday admitted they had mistakenly oversold tickets for synchronised swimming sessions, leading to thousands being offered tickets to other events. |
|
| Rurouni Kenshin returns after 13 years |
| TOKYO: 41-year-old manga artist Nobuhiro Watsuki's popular Japanese manga series "Rurouni Kenshin" will be revived in May, within the pages of the Japanese manga magazine "Jump SQ", 13 years after it concluded, reported Japanese media. |
|
| S. Korea charges N. Korean spy posing as refugee |
| SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors Thursday charged a North Korean spy who was arrested after entering the country posing as a refugee, a report said. |
|
| Australia trade surplus down as Asia exports slow |
| SYDNEY: Australia's trade surplus came in short of forecasts Thursday as mining exports fell, suggesting the global economic downturn was dampening demand from the nation's key trading partners. |
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| S'pore, M'sia explore ways to enhance Iskandar project |
| SINGAPORE: The Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore have agreed that the Joint Ministerial Committee should explore more ways to enhance collaboration in Iskandar Malaysia for the mutual benefit of both sides. |
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| Doctor fined, censured for spying at patients' records |
| SINGAPORE: A doctor has been fined S$10,000 and censured for accessing the medical records of two patients who were not under his charge. |
|
| No evidence of French implant risk: Australia |
| SYDNEY: Australian health authorities said Thursday there was no evidence French breast implants at the centre of a global health scare posed an extra rupture risk and their contents had been found to be safe. |
|
| Asian markets mixed as Europe fears return |
| HONG KONG: Concerns over Europe's debt crisis returned to the forefront on Thursday, leaving Asian markets mixed while the euro continued to be pressured by the dollar and yen. |
|
| China airlines refuse to pay carbon tax |
| SHANGHAI: Chinese airlines will not pay European Union carbon emissions charges that came into force on January 1, a national aviation industry group said Thursday. |
|
| PM Lee, Najib to discuss Iskandar collaboration |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has arrived in the Malaysian administrative capital of Putrajaya for the retreat meeting with his counterpart Najib Razak. |
|
| Hague kicks off historic Myanmar visit |
| LONDON: British Foreign Secretary William Hague called on Myanmar to release all of its political prisoners as he began a historic visit to meet the country's leaders on Thursday. |
|
| Health Ministry to study palliative care recommendations |
| SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry will appoint an Implementation Taskforce over the next few weeks to study recommendations for a national strategy for palliative care. |
|
| 25 dead in Philippine landslide |
| MANILA: The death toll from a landslide at a Philippine gold rush site on Thursday climbed to 25 with the recovery of more bodies, police said. |
|
| Romney vows to "influence" Pakistan |
| PETERBOROUGH, New Hampshire: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney said Wednesday that diplomacy was like dealing with a child and vowed to find ways to "influence" Pakistan to advance US interests. |
|
| Mariah Carey asks fans to pray for sick husband |
| LOS ANGELES: Singer Mariah Carey asked fans Wednesday to pray for her rap artist and actor husband Nick Cannon after he was admitted to hospital suffering from mild kidney failure. |
|
| Philippine kidnappers demand US$2m for Australian |
| SYDNEY: An Australian kidnapped by suspected Muslim extremists in the Philippines says his captors are demanding US$2 million in ransom as he pleaded for his life in a video released Thursday. |
|
| German man charged over Los Angeles arson spree |
| LOS ANGELES: A German man arrested following a four-day arson spree in Los Angeles over New Year has been charged on 37 felony counts, prosecutors said on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Fabregas gives Barcelona upper hand in Spanish Cup |
| MADRID: A Cesc Fabregas first-half double inspired Barcelona to a 4-0 win over Osasuna in their Spanish Cup Last 16 first leg match on Wednesday. |
|
| Euro slips against dollar, yen |
| NEW YORK: The euro slipped against the dollar and yen on Wednesday as concerns over the eurozone debt crisis once again unsettled traders. |
|
| Football: LionsXII get winning boost before MSL debut |
| SINGAPORE: They have got Singaporeans talking, their inception polarising the local football fraternity, but on the night of their first public performance on Wednesday night, the LionsXII hardly set hearts aflutter. |
|
| Boeing to close Kansas plant where 2,160 employed |
| WASHINGTON: Boeing on Wednesday said it would close a Wichita, Kansas plant that employs 2,160 people, risking political ire as it prepares to shift production of a major tanker project elsewhere. |
|
| Football: Newcastle stun Manchester Utd |
| LONDON: Newcastle sent Manchester United spinning to their second consecutive Premier League defeat on Wednesday to give Manchester City a vital edge in the title race. |
|
| US stocks mixed in hesitant trade |
| NEW YORK: US blue chips pushed higher on Wednesday but the broader market was virtually flat amid hesitant trade. |
|
| Detroit automakers rack up strong 2011 gains |
| CHICAGO: The Detroit Three automakers posted solid December US sales on Wednesday, driving a strong 2011 performance and expectations for even better results this year as the industry slowly climbs out of a deep downturn. |
|
| Oil prices soar on Iran tensions |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices spiked close to eight-month highs on Wednesday as the EU moved closer to an Iran oil embargo and Tehran warned the US to remove its naval forces from the Gulf. |
|
| Motor Rally: Peterhansel in control as Al-Attiyah hits trouble |
| CHILECITO, Argentina: France's Dakar Rally legend Stephane Peterhansel took the overall lead in the car section on Wednesday after winning the fourth stage, a 326-kilometre special from San Juan to here. |
|
| Malaysia opposition ready for guilty verdict, says Anwar |
| SEREMBAN, Malaysia: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that his coalition will not disintegrate even if he is found guilty of sodomy charges and imprisoned after a verdict next week. |
|
| Tennis: Federer and Nadal breeze into Qatar Open quarter-finals |
| DOHA: Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal kept on course for a meeting in the opening ATP final of the season as both eased into the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open on Wednesday. |
|
| Streep on 'blue carpet' for UK premiere of Thatcher film |
| LONDON: Meryl Streep took to a specially-laid blue carpet on Wednesday for the European premiere of "The Iron Lady", the biopic of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher which could win her an Oscar. |
|
| Skiing: Kofler ends Schlierenzauer's dreams of ski jump glory |
| INNSBRUCK, Austria: Austria's Andreas Kofler won the third leg of the Four Hills trophy on Wednesday to thwart compatriot Gregor Schlierenzauer's dreams of winning all four legs and taking the 815,000 euros bonus offered by the organisers. |
|
| Football: Pato spoils Ancelotti's PSG debut |
| DUBAI: Carlo Ancelotti's first game in charge of Paris Saint-Germain ended in defeat on Wednesday as the big-spending Ligue 1 side were beaten 1-0 by his old club AC Milan in a mid-season friendly in Dubai. |
|
| Argentina's president undergoes cancer surgery |
| PILAR, Argentina: Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner underwent surgery for thyroid cancer on Wednesday morning, with her doctors predicting a full recovery. |
|
| Bachmann quits Republican presidential race |
| WEST DES MOINES, Iowa: Michele Bachmann, whose bid for the Republican presidential nomination fizzled after an early boost from Christian conservatives, bowed out of the race on Wednesday after a poor finish in Iowa. |
|
| Romney, Santorum train sights on next White House race |
| MANCHESTER, New Hampshire: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum blitzed New Hampshire on Wednesday as their epic first tussle began to winnow the field battling to be the Republican presidential standard-bearer. |
|
| Yahoo names ex-PayPal boss Thompson new CEO |
| WASHINGTON: Internet giant Yahoo on Wednesday named PayPal's Scott Thompson its new chief executive, saying he would recharge growth but also leaving open the possibility of selling off assets. |
|
| Tennis: Wawrinka, Raonic advance in ATP Chennai Open |
| CHENNAI, India: Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka and rising star Milos Raonic moved into the quarter-finals of the ATP Chennai Open in contrasting style on Wednesday. |
|
| US urges against Korean 'provocations' |
| BEIJING: US diplomat Kurt Campbell on Wednesday urged "all parties" to refrain from "any provocations" after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death, as he left China, where he met foreign ministry officials. |
|
| Afghan government agrees to Taliban-US talks |
| KABUL: The government of Afghanistan on Wednesday gave its blessing to talks between Taliban insurgents and the United States and to the opening of an office for the Islamists in Qatar. |
|
| Iran ramps up warning over US navy in Gulf |
| TEHRAN: Iran on Wednesday renewed its warning to America against keeping a US navy presence in the oil-rich Gulf, underlining a threat that Washington has dismissed as a sign of "weakness" from Tehran. |
|
| Tennis: Murray back from the brink in Brisbane |
| BRISBANE, Australia: The top seed Andy Murray battled back from the brink for the second night in a row as he beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller in the second round of the Brisbane International on Wednesday. |
|
| Govt pay cut to affect civil servants? |
| SINGAPORE: The Public Service Division (PSD), which decides on the pay for civil servants in Singapore, said it will study the principles and proposals put forward in the report for structuring salaries. |
|
| PMI for manufacturing edges up |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's manufacturing sector declined for the sixth straight month in December. This despite the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising 0.8 points from the previous month to 49.5. |
|
| Poisoned cat stew "killed Chinese tycoon" |
| BEIJING: Police in southern China say they have detained a man suspected of murdering a billionaire tycoon over a financial dispute by poisoning the cat meat hotpot they shared. |
|
| Real estate investment sales reach S$28.6m in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's real estate investment sales hit S$28.6 billion in 2011. This is slightly more than the S$27.9 billion worth of deals concluded in 2010. |
|
| Opposition members respond to pay cut |
| SINGAPORE: Several members of the opposition parties in Singapore have responded to the recommendations of the Ministerial Salaries Review Committee announced on Wednesday. |
|
| Poodle's killing at airport sparks Internet anger |
| BEIJING: Chinese netizens angrily condemned Wednesday the beating to death of a poodle at an airport in southern China because it "threatened" air safety after apparently escaping from its kennel on a plane. |
|
| National Bonus to replace GDP bonus for ministers |
| SINGAPORE: The ministerial salary review committee has recommended that the government replace the current GDP Bonus for ministers and MPs with a National Bonus. |
|
| CPF scheme to replace ministers' pension |
| SINGAPORE: The hotly-debated issue of pensions for political office holders was finally laid to rest, after the ministerial salary review committee recommended that the pension scheme be scrapped. |
|
| HR experts' take on govt pay cut |
| SINGAPORE: Human resources experts have welcomed the Ministerial Salary Review Committee's recommendations, although some have called for more clarity. |
|
| China "cuts entertainment TV by two-thirds" |
| BEIJING: China's satellite broadcasters have dramatically cut the number of prime time entertainment shows they air, state media said, after President Hu Jintao warned of the dangers of Western cultural imports. |
|
| Eurozone inflation set to drop to 2.8% |
| BRUSSELS: Eurozone inflation is expected to drop to 2.8 percent in December, its first fall in four months but still above the level favoured by the European Central Bank for price stability, official figures showed on Wednesday. |
|
| Manila promises help for 'Jason Bourne' |
| MANILA: Even movie super-spy Jason Bourne needs help against the nightmarish traffic in the Philippine capital Manila, the city's administrator said on Wednesday. |
|
| S'pore securities trading down 41% in December |
| SINGAPORE: Securities trading in Singapore continues to track the weaker external environment. |
|
| Taliban move could help Afghan peace drive: analysts |
| KABUL: The Taliban's move to open a political office abroad ahead of possible peace talks with the US could mark a significant step on the road towards a negotiated end to Afghanistan's bloody war, analysts say. |
|
| China finds huge violations in audit on local debt |
| SHANGHAI: China said Wednesday it had uncovered 530.9 billion yuan (US$84 billion) in misused funds in an audit of local government debts, as it moves to clean up "problem" financing. |
|
| Eurozone private sector shrinks less |
| BRUSSELS: Private sector activity in the eurozone shrank for the fourth consecutive month in December but showed a slight improvement from the previous two months, a key survey showed Wednesday. |
|
| Hong Kong probes deadly bug at government offices |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong officials said Wednesday the discovery of a bacteria that cause Legionnaires' disease at the new government complex was "under control", while it was probing the source of the deadly bug. |
|
| Germany raises 4 billion euros in bond auction |
| FRANKFURT: Germany raised 4.0 billion euros (US$4.2 billion) on Wednesday with a sale of its 10-year bonds, considered the gold standard of eurozone debt. |
|
| Singapore shares end mixed |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended mixed on Wednesday. |
|
| S'poreans welcome ministerial pay cut |
| SINGAPORE: Most Singaporeans Channel News Asia spoke to said they welcome the move to cut the salaries of Singapore's political appointment holders, with some saying it was long overdue. |
|
| Temasek eyeing Europe market? |
| SINGAPORE: Temasek Holdings has appointed former chief financial officer of UBS John Cryan as its European president. |
|
| Germany 'to escape recession, power ahead in 2013' |
| BERLIN: Germany, Europe's economic powerhouse, will escape recession this year despite the ongoing eurozone debt crisis and return to solid growth in 2013, one of the country's top institutes said Wednesday. |
|
| Asian stocks end mixed |
| HONG KONG - Asian shares ended mixed in the region's first full day of trade Wednesday as investors took a strong lead from Wall Street and Europe thanks to upbeat economic data on both sides of the Atlantic. |
|
| Tennis: Serena injury doubt for Australian Open |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Five-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams was in doubt for the year's opening Grand Slam Wednesday after she was forced to pull out of the Brisbane International with an ankle injury. |
|
| Indonesia jails wife of alleged Bali attacks mastermind |
| JAKARTA: An Indonesian court on Wednesday sentenced the wife of the alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings to 27 months in jail for falsifying her identity. |
|
| President, MPs react to pay cut |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam has welcomed the recommendations of the Ministerial Salaries Review Committee announced on Wednesday. |
|
| "Liposuction death" findings unveiled |
| SINGAPORE: The State Coroner has ruled that property management firm boss Franklin Heng died from asphyxia due to airway obstruction following a liposuction procedure. |
|
| Ministers' pay-cut formula unveiled |
| SINGAPORE: The proposed formula for a junior minister's pay will be the median income of the top 1,000 earners who are Singapore citizens. |
|
| PM Lee to meet M'sian PM in KL retreat |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Thursday for the Leaders' Retreat with his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Abdul Razak. |
|
| Integrated-care agency to step up outreach effort |
| SINGAPORE: The government's Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) is stepping up its community outreach efforts to raise awareness about the services it is offering. |
|
| SingTel customers experiencing problems with 3G services |
| SINGAPORE: Customers of SingTel 3G mobile services have been experiencing problems with the network in parts of Singapore. Those affected since Tuesday night are mainly in the northern and western parts of Singapore. |
|
| China opposes "unilateral" US sanctions on Iran |
| BEIJING: China said Wednesday it opposed "unilateral" sanctions against Iran, after US President Barack Obama signed into law new measures targeting the Islamic republic's central bank. |
|
| Football: Japan striker to sign for Southampton |
| TOKYO: Japanese international striker Tadanari Lee is set to sign for English second-tier side Southampton on a $1.25-million-a-year contract, reports said Wednesday. |
|
| Romney wins narrowest of victories in Iowa |
| DES MOINES, Iowa: Mitt Romney Wednesday won the first battle in the 2012 White House race, taking Iowa by a razor-thin margin to defeat Christian conservative Rick Santorum by just eight votes. |
|
| Lucrum Capital to invest at least S$200m in Big Box project |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore-listed TT International said it has signed an agreement with private equity real estate firm Lucrum Capital, which will invest at least S$200 million to complete the Big Box project, a mega retail warehouse located in Jurong. |
|
| Kazakhstan extends state of emergency after protest |
| ASTANA: Kazakhstan on Wednesday extended a state of emergency to January 31 in the Caspian Sea town of Zhanaozen where 16 people died last month in clashes between striking oil workers and police. |
|
| Egyptians head to polls in final round of landmark vote |
| CAIRO: Egyptians headed to the polls again on Wednesday in the final round of a phased election to choose the first parliament since a popular uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak in February. |
|
| Taiwan media regulator wants less Korean content on TV |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's national media regulator, the National Communication Commission (NCC), announced Tuesday that it aims to reduce the amount of Korean television content broadcast in Taiwan, in a bid to encourage the development of locally produced shows, reported Korean media. |
|
| Philippines flood victims, children want schools |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Flood evacuees and pupils competed for space in southern Philippine schools Wednesday, with both wanting to use the buildings following the Christmas break, officials said. |
|
| Emergency exercise at Woodsville Interchange on Friday |
| SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA), together with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) will conduct an emergency exercise in the new road tunnel at Woodsville Interchange on Friday, from 10am to 1pm. |
|
| Perry reassessing White House bid after Iowa blow |
| WEST DES MOINES: Texas Governor Rick Perry said Tuesday he would reassess his White House bid after suffering a heavy defeat in Iowa's first vote of the 2012 US presidential elections. |
|
| Myanmar president reaffirms army role |
| NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar's nominally-civilian president sought to reaffirm the status of the country's military on Wednesday, giving credit to the army and the former junta for recent political reform gestures. |
|
| S. Korea, US to boost guard against N. Korea attacks |
| SEOUL: The South Korean and US military will soon sign a new plan to counter any North Korean attacks and hold regular exercises, Seoul said Wednesday, amid wariness over the North's power transition. |
|
| Budget Quiz 2012 to promote awareness of process |
| SINGAPORE: The Finance Ministry launched a new Budget Quiz 2012 on its Budget 2012 website. |
|
| Liching hospitalised after suffering kidney failure |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan television host Liching was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after experiencing kidney failure and an accumulation of fluid in her lungs, reported Taiwan media. |
|
| Chinese New Year travellers overload ticket system |
| BEIJING: A new online system designed to make it easier for people to buy train tickets home for the Lunar New Year is struggling to cope with huge demand from millions of travellers across China. |
|
| Obama more optimistic now than 2008 |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said Tuesday he was more optimistic now than four years ago when he won the Iowa caucuses, putting him on the path to his historic victory in the White House race. |
|
| Govt intends to accept recommended wage cuts : PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government intends to accept the recommendations of the Committee set up to review the salaries of political appointment holders. |
|
| PM may see 36% pay cut, entry-level ministers 37% |
| SINGAPORE: The Review Committee, appointed by the Prime Minister to look at Ministerial salaries, has recommended cuts of between 36 and 53 per cent. |
|
| Asian markets mostly up after US, Europe rally |
| HONG KONG: Asian shares mostly rose in the region's first full day of trade Wednesday as investors took a strong lead from Wall Street and Europe thanks to upbeat economic data on both sides of the Atlantic. |
|
| Aussie surfer survives shark attack |
| SYDNEY: An Australian surfer was recovering Wednesday after being attacked by a shark at a popular beach north of Sydney, a hospital spokesman said. |
|
| Seoul approves Samsung investment in China |
| SEOUL: South Korea on Wednesday approved Samsung Electronics' plan to build a new plant in China to produce high-tech memory chips used in tablets and smartphones, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said. |
|
| Bidding exercise for car registration numbers cancelled |
| SINGAPORE: The weekly bidding exercise for vehicle registration numbers for the period 21 to 24 January has been cancelled. |
|
| South Korean president to visit China |
| SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak will visit China next week for talks with his counterpart Hu Jintao as the two nations deal with North Korea's leadership transition, Lee's office said Wednesday. |
|
| GCE O-Level Exam results on Monday |
| SINGAPORE: Results of 2011's Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level Examination will be released on Monday. |
|
| Two die in Australia from Death Cap mushrooms |
| SYDNEY: Two people have died in Australia while a third remains in hospital after eating poisonous Death Cap mushrooms, a Sydney hospital said Wednesday. |
|
| No "party politics" when appointing advisers: PA |
| SINGAPORE: The People's Association (PA) said it does not get involved in "party politics" when appointing advisers to grassroots organisations (GROs). |
|
| Tom Cruise rings in New Year at top of box office |
| LOS ANGELES: Tom Cruise's latest "Mission: Impossible" film topped the North American box office for a second week, ringing up US$38.2 million over the long New Year weekend, industry data showed Tuesday. |
|
| New chair tipped to lead BlackBerry maker |
| OTTAWA: A former banker and stock exchange head could become the first-ever independent chair of Research in Motion in a shakeup of the beleaguered BlackBerry maker, a report said Tuesday. |
|
| Forest fires spread in southern Chile |
| SANTIAGO: Forest fires in southern Chile, fuelled by intense heat and strong winds, advanced further on Tuesday after destroying nearly 40,000 hectares, officials said. |
|
| US charges Swiss bankers for hiding US$1.2b |
| NEW YORK: Three Swiss bankers were indicted in the United States on Tuesday, accused of hiding $1.2 billion in assets of US clients seeking to avoid declaring their full wealth to tax authorities. |
|
| Football: Real Madrid come from behind to beat Malaga |
| MADRID: Holders Real Madrid had to dig deep to come from two goals down and beat heavily-bankrolled Malaga 3-2 in their Spanish Cup Last 16 first leg clash on Tuesday. |
|
| Euro eases losses as debt worries recede |
| NEW YORK: The euro erased some of its recent losses against the dollar on Tuesday, as solid European manufacturing data helped put concerns about debt on the back burner, at least for a time. |
|
| Disappointment at Myanmar prison term cuts |
| YANGON: Activists and Myanmar's opposition expressed frustration on Tuesday after an order to cut jail terms for all inmates appeared to fall far short of hopes for an amnesty for political detainees. |
|
| Football: Defoe's winner fires Tottenham into title race |
| LONDON: Jermain Defoe fired Tottenham into the Premier League title race as his second half strike clinched a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Manchester City three points clear as Liverpool downed |
| LONDON: Ten-man Manchester City went three points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday after goals from Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and James Milner set up a 3-0 victory over Liverpool. |
|
| Israeli, Palestinian negotiators hold 'positive' talks |
| AMMAN: Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held a "positive" first face-to-face meeting in more than 15 months on Tuesday, saying they remain committed to a two-state solution but that full-blown talks are still some way off. |
|
| Manufacturing data makes US stocks sizzle |
| NEW YORK: US stocks opened the new year with a bang on Tuesday, lifted by positive US, Chinese and eurozone manufacturing data. |
|
| Gastric bypass cuts death risk |
| WASHINGTON: Obese people who undergo gastric bypass surgery are less likely to die from heart attack and stroke than people who receive more conventional treatment for their weight condition, a Swedish study said on Tuesday. |
|
| Oil prices soar on Iran tensions |
| NEW YORK: World oil prices soared on Tuesday, underpinned by positive US, Chinese and eurozone economic data and tensions in the Middle East over transit through the Strait of Hormuz, analysts said. |
|
| Motor Racing: Holowczyc in pole position in Dakar Rally |
| SAN JUAN, Argentina: Polish driver Krzysztof Holowczyc took the overall lead in the Dakar Rally on Tuesday after the third stage won by Mini-driving team-mate Spaniard Nani Roma. |
|
| Federal Reserve to unveil rate forecasts from January |
| WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve will project interest rates in its economic forecasts for the first time, beginning this month, in a major step to improve communications with the public and financial markets. |
|
| Tennis: Nadal has difficult start to 2012 in Doha |
| DOHA: Rafael Nadal had to fight hard not to lose his opening match of 2012, going a break of serve down in the final set before surviving against an opponent ranked outside the top 40 in the Qatar Open. |
|
| Tennis: Clijsters fights back from brink of defeat |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Four-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters fought back from the brink of defeat to overcome Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Liverpool accept Suarez's ban |
| LONDON: Liverpool said on Tuesday they had accepted Luis Suarez's eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra, seeking to draw a line under the affair while maintaining their player's innocence. |
|
| China's Wen warns of 'difficult' first quarter |
| BEIJING: China's Premier Wen Jiabao has warned of a difficult start to the year, the government said on Tuesday, amid rising concerns over a potential sharp slowdown in the world's second largest economy. |
|
| North Korea holds mass rally in support of new leader |
| SEOUL: More than 100,000 North Koreans rallied in support of new leader Kim Jong-Un on Tuesday, state media reported, days after he was proclaimed the "great successor" to his father. |
|
| Paraguay confirms new foot-and-mouth disease outbreak |
| ASUNCION: Major beef exporter Paraguay on Tuesday confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the north of the country, just four days after lifting a state of emergency imposed in the region in September. |
|
| Luxury carmaker Bentley sees sales surge in 2011 |
| LONDON: German-owned British luxury carmaker Bentley said on Tuesday that its sales surged last year on the back of strong performances in China and the United States, the world's two biggest auto markets. |
|
| Two found guilty of Stephen Lawrence race murder in Britain |
| LONDON: A jury found two white men guilty on Tuesday of the murder 18 years ago of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in an unprovoked attack that became a defining moment in race relations in Britain. |
|
| Iowa opens 2012 White House contest |
| DES MOINES, Iowa: Iowa fires the first shot of the 2012 war for the White House on Tuesday with a keenly watched but unpredictable vote on which Republican should take on President Barack Obama come November 6. |
|
| Tennis: Seeded stars knocked out in India |
| CHENNAI, India: Japanese qualifier Yuichi Sugita and Belgian wildcard David Goffin upset seeded players to move into the second round of the ATP Chennai Open on Tuesday. |
|
| Tennis: Tears as Bartoli beats Gajdosova in Hopman Cup |
| PERTH, Australia: French star Marion Bartoli reduced her opponent to tears as she demolished Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova without dropping a game at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Western Australia on Tuesday. |
|
| BP sues Halliburton for full cost of Gulf disaster |
| WASHINGTON: British oil giant BP is pushing US energy services firm Halliburton to pay for all the costs BP incurred in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in US history. |
|
| Football: We're back in race, says jubilant Chelsea manager |
| WOLVERHAMPTON: Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas claimed his team are back in the Premier League title race following their 2-1 last-gasp victory over Wolves. |
|
| Bajaj launches India's latest ultra-low-cost car |
| NEW DELHI: Bajaj Auto unveiled India's latest ultra-low-cost car on Tuesday, a 200cc four-seater that looks set to compete with the Tata Nano for the title of the world's cheapest auto. |
|
| Taliban confirm "initial" deal to open office overseas |
| KABUL: The Taliban announced on Tuesday that they had come to an "initial agreement" to open their first political overseas office, possibly in Qatar, in the first public gesture towards peace talks with the US. |
|
| CapitaMalls Asia to offer retail bonds |
| SINGAPORE : CapitalMalls Asia is getting a headstart on the corporate bond market this year, with a S$200 million sale that the company hopes will be snapped up by retail and institutional investors alike. |
|
| Positive start does not mean end to volatility, say analysts |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's open economy rattles more than most from upheavals in the external environment. |
|
| Tennis: Murray into second round at Brisbane International |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Top seed Andy Murray survived a tense examination from unheralded Mikhail Kukushkin to scrape into the second round of the Brisbane International on Tuesday. |
|
| Fate of SeaFrance in balance after Sarkozy's U-turn |
| PARIS: The fate of ailing cross-Channel ferry business SeaFrance hung in the balance Tuesday after a court delayed its ruling on a worker cooperative's last-ditch rescue bid after a surprise government U-turn. |
|
| Citizen diplomacy taking shape in China |
| BEIJING : Citizen diplomacy is a concept defined as individuals taking actions to engage with those outside of their country in a meaningful and mutually beneficial dialogue. |
|
| Macau gambling revenue surges 42% in 2011 |
| HONG KONG: Macau's gambling revenue soared 42 percent to a record $33.47 billion in 2011, official figures showed Tuesday, but the pace of growth in the world's biggest gaming hub slowed from a year earlier. |
|
| Britain probes murder of woman found on queen's estate |
| LONDON: British police launched a murder investigation on Tuesday after the discovery of a woman's remains at one of Queen Elizabeth II's country estates on New Year's Day. |
|
| German jobless rate hits new low |
| FRANKFURT, Germany: The German labour market shrugged off the eurozone debt crisis and unemployment dropped to its lowest level in 20 years last year, new data showed on Tuesday. |
|
| More carparks, childcare centres for Jurong Spring |
| SINGAPORE : Residents of Jurong Spring, one of the new divisions under Jurong GRC, can expect more carparks and childcare centres in their area. |
|
| Oil prices surge on Chinese data, Mideast tensions |
| LONDON: World oil prices soared on Tuesday, underpinned by positive Chinese economic data and tensions in the Middle East over a key oil transit point, analysts said. |
|
| 15 months probation for upskirt video man |
| SINGAPORE: He was climbing up the stairs of an overhead bridge when he noticed a 22-year-woman, who was wearing a skirt, walking in front of him. |
|
| SMRT begins probe into breakdown |
| SINGAPORE: The Internal Investigation Team (IIT) looking into the recent MRT train disruptions, officially started work on Tuesday. |
|
| Sarkozy demands Assad step down |
| LANVEOC-POULMIC, France: France's President Nicolas Sarkozy demanded Tuesday that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad step down, accusing him of overseeing sickening "massacres" against his own people. |
|
| Football: Aston Villa ponder Keane loan move |
| BIRMINGHAM, England: Aston Villa are considering a January move for Robbie Keane that could see the LA Galaxy striker return to the Premier League for a brief loan spell. |
|
| Veteran grassroots leader appointed as adviser to Aljunied GROs |
| SINGAPORE: A 73-year-old grassroots veteran has been appointed as adviser to Aljunied grassroots organisations for Bedok Reservoir-Punggol. |
|
| Football: Beckham not joining PSG - Leonardo |
| DOHA - David Beckham will not join Paris Saint-Germain for "family reasons", the big-spending Qatar-backed French club's sporting director Leonardo said on Tuesday. |
|
| SST organises community event at Dover Road campus |
| SINGAPORE: It was back to the books for most students on Tuesday, but for those at the School of Science and Technology (SST), lessons did not begin. Instead, they volunteered to distribute food to underprivileged households. |
|
| Taiwan mulls armed guards on ships against pirates |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan is considering a plan to place armed guards on board local ships that sail in pirate-infested waters, especially off Somalia, officials and media said Tuesday. |
|
| PAP MPs briefed on ministerial salary report |
| SINGAPORE: The ruling People's Action Party on Tuesday briefed its Members of Parliament on the upcoming report on the review of political salaries. |
|
| Iran's warning to US warship sends tensions soaring |
| TEHRAN: Iran's military on Tuesday warned one of the US navy's biggest aircraft carriers to keep away from the Gulf, in an escalating showdown over Tehran's nuclear drive that could pitch into armed confrontation. |
|
| Woman charged with stabbing man |
| SINGAPORE : A 29-year-old graphic designer was hauled to court on Tuesday for allegedly stabbing a man on the first day of the new year. |
|
| Singapore stocks close 1.6% higher |
| SINGAPORE: Stocks in Singapore started the new year on a positive note on Tuesday, ending 1.6 per cent higher on broad-based gains. |
|
| Spain's jobless hits new record in December |
| MADRID: The number of registered unemployed in Spain rose to 4.42 million at the end of December, the highest level since the figures first began being collected in 1996, the labour ministry said Tuesday. |
|
| Man jailed for molesting girl in forest |
| SINGAPORE: He told her that they were going to meet his friends at a secluded forested area near Mandai Road. |
|
| Asian stocks up on China economic data |
| HONG KONG - Asian shares mostly rose on Tuesday, taking a lead from European markets which started 2012 in positive territory, and after China announced better-than-expected manufacturing data. |
|
| China protests Japanese visit to disputed isles |
| BEIJING: China said Tuesday it has lodged an official protest after a group of Japanese citizens, including municipal politicians, landed on disputed islands in the East China Sea. |
|
| Salaries of executives in China on the rise |
| BEIJING : Figures show that wages of skilled managers and executives in China have gone up by nearly 40 per cent in 2011, particularly in sectors such as sales and research and development (R&D). |
|
| Body found along Dunearn Road |
| SINGAPORE: A body was found along Dunearn Road on Tuesday morning. |
|
| Hong Kong government offices hit by deadly bug |
| HONG KONG: Massive disinfection work was carried out at Hong Kong's new government headquarters Tuesday, after the bacteria of a potentially fatal disease was found and one minister was hospitalised. |
|
| Fathers need to take active role in raising children: Heng Swee Keat |
| SINGAPORE: Fathers need to take a more active role in sharing the responsibilities of raising children, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. |
|
| Basketball: Last unbeaten teams lose as Heat, Thunder fall |
| MIAMI: Miami and Oklahoma City, the last two undefeated teams in the NBA this season, both lost for the first time on Monday as the reigning champion Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks celebrated triumphs. |
|
| Two dead as truce ends in Philippines |
| MANILA: More than 50 communist rebels attacked an army patrol base in the southern Philippines Tuesday, leaving one pro-government militiaman and a guerrilla dead in the clash, officials said. |
|
| Mewah expands in Indonesia to strengthen palm oil foothold |
| SINGAPORE: Mewah International Group plans to invest US$145 million in a crude palm oil refinery, packing plant and related logistics facilities in East Java, Indonesia. |
|
| Mayday kicks off 2012 with NT$1.2m fine for concert overrun |
| TAIPEI: Popular Taiwan alternative rock band Mayday was hit with a NT$1.2 million (S$51,000) fine, for breaking the rules and ending their New Year's Eve concert at the Taipei Arena at 2.02am the following day instead of at 11pm, reported Taiwan media. |
|
| Egypt polling stations open |
| SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Egyptians began voting on Tuesday in the final round of landmark parliamentary elections. |
|
| Thousands protest in China over investment scams |
| BEIJING: Authorities have vowed to toughen a crackdown on illegal investment schemes after thousands of protesters took to the streets in central China at the weekend, state media reported Tuesday. |
|
| Ma leads in Taiwan presidential race |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou enjoys a narrow lead over his opponents in his bid for re-election, poll results showed Tuesday, the last day surveys can be released ahead of the January 14 vote. |
|
| SBS Transit to extend train & bus operating hours |
| SINGAPORE: SBS Transit will be extending the operating hours of its train services as well as its Chinatown Direct bus services in the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year. |
|
| DNA profiling mistake prompts re-test of criminal cases |
| SINGAPORE: A mistake made in a DNA profiling laboratory has resulted in some criminal cases having to be re-tested. |
|
| Anwar begins Malaysia tour ahead of sodomy verdict |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim embarks Tuesday on a nationwide tour ahead of a verdict in his long-running sodomy trial, to declare his innocence and campaign for a change of government. |
|
| Nicholas Tse, Cecilia Cheung getting back together? |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actor Nicholas Tse and ex-wife actress Cecilia Cheung separated last year citing incompatible personalities, and now share custody of their sons Lucas and Quintus. |
|
| S'pore could see 2 years of sub-par growth: DPM Tharman |
| SINGAPORE: Speaking at the sidelines of a national productivity event, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Singapore is entering a phase of slower economic growth due to the uncertain outlook in the global economy. |
|
| Lim Chee Onn, Stephen Lee reappointed to Council of Presidential Advisers |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam has reappointed Mr Lim Chee Onn and Mr Stephen Lee Ching Yen as Alternate Members of the Council of Presidential Advisers for a further period of four years. |
|
| Prime Taxi to raise fares from Jan 6 |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Taxi is the latest and last cab operator to raise its fares. |
|
| Miriam Yeung confirms pregnancy rumours |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actress Miriam Yeung is pregnant, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| Malaysian Defence Force chief in Singapore |
| Singapore: The Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, who is in Singapore on an introductory visit, today called on Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen. |
|
| New sectors identified to boost national productivity drive |
| SINGAPORE: The National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC) has identified four additional sectors to boost Singapore's productivity drive. |
|
| Japanese politicians land on disputed isles |
| TOKYO: Four Japanese local politicians on Tuesday landed on islands in the East China Sea at the centre of a bitter territorial dispute with Beijing, a news report said. |
|
| Three N. Koreans "shot dead" during escape bid |
| SEOUL: North Korean troops shot dead three countrymen who were trying to cross the border into China, a Seoul activist said Tuesday, as Pyongyang tightens border controls after the death of leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Euro firms against dollar in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: The euro rebounded against the dollar in Asian trade Tuesday but ongoing worries over Europe's debt woes will see investors favouring the greenback over the long-term, analysts said. |
|
| Asian shares rise on China economic data |
| HONG KONG: Asian shares rose Tuesday, taking a lead from European markets which started 2012 in positive territory, and after China announced better-than-expected manufacturing data. |
|
| Temasek Holdings sets up new investment platform |
| SINGAPORE: Temasek Holdings has set up a new investment platform to focus on North Asia, including China. |
|
| N. Koreans told to go gloveless at funeral: report |
| SEOUL: North Korean civilians were ordered not to wear hats or gloves for the snowy funeral of leader Kim Jong-Il because his son and successor chose to escort the hearse bare-headed, a report said Tuesday. |
|
| Oil higher in Asia on Chinese data, Mideast tensions |
| SINGAPORE: Oil rose in Asian trade Tuesday, underpinned by positive economic data out of China and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, analysts said. |
|
| Track signalling fault causes delays on East-West Line |
| SINGAPORE: A track signalling fault caused delays Tuesday morning for West-bound train services between Clementi and Jurong East stations. |
|
| Obama swaps Hawaii for reelection heat |
| HONOLULU, Hawaii: US President Barack Obama lands in Washington after his Hawaiian vacation Tuesday, facing a buzz saw of Republican campaign attacks as his reelection bid enters an intense new phase. |
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| Jordan hosts Israelis, Palestinians in rare meeting |
| AMMAN: Israeli and Palestinian negotiators gathered in the Jordanian capital Amman on Tuesday for their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months but both sides insisted full-blown talks remained some way off. |
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| Australia urges Fiji to restore democracy |
| SYDNEY: Australia on Tuesday said Fiji's announcement that it would lift emergency laws was a "first step" but urged the Pacific state to restore democracy as soon as possible. |
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| New York leaders condemn mosque firebombing |
| NEW YORK: The mayor and governor of New York voiced outrage Monday after a mosque was hit by a firebomb in an arson spree that police said they were investigating as a hate crime. |
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| Human remains found on British royal estate |
| LONDON: British police launched an investigation after human remains were discovered in woodland on the royal family's Sandringham Estate on New Year's Day. |
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| 'Psycho' in British court accused of Indian student murder |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: A man describing himself as "Psycho Stapleton" appeared in a British court on Monday accused of shooting dead an Indian student in northwest England. |
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| Steven Tyler, longtime companion to wed |
| WASHINGTON: Aerosmith front man and "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler is tying the knot with longtime companion Erin Brady, the rock star's manager said Monday. |
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| HDB's Resale Price Index for Q4 2011 increases by 1.7% |
| SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board's flash estimate of the Q4 2011 Resale Price Index (RPI) is 190.4, an increase of 1.7 per cent over Q3. |
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| Rate of increase in private home prices continues to moderate in Q4 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: The rate of increase in private residential property prices continued to moderate for the 9th consecutive quarter since Q4 2009. |
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| Soul legend Aretha Franklin to wed longtime friend |
| WASHINGTON: Aretha Franklin, 69, is making plans to tie the knot with longtime friend William "Willie" Wilkerson, the Queen of Soul said Monday through her publicist. |
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| Singapore's Q4 GDP grows by 3.6% on-year, contracts by 4.9% on-quarter |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's economy grew by 3.6 percent on a year-on-year basis in the fourth quarter of 2011. |
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| Darts: Lewis wins back-to-back world titles |
| LONDON: England's Adrian Lewis retained his PDC World Darts Championship title with a 7-3 win over compatriot Andy Hamilton in the final at Alexandra Palace on Monday. |
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| Two suspects charged with LA arson spree |
| LOS ANGELES: Two men have been charged over a spree of more than 50 arson attacks which kept Hollywood on edge over the New Year holiday, Los Angeles police said on Monday, after a fourth night of fires. |
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| Shooting: Singapore's Yafei guns for Olympic qualification |
| SINGAPORE: When Li Yafei flies out to Doha next week for the 12th Asian Shooting Championship, she will be visualising an oasis of calm for her competition on Jan 14. |
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| 'Sorry, your child is not bright enough' |
| SINGAPORE: As the tuition landscape here evolves - with a burgeoning market for helping children who are strong academically to become even better - the practice of some enrichment centres of holding entry tests for children as young as six has raised hackles among some parents. |
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| Aussie warned after live ammo found on her at Changi Airport |
| SINGAPORE: An Australian woman was reportedly detained for 23 hours here after two rounds of live ammunition were found in her camera bag when she arrived at Changi Airport on Oct 12 last year. |
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| New forest fire outbreak kills one in Chile |
| SANTIAGO: A new forest fire has claimed one life in southern Chile just hours after firefighters tamed a massive blaze that consumed 13,000 hectares in Patagonia, officials said on Monday. |
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| Myanmar cuts prison terms to mark Independence Day |
| YANGON: Myanmar announced on Monday it was reducing the sentences of some prisoners to mark Independence Day, but made no mention of a much-anticipated release of political detainees. |
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| Body found after manhunt for US park ranger killer |
| MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Washington: Authorities at Mount Rainier National Park said on Monday they had found a body which could be that of an Iraq war veteran sought in the shooting death of a US ranger. |
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| With Romney in lead, Republicans blitz Iowa |
| DES MOINES, Iowa: Republican hopefuls blitzed Iowa on Monday on the eve of the first contest in the 2012 White House race, with frontrunner Mitt Romney ripping President Barack Obama's handling of the US economy and world affairs. |
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| Football: Zamora sinks Arsenal as Fulham fight back |
| LONDON: Bobby Zamora struck an injury-time winner as Fulham stunned 10-man Arsenal 2-1 to derail the Gunners' recent Premier League resurgence on Monday. |
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| Motorcycling: Coma extends Dakar Rally lead |
| SAN RAFAEL, Argentina: Defending Dakar Rally motorcycling champion Marc Coma won his 17th career stage in the race on Monday. |
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| Football: Barton says ref 'conned' as QPR crash to Norwich |
| LONDON: QPR captain Joey Barton said match officials had been "conned" into sending him off as 10-man Rangers crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Norwich at Loftus Road. |
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| Football: Swansea stun Aston Villa with first away win |
| BIRMINGHAM, England: Swansea scored their first away victory of the season as Aston Villa came down to earth following their New Year's Eve upset at Chelsea. |
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| Football: Crouch brings up century as Stoke down Rovers |
| BLACKBURN, England: Peter Crouch brought up his century of league goals on Monday as his double saw Stoke beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and bring the hosts back down to earth after their fine win over Manchester United at the weekend. |
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| Football: Lampard to the rescue as Chelsea down Wolves |
| LONDON: Chelsea bounced back from their home defeat against Aston Villa with a battling 2-1 win at Wolves on Monday to relieve the pressure on under-fire manager Andre Villas-Boas. |
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| European stocks end higher in thin trade |
| PARIS: European stock markets close higher on Monday, given a boost by strong German economic data in thin holiday trade. |
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| Tennis: Dodig reaches ATP Chennai Open second round |
| CHENNAI, India: Fifth seed Ivan Dodig saved five match-points against Indian qualifier Vishnu Vardhan before advancing to the second round of the ATP Chennai Open on Monday. |
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| Syrian cities remain under fire |
| CAIRO: Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said on Monday that snipers and gunfire remain in Syrian cities and called for an immediate halt to the shootings, in his first remarks since Arab monitors were deployed. |
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| Tennis: Kvitova off to perfect start |
| PERTH, Australia: World number two Petra Kvitova made a perfect start to 2012 as the top-seeded Czech Republic saw off Bulgaria at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Australia on Monday. |
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| Tennis: Top-form Serena out of love with tennis |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Serena Williams says she has fallen out of love with tennis despite recording an impressive comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday. |
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| Singaporeans staying in Hat Yai unaffected by floods: MFA |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Embassy in Bangkok said floods have not affected downtown Hat Yai where some Singaporeans are staying. |
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| Football: Tickets to LionsXII M-League debut on sale from Friday |
| SINGAPORE: Tickets for the 2012 season of the Malaysian Super League home matches for the LionsXII team will be sold from this week. |
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| NATO wants relations with Pakistan back on track |
| KABUL: NATO wants to get relations with Pakistan back on track "as quickly as possible" to reopen its key supply route for foreign troops fighting in Afghanistan, a coalition spokesman said Monday. |
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| One dead as forces fire on Indian Kashmir protest |
| SRINAGAR, India: Security forces in Indian Kashmir opened fire and killed a protester on Monday during a demonstration by hundreds of residents angry about mid-winter power cuts, police said. |
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| Mubarak trial adjourns |
| CAIRO: The judge in the murder and corruption trial of Egypt's ex-president Hosni Mubarak adjourned the hearing on Monday to the next day to hear the prosecution's arguments. |
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| Fewer fairs and bazaars this coming Lunar New Year |
| SINGAPORE: There will be fewer fairs and bazaars selling festive goodies this coming Lunar New Year. |
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| S'poreans in Hat Yai affected by flash floods |
| SINGAPORE: Some Singaporeans who were in the Thai city Hat Yai to usher in the new year were greeted instead by flood waters that hit the city over the weekend. |
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| Saving energy, the Japanese way |
| MISHIMA, Japan: A residential area in the city of Mishima, in Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture, has been built as a showcase of environmentally-friendly technologies available in the market today. |
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| Good response to pilot programme on pet ownership |
| SINGAPORE: The programmes that are being tried out in Chong Pang constituency on pet ownership and management of strays are enjoying a good response. |
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| Football: QPR sign Macheda on loan from Man Utd |
| LONDON: Federico Macheda has joined QPR on loan from Englaish Premier League rivals Manchester United until the end of the season, the London club announced Monday. |
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| NTUC to provide advisory services to freelancers |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's labour movement wants to represent freelancers, to ensure their rights are protected. It has been meeting different groups of freelancers for the past four months to understand their concerns and as part of outreach efforts. |
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| More should be done to dispel myths about mental illnesses: experts |
| SINGAPORE: Not many people understand what goes on in the mind of someone who suffers from mental illness. Many think they could be disruptive or fare poorly at the workplace. |
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| Eurozone manufacturing "stuck in reverse" |
| BRUSSELS: The eurozone manufacturing sector was in reverse for the fifth month in a row in December due to fewer orders, a global economic slowdown and financial market upheaval, a key survey showed Monday. |
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| Record number of Germans in work in 2011 |
| BERLIN: The number of employed people in Germany hit a new record in 2011, said official statistics published on Monday, with more than half a million jobs created last year in Europe's top economy. |
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| Spain's 2011 deficit "could exceed 8%" |
| MADRID: Spain's finance minister warned on Monday that the public deficit for 2011 could surpass eight percent of gross domestic product, a figure announced last week and already beyond the six percent originally forecast. |
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| SPCA continues push for pet ownership law |
| SINGAPORE: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it will continue to push for a law to ensure responsible pet ownership. This includes getting those under 16 to obtain parental consent before they buy a pet. |
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| Indonesia inflation slows to 20-month low in December |
| JAKARTA - Inflation in Indonesia fell in December to its lowest in 20 months, data showed Monday, with analysts saying the central bank may cut its benchmark rate in February or March. |
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| Philippine exchange begins extended hours |
| MANILA: The Philippine Stock Exchange marked the first day of trading in 2012 by extending its trading into the afternoon in a bid to attract more foreign cash, the exchange and traders said on Monday. |
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| S'pore needs to be prepared for slow growth: Lim Hng Kiang |
| SINGAPORE: Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said Singapore needs to be prepared for a "somewhat longish period" of slow growth this year, due to the expected slowdown of the global economy. |
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| More bunnies abandoned as Rabbit Year nears end |
| SINGAPORE: The fad to own a rabbit for good luck appears to be dying, as the Year of the Rabbit comes to an end in about three weeks. |
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| Korea shares edge up, Taipei bourse drops |
| SEOUL - South Korean shares started the first trading session of 2012 with fractional gains. |
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| Govt studies possibility of underground science city |
| SINGAPORE: A study of an unprecedented scale is taking place beneath the Singapore Science Park, in the western part of the country. It is for a science complex, about 30 storeys below the surface at the 80 to 100 metre layer, to house research labs, offices and a data centre. |
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| Mubarak stretchered into court as trial resumes |
| CAIRO: Egypt's fallen leader Hosni Mubarak was wheeled into court on a stretcher as his trial for the deaths of protesters resumed on Monday, live footage broadcast by state television showed. |
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| Basketball: Heat rout Bobcats to remain unbeaten |
| MIAMI: Chris Bosh scored 24 points and Dwyane Wade added 22 to power the unbeaten Miami Heat over Charlotte 129-90 on Sunday, the Heat producing the biggest single-game point total in the season's first week. |
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| NBA star LeBron James gets engaged |
| MIAMI: NBA superstar LeBron James is engaged to marry long-time girlfriend Savannah Brinson, who accepted his proposal at a lavish New Year's Eve dinner party in Miami. |
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| Indonesia rescues hijacked tug boat |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian authorities have rescued a tug boat with nine crew believed to have been hijacked in the Straits of Singapore, a sea lane seeing a rise in attacks, an official said Monday. |
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| Iran tests cruise missile during navy war games |
| TEHRAN: Iran on Monday successfully tested a Ghader ground-to-ship cruise missile on the last day of navy war games near the Strait of Hormuz, the official news agency IRNA quoted a navy spokesman as saying. |
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| Indian manufacturing activity jumps in Dec: HSBC |
| MUMBAI: India's factory activity showed its sharpest rise in six months in December, helped by improved demand and growth in new orders for business, according to a survey published on Monday. |
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| Hyundai Motor aims to sell 7 million cars in 2012 |
| SEOUL: South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it aims to sell a record seven million cars worldwide in 2012 by strengthening production and sales abroad to outpace competitors amid the global slowdown. |
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| Hu warns Chinese culture being "Westernised" |
| BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao has warned that "hostile" powers are seeking to "Westernise" the country and called for greater efforts to enhance China's cultural influence overseas. |
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| Police release images of suspect in LA arson spree |
| LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles police released security camera images of a man suspected over a spree of arson attacks that kept Hollywood on edge over the New Year. |
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| Build in reserve capacity for Stamford Canal, says Environment Minister |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said there needs to be a "reserve capacity" built in to reduce the loading for Stamford Canal. |
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| ASEAN welcomes US re-engagement in the region |
| BEIJING: After years of neglect, the United States has again made its presence felt in the region, even reaching out to and building bridges with Myanmar. |
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| Philippine rebels join hunt for kidnapped Australian |
| MANILA: Muslim rebels engaged in peace talks with the Philippine government said Monday they had joined the search for an Australian man kidnapped by an armed group in the troubled south of the country. |
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| Japan's emperor prays for recovery in New Year address |
| TOKYO: Tens of thousands of cheering Japanese gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday to hear Emperor Akihito pray for a swift recovery from the March 11 disaster in his traditional New Year address. |
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| China calls for calm after man dies from bird flu |
| BEIJING: Health authorities in southern China are urging residents not to panic after a man who contracted the bird flu virus died at the weekend, the official Xinhua news agency said Monday. |
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| S. Korea's Lee says jobs, inflation top priorities |
| SEOUL: South Korea's president said Monday that creating jobs and taming inflation were his top economic priorities this year, vowing to spend more than $8.6 billion on expanding employment. |
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| Romney eyes decisive 'boost' as Iowa vote looms |
| ATLANTIC, Iowa: Mitt Romney urged Iowa voters to give him what could be a decisive "boost" over his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in the heartland state's caucus, just two days away. |
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| Labrador Nature & Coastal Walk now open |
| SINGAPORE: Residents living in the southern part of Singapore can enjoy a new leisure playground with the official opening of the Labrador Nature & Coastal Walk. |
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| Seoul sees chance for better ties with North Korea |
| SEOUL: South Korea sees an opportunity for better relations with North Korea as its new leader takes power, President Lee Myung-Bak said Monday, while vowing to respond strongly to any provocations. |
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| Fiji military government to end martial law |
| SUVA, Fiji: Nearly three years of living under martial law in Fiji will end this weekend when the emergency regulations will be lifted, military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama announced Monday. |
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| 68 Occupy Wall Street protesters arrested |
| NEW YORK: New York police arrested 68 Occupy Wall Street protesters overnight after activists poured back into the Manhattan square where their movement started last year, police said Sunday. |
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| Gunman on loose after ranger killed in US park |
| LOS ANGELES: A US federal ranger was shot dead in Mount Rainier National Park on Sunday, triggering a manhunt for the gunman and the closure of the park in Washington state, officials said. |
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| Darts: Australia's Whitlock loses world championship semi-final thriller |
| LONDON: Australia's Simon Whitlock squandered a two-set lead as his bid to reach a third World Championship final ended with a 6-5 defeat by Andy Hamilton at Alexandra Palace on Sunday. |
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| Mideast negotiators to meet for first time in months |
| AMMAN: Palestinian and Israeli negotiators will meet for the first time in more than a year in Jordan on Tuesday to discuss stalled peace talks, the Jordanian foreign ministry said on Sunday. |
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| Firefighters make inroads against Chile wildfire |
| SANTIAGO: Firefighters in Chile made inroads on Sunday in their battle against a massive wildfire that has consumed 12,500 hectares of a national park that is one of the jewels of Patagonia, officials said on Sunday. |
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| Elton John wants Timberlake to play him in biopic |
| LOS ANGELES: Elton John is working on a biopic about himself and would like Justin Timberlake to take on the lead role, he said in an interview published on Sunday. |
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| 20-year-old charged with Indian student's murder in Britain |
| LONDON: British police on Sunday charged a 20-year-old man with the murder of Indian student Anuj Bidve, who was shot in the head in an apparently unprovoked attack in Manchester. |
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| Arab League urged to withdraw monitors over violence |
| DAMASCUS: An Arab League advisory body called on Sunday for the immediate withdrawal of the bloc's observers from Syria saying their presence was having no effect on the government's deadly crackdown on protests. |
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| 5.3-magnitude quake rattles Indonesia's Sumatra island |
| JAKARTA: A 5.3-magnitude earthquake rattled the northern tip of Indonesia on Monday, geologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage. |
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| Bundesbank chief says Germany must fight deficit |
| BERLIN: The German government must not waver in its fight to reduce the public deficit despite the grim economic outlook, central bank chief Jens Weidmann said in an interview to be published on Monday. |
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| New Zealand city rattled by 5.0-magnitude quake |
| WELLINGTON: The earthquake-devastated New Zealand city of Christchurch was rattled on Monday by a 5.0-magnitude tremor, geologists said, although there were no immediate reports of damage. |
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| Football: Sunderland stun Premier League leaders Manchester City |
| SUNDERLAND, England: South Korea's Ji Dong-Won struck in injury time as Sunderland inflicted a shock 1-0 defeat upon Premier League leaders Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. |
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| Motorcycling: Argentina's Boero dies in Dakar Rally accident |
| SANTA ROSA DE LA PAMPA, Argentina: Argentinian motorcyclist Jorge Martinez Boero died on Sunday after being involved in an accident on the first day of the Dakar Rally. |
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| Tennis: Beaten Hewitt makes encouraging return |
| PERTH, Australia: Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt returned after four months out with injury to put on a typically fighting performance against Spain's Fernando Verdasco at the Hopman Cup on Sunday. |
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| Football: Anichebe's late show sees Everton beat West Brom |
| WEST BROMWICH, England: Victor Anichebe came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal of the season as Everton started 2012 with a 1-0 win away to West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Sunday. |
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| Measures concerning population need to be discussed comprehensively: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Speaking to the media at the annual Chinatown lightup, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government will need to discuss measures concerning population from a comprehensive point of view. |
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| Iran tests first domestically made nuclear fuel rod |
| TEHRAN: Iran said on Sunday that its scientists have "tested the first nuclear fuel rod produced from uranium ore deposits inside the country." |
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| Sarkozy kicks off election year with warning |
| PARIS: Facing a tough election fight in four months, French President Nicolas Sarkozy kicked off the new year warning voters 2012 was "full of risks" and that France's future will hang in the balance. |
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| Annual Chinatown light-up begins to usher in CNY |
| SINGAPORE: The dragons have descended on Chinatown in a big way as the centrepieces of the annual light-up for the Lunar New Year. |
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| Football: Wenger expects Van Persie to shine in 2012 |
| LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed Dutch striker Robin van Persie to maintain his sparkling form in 2012. |
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| Pakistan, India swap lists of nuclear sites |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Sunday exchanged lists of their nuclear sites under an accord which prohibits both sides from attacking these locations, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said. |
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| Football: Ferguson demands response after United flop |
| MANCHESTER, England: Sir Alex Ferguson has called on his under-performing Manchester United stars to give an immediate response to their shock 3-2 defeat against struggling Blackburn. |
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| India to open stock market to foreign investors |
| NEW DELHI: India announced on Sunday that it would open up its stock market to individual foreign investors for the first time, in a major economic reform designed to boost overseas investment. |
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| S'pore marked New Year's Eve with countdown events islandwide |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore ushered in 2012 on New Year's Eve with songs, dances and fireworks across the island. |
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| Nigeria enters 2012 under state of emergency |
| LAGOS: Nigeria began the new year on Sunday overshadowed by a state of emergency declared in areas hit by Islamist attacks, as it seeks to end spiralling violence that has shaken Africa's most populous nation. |
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| MND to release details on underground space masterplan |
| SINGAPORE: In land-strapped Singapore, underground space has been named a strategic resource by the high-level Economic Strategies Committee. |
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| Japan developing cyber weapon: report |
| TOKYO: Japan has been developing a virus that could track down the source of a cyber attack and neutralise its programme, the daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday. |
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| Syrians stage anti-regime demos in key cities |
| DAMASCUS: Syrian pro-democracy protesters saw the New Year in with demonstrations in several flashpoint centres, activists said Sunday, as more deaths were reported in the regime's crackdown on dissent. |
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| Hong Kong set to retain IPO crown, faces bumpy 2012 |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong looks set to retain its crown as the world's biggest IPO market for the third year in a row, pipping New York, but analysts warn of a tough 2012 as market volatility continues. |
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| Tennis: Clijsters breezes through in Brisbane |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Kim Clijsters said she was looking forward to some much needed match practice after powering past Romania's Simona Halep in the first round of the Brisbane International on Sunday. |
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| Tennis: Serena doesn't regret US Open outburst |
| BRISBANE, Australia: Serena Williams says she doesn't regret her outburst during last year's US Open final and warns she would do it again if her emotions are as high as they were during her loss to Australia's Samantha Stosur. |
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| Iran test fires missile during navy war games |
| TEHRAN: Iran successfully test fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile on Sunday during navy war games taking place near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a spokesman for the manoeuvres said, according to the official IRNA news agency. |
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| Football: FC Tokyo win Emperor's Cup |
| TOKYO: FC Tokyo qualified for the 2012 AFC Champions League Sunday as they came back from a goal down to beat Kyoto Sanga 4-2 to win the Emperor's Cup. |
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| Hundreds hurt by firecrackers in Philippine New Year |
| MANILA: Hundreds of Filipinos were injured by firecrackers and stray bullets while fires gutted homes in the capital as revellers celebrated the new year, officials said Sunday. |
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| 17 arrested after Malaysia student demo |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Seventeen people were arrested on Sunday after police broke up a student gathering for greater academic freedom, in what the opposition and activists said was a campaign to stifle dissent. |
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| Former Australian PM Howard joins prestigious order |
| LONDON: Former Australian prime minister John Howard has been appointed a member of the prestigious Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace announced Sunday. |
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| A big leap into the New Year |
| SINGAPORE: The New Year began on an extra high note for six daredevils on Sunday morning as they attempted the largest BASE jumping stunt in Singapore. |
|
| S. Korea predicts weaker 2012 exports |
| SEOUL: South Korea's government said Sunday its exports will weaken and trade surplus dwindle this year as global trade shrinks amid prolonged economic woes in Europe and the US. |
|
| Powerful quake rocks Tokyo region |
| TOKYO: A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Tokyo Sunday, Japan's Meteorological Agency said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injury and no tsunami warning was issued. |
|
| RSAF personnel's wife dies in accident |
| SINGAPORE: The wife of a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) personnel died in an accident in the US state of Idaho, where he is attached to the 428th Fighter Squadron. |
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| Kim Jong-Il's eldest son secretly pays last respects |
| TOKYO: The eldest son of North Korea's late leader Kim Jong-Il has secretly visited Pyongyang to pay his last respects, the major Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday. |
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| Gunmen kill three telecom workers in Indonesia |
| BANDA ACEH, Indonesia: Unidentified gunmen on a motorbike shot dead three telecom workers and wounded seven others in Indonesia's restive Aceh province, police said Sunday. |
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| Families welcome New Year babies |
| SINGAPORE: Some proud parents welcomed the new year with a new addition to their families. |
|
| China manufacturing rebounds in December |
| SHANGHAI: China's manufacturing activity rebounded in December helped by holiday shopping, according to official data Sunday, as the economy showed some resilience despite strife in key export markets. |
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| More frequent train services on NS & EW lines |
| SINGAPORE: Commuters returning to work or school in the new year can expect more frequent train services on the North-South and East-West lines. |
|
| Non-euro Denmark takes over EU presidency |
| COPENHAGEN: Non-euro nation Denmark takes over the European Union's rotating presidency Sunday, voicing determination to solve the eurozone crisis by promoting consensus among all 27 EU members. |
|
| Gaza premier to meet Turkey PM |
| ANKARA: Gaza's Hamas premier Ismail Haniya will be in Turkey on Sunday as part of his first official regional tour since the Islamists' 2007 power seizure in the Palestinian enclave, the Anatolia news agency reported. |
|
| First of two NASA probes in lunar orbit |
| WASHINGTON: The first of two NASA lunar probes on a mission to study the Moon's inner core so as to better understand the origins of planets went into orbit Saturday, the US space agency said. |
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| Romney narrowly on top in final Iowa blitz |
| DES MOINES, Iowa: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney clung to a narrow lead in Iowa three days before the heartland state casts the first votes of the 2012 election season, a new poll found Saturday. |
|
| At least 50 killed in communal clashes in Nigeria |
| LAGOS: At least 50 people were killed on Saturday following clashes between two neighbouring communities in Nigeria's southeastern Ebonyi state, a government spokesman said. |
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| S. Korea passes revised budget for 2012 |
| SEOUL: South Korea's parliament late Saturday passed a revised version of the government's 2012 budget, which now calls for 325.4 trillion won ($282.5 billion) in spending during an election year. |
|
| World rings in 2012 |
| LONDON: The world rang in the New Year on Sunday with a string of spectacular firework displays watched by millions but overshadowed by fears at what the economic crisis in Europe could bring in 2012. |
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| N.Koreans urged to defend Jong-Un "unto death" |
| SEOUL: North Korea urged its people Sunday to defend new leader Kim Jong-Un to the death and vowed an all-out push for prosperity, in a new year state newspaper editorial setting out policy goals. |
|
| Football: Chelsea downed by late goals |
| LONDON: Stiliyan Petrov and Darren Bent struck the late goals that secured a 3-1 victory for Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge and ensured Chelsea were unable to force their way back into the title race on Saturday. |
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| New retirement-hiring law takes effect |
| SINGAPORE: Companies appear to be ready for Singapore's new Retirement and Re-employment Act, which takes effect on 1 Jan 2012. |
|
| US hits Iran with new sanctions |
| HONOLULU, Hawaii: US President Barack Obama Saturday signed into law tough new sanctions targeting Iran's central bank and financial sector, in a move likely to deepen acrimony between Washington and Tehran. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic beats Ferrer |
| ABU DHABI: Novak Djokovic brought the curtain down on his stunning 2011 season with a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Spain's David Ferrer in the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event here on Saturday. |
|
| France's 2012 uncertain |
| PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned on Saturday that the country's future hung in the balance in 2012 amid the eurozone debt crisis but said ratings agencies would not decide French policy. |
|
| Porsche sued over failed merger |
| BERLIN: A group of investment funds is suing Porsche for two billion euros in damages after the German luxury sports car firm's merger with the Volkswagen group failed in 2008, the fund's lawyers said Saturday. |
|
| Hollywood sees arson spree |
| LOS ANGELES: Police in Los Angeles, with help from federal investigators, were searching Saturday for one or more suspects said to have set more than 30 vehicle fires in one of the worst arson sprees in city history. |
|
| Football: Man United slip up |
| LONDON: Manchester United missed the chance to start the New Year on top of the Premier League after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Blackburn as Arsenal took advantage of Chelsea's home loss to Aston Villa to go fourth. |
|
| Tennis: Murray hires full-time coach |
| LONDON: World number four Andy Murray appointed Czech legend Ivan Lendl as his full-time coach on Saturday. |
|
| Nigeria declares state of emergency |
| ABUJA: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday declared a state of emergency in areas hard hit by violence blamed on Islamist sect Boko Haram and announced the closure of part of the country's borders. |
|
| S'pore welcomes 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore on Sunday morning welcomed New Year's Day at various countdown parties across the island. |
|
| Football: Blackburn stun Man Utd |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Grant Hanley's 80th-minute goal handed Blackburn Rovers a stunning 3-2 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on the last day of 2011 to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson's 70th birthday was one to forget. |
|
| Moscow police arrest a dozen people to stop opposition rally |
| MOSCOW: Moscow riot police on Saturday arrested about a dozen people trying to attend an unsanctioned New Year's Eve rally marking Russians' right to freedom of assembly, an AFP correspondent reported. |
|
| Crane hits overhead bridge in CBD |
| SINGAPORE: A crane hit an overhead bridge in the central business district on Saturday afternoon. |
|
| Sydney rings in New Year with spectacular fireworks |
| SYDNEY: Spectacular fireworks burst over Sydney Harbour to ring in the New Year at midnight, kicking off noisy celebrations for billions around the world to mark the end of 2011. |
|
| 42 people die in south India cyclone |
| CHENNAI, India: At least 42 people including a French national were killed when a cyclone hit southern India, reports said on Saturday as engineers rushed to restore power supplies knocked out by the gale. |
|
| Football: Ferguson eyes three more years at United |
| MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson marked his 70th birthday on Saturday with a vow to stay at the club for at least three more years. |
|
| S'pore's Q4 GDP growth likely between 3 to 3.5%: economist |
| SINGAPORE: Economist Song Seng Wun said Singapore's economy expanded between 3 and 3.5 per cent in the final quarter based on the 4.8 per cent growth for the whole year. |
|
| Iran refuses to fuel some European, Arab airlines |
| TEHRAN: Iran is refusing to refuel some European and Arab airlines at its main international airport in a tit-for-tat move over major oil companies denying fuel to Iranian planes abroad, the airport's chief said on Saturday. |
|
| President Tony Tan launches 20,000 wishing spheres into Marina Bay |
| SINGAPORE: It was a reflective start to the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown. |
|
| Parents urged to pay attention to children's moral and national education |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged parents to pay attention to their children's moral and national education on top of encouraging them to do well in their studies. |
|
| Man dies from bird flu in southern China |
| BEIJING: A bus driver in southern China who contracted the bird flu virus died Saturday, health authorities said, in the nation's first reported human case of the deadly disease in 18 months. |
|
| Football: Indonesia's football crisis under control: PSSI |
| JAKARTA: The Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) said Saturday that it remained in control, rebuffing claims that a majority of its members voted to hold an extraordinary congress to elect a new leadership. |
|
| China food safety scandal widens to oil, peanuts |
| BEIJING: Chinese authorities in a southern boomtown have detected a cancer-causing toxin in peanuts and cooking oil that was only recently discovered in milk, in the nation's latest food safety scandal. |
|
| China says yuan will be more flexible |
| BEIJING: China's central bank governor hinted in comments published Saturday that authorities would loosen their grip on the Asian powerhouse's tightly controlled currency by widening its trading band. |
|
| Social capital will define S'pore's success as a nation: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Singaporeans must strengthen their values of tolerance, mutual respect and empathy, as their country's success as a nation is increasingly defined not just in economic terms but also by the country's social capital. |
|
| S'pore faces challenge of population growth: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore must find workable solutions to keep its society vibrant and forward-looking, maintain its economic vitality and strengthen the Singapore core, as it faces the challenge of population growth. |
|
| S'pore's economy grew 4.8% in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's economy grew 4.8 per cent in 2011, significantly slower than the dramatic rebound of 14.7 per cent growth in 2010. |
|
| More Singaporeans choosing staycations over holidays abroad |
| SINGAPORE: This year-end, more Singaporeans are choosing staycations over holidays abroad. |
|
| Chinese national caught for trying to sneak into S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: A 50-year-old Chinese national was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint for trying to sneak into Singapore. |
|
| Basketball: Dallas Mavericks get title defence back on track |
| DALLAS, Texas: Dallas finally got their NBA title defence on track on Friday, with France's Ian Mahinmi leading a strong showing by the Mavericks reserves in a 99-86 victory over Toronto Raptors. |
|
| S. Korea's Lee vows to tame inflation, create jobs |
| SEOUL: South Korea's President Lee Myung-Bak said Saturday that taming inflation and creating jobs would be two of his priorities next year, along with protecting the country. |
|
| China rules protest village had "valid" complaints |
| BEIJING: Residents of a village in southern China who became a thorn in the Communist Party's side when they protested for more than a week over land grabs had "valid" complaints, state media reported. |
|
| Iran to test-fire missiles in key Strait of Hormuz |
| TEHRAN: Iran's navy is about to test-fire a variety of missiles in war games in the Strait of Hormuz, a spokesman said Saturday, underlining Tehran's threat to close the strategic oil waterway if new Western sanctions are applied. |
|
| Huge wildfire shutters Chile national park |
| SANTIAGO: Chile closed one of its most popular national parks in peak hiking season after a massive wildfire ravaged tens of thousands of acres of pristine Patagonia and showed no signs of abating. |
|
| Vietnam condemns five drug smugglers to death |
| HANOI: Vietnam has sentenced five men to death for smuggling heroin into the country from Cambodia, state media reported on Saturday. |
|
| 33 people die in south India cyclone |
| CHENNAI, India: At least 33 people died when a cyclone hit southern India, officials said on Saturday as engineers rushed to restore power supplies knocked out by winds of up to 140 kilometres (85 miles) an hour. |
|
| Thai floods death toll tops 800 |
| BANGKOK: The death toll from months of flooding in Thailand has risen above 800, although the waters have receded in many parts of the country, the government said Saturday. |
|
| WHO "deeply concerned" by mutant bird flu |
| PARIS: The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was "deeply concerned" about research into whether the H5N1 flu virus could be made more transmissible between humans after mutant strains were produced in labs. |
|
| Egypt risks losing military aid with raids |
| WASHINGTON: Egypt runs some risk of losing $1.5 billion in US military aid now that Egyptian prosecutors and police have stirred an uproar in Washington with raids on US-funded pro-democracy groups. |
|
| US stocks topped rival markets in 2011 |
| WASHINGTON: US stocks outperformed major markets across the globe in 2011 as the S&P 500 made it past the finish line Friday virtually unchanged after one of the most volatile years on record. |
|
| White House Republican hopefuls make last Iowa push |
| DES MOINES, Iowa: Republican presidential hopefuls on Friday launched into a frenzied final few days of campaigning in Iowa ahead of the heartland state's first-in-the-nation vote to pick the party's nominee. |
|
| Boeing wins US$3.48b contract for US missile shield |
| WASHINGTON: Boeing won a $3.48 billion contract Friday to retain its leading role in building a US shield against long-range ballistic missiles, defeating rival Lockheed Martin Corp., officials said Friday. |
|
| Tough year ahead, says Merkel |
| BERLIN: Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of a difficult year ahead, particularly for the eurozone, but also said there were good reasons to be confident, in New Year greetings released Saturday. |
|
| Kim Jong-Un named army chief |
| SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea said Kim Jong-Un, the son of late leader Kim Jong-Il, had assumed the "supreme commandership" of the reclusive nation's million-strong military, state media reported Saturday. |
|
| Al-Qaeda "tries to recruit in Libya" |
| WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda has sent militants to Libya in a bid to recruit a fighting force after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, but the group has yet to gain a strong foothold there, US officials said Friday. |
|
| Pakistan blast kills 8 |
| QUETTA, Pakistan: A car bomb killed eight Pakistanis and injured at least 18 others on Friday in the southwestern city of Quetta, which is riven by ethic and sectarian violence, police said. |
|
| Football: Bellamy, Gerrard sink Newcastle |
| LIVERPOOL: Craig Bellamy bagged a brace and Steven Gerrard was also on the scoresheet as Liverpool boosted their bid for a top four finish with a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield on Friday. |
|
| Russell Brand divorces Katy Perry |
| LOS ANGELES: British comic Russell Brand filed for divorce Friday to end his marriage to US pop star Katy Perry 14 months after the pair married in India. |
|
| Football: Real not recruiting |
| MADRID: Spanish league leaders Real Madrid will not be looking to sign new players during the transfer window, coach Jose Mourinho said Friday. |
|
| US stocks end year in red |
| NEW YORK: US stocks on Friday closed the final session of the year solidly in the red as investors appeared to pause ahead of the extended New Year's holiday weekend. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic, Ferrer in Abu Dhabi final |
| ABU DHABI: David Ferrer stunned fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in straight sets on Friday to set up a final showdown with world number one Novak Djokovic at the $250,000 three-day exhibition tournament here. |
|
| Obama delays request for debt limit raise |
| HONOLULU, Hawaii: President Barack Obama will delay asking Congress for $1.2 trillion to raise the US government's debt ceiling to allow vacationing lawmakers time to weigh the request, officials said Friday. |
|
| Egypt to end NGO raids |
| WASHINGTON: The United States said Friday it has received assurances from Egypt that it will stop raids on US and other pro-democracy groups as well as return confiscated property. |
|
| Chinese man critical with bird flu |
| BEIJING: A 39-year-old man is in critical condition after testing positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, state media reported Saturday quoting local health authorities. |
|
| Greece sells jets for quick cash |
| ATHENS: Greece on Friday said it had sold four disused Airbus A340 jets to Miami-based aircraft traders Apollo Aviation for 40.4 million dollars under an ongoing asset push for quick cash. |
|
| "Faulty" breast implants caused cancer? |
| PARIS: French health authorities said Friday 20 cases of cancer had been uncovered in women with allegedly faulty French-made breast implants but insisted there was still no proven link with the disease. |
|
| Nigeria mosque blast kills 4 |
| KANO, Nigeria: An explosion killed four people in the violence-torn Nigerian city of Maiduguri as Muslim faithfuls left a mosque after Friday prayers, the military and residents said. |
|
| Rugby: Ireland team gets new captain |
| DUBLIN: Veteran Munster lock Paul O'Connell confirmed Friday he will captain Ireland in the Six Nations in the absence of regular skipper Brian O'Driscoll, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. |
|
| Ukraine ex-PM transfers jail |
| KIEV: Ukraine on Friday transferred jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko from a Kiev detention centre to a prison in the eastern Kharkiv region to serve her out seven year sentence. |
|
| Petroplus to shut 3 refineries |
| GENEVA: Embattled oil refiner Petroplus said on Friday it will begin a temporary shutdown of three of its plants in January after lenders froze a $1 billion credit facility. |
|
| Spain imposes 8.9b euros in spending cuts |
| MADRID - Spain's new right-leaning government imposed on Friday 8.9 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in a first round of spending cuts, saying the deficit had far overshot a 2011 target. |
|
| Iran to test-fire missiles in strategic oil waterway |
| TEHRAN - Iran, which has been carrying out war games in the Strait of Hormuz over the past week, is to test fire shorter- and longer-range missiles in the key oil waterway on Saturday, the navy said. |
|
| Japan consumer spending seen picking up |
| TOKYO: As we approach the end of the year and the most important holiday season in the Japanese calendar, it appears consumer spending is starting to see a rebound. |
|
| Mumbai stocks lose 24.6% in year 2011 |
| MUMBAI - Indian shares ended the calendar year on a disappointing note, with the stock market recording its first annual fall in three years and analysts and dealers bracing for more pain in 2012. |
|
| Hong Kong shares end year one-fifth lower |
| HONG KONG - Hong Kong shares gained 0.20 percent Friday, the last day of trade for a year that saw the index give up a fifth of its value as markets worldwide tumbled amid fears of another global downturn. |
|
| Cyclone kills 16 on India's southern coast |
| HYDERABAD, India: A severe cyclone packing winds of up to 140 kilometres (85 miles) an hour tore into India's southeastern coast on Friday, killing at least 16 people, a senior official said. |
|
| Vietnamese sailor saved as 22 crew mates die at sea |
| HANOI: A Vietnamese seaman survived five days floating in open ocean with only a life jacket for protection after his cargo ship sank and all his 22 crew mates died, before he was rescued Friday, officials said. |
|
| Over 250,000 rally against Syria's Assad: watchdog |
| NICOSIA: More than 250,000 people rallied across the Syrian region of Idlib on Friday as security forces shot dead at least five demonstrators and fired nail bombs at a crowd elsewhere, a watchdog said. |
|
| Myanmar to hold by-elections on April 1 |
| YANGON: Myanmar is to hold by-elections on April 1, a government official said on Friday, which could propel democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi into the army-dominated parliament. |
|
| European stocks mixed, euro under 100 yen |
| LONDON: European stocks traded mixed on Friday while the euro remained under pressure in thin pre-holiday trade, hitting a 10-year yen low over persistent concerns about the eurozone debt crisis and another sharp global downturn. |
|
| North Korea says policy won't change, threatens Seoul |
| SEOUL - North Korea warned the world Friday to expect no policy changes under new leader Kim Jong-Un, and threatened retaliation against South Korea for "rubbing salt" into the wounds of its grieving people. |
|
| Serial molester arrested |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 27-year-old man who is believed to be involved in several molest cases in Hougang. |
|
| Vietnamese cargo ship sinks; 22 dead |
| HANOI - A Vietnamese cargo ship that vanished near the Philippines on Christmas Day has sunk, killing 22 of its 23 crew members, Vietnam state shipping firm Vinalines said on Friday. |
|
| Football: PSG to unveil Ancelotti, still no Beckham deal |
| PARIS: Carlo Ancelotti is set to be unveiled as the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain on Friday, but former England captain David Beckham has still not committed to the big-spending Qatar-backed French club. |
|
| JYJ's Kim Junsu establishes school in rural Cambodia |
| SEOUL: The aid agency Adventist Development and Relief Agency announced Wednesday that a small school in Pursat, Cambodia, which was funded by donations from Korean pop trio JYJ's Kim Junsu, has recently begun operating after a five-month construction period, said Korean media. |
|
| Police arrest teenager molest suspect |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy who is believed to have molested a woman in Pasir Ris housing estate. |
|
| Nobody can interfere with Hungary legislative process: PM |
| BUDAPEST: Nobody can interfere with Hungary's legislative process, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared Friday as lawmakers were set to adopt a series of internationally-criticised laws. |
|
| Myanmar's Suu Kyi to meet George Soros |
| YANGON: US billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros will meet Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon next week, a spokesman for the democracy campaigner said on Friday. |
|
| Spain's new govt decides on first wave of cuts |
| MADRID - Spaniards prepared to bite the bullet on Friday as a new right-leaning government met to decide its first wave of spending cuts ushering in an austere New Year. |
|
| Asia shines as 2011 ends under eurozone cloud |
| HONG KONG - The sight of French President Nicolas Sarkozy running to Beijing to solicit funds to save the eurozone summed up what for some was the economic story of 2011 -- Asia's boom versus the West's gloom. |
|
| Euro under 100 yen for first time in ten years |
| LONDON: The European single currency slumped on Friday underneath 100 yen for the first time in ten years, on the back of eurozone debt fears in volatile pre-holiday trading. |
|
| Football: Bolton agree fee with Chelsea for Cahill |
| LONDON: Bolton manager Owen Coyle confirmed on Friday that the struggling Premier League club has agreed a fee to sell England international defender Gary Cahill to Chelsea. |
|
| Mindanao flood survivors housed in tent cities |
| ILIGAN CITY: Survivors of the floods in Mindanao are likely to be living out of temporary housing for months, or possibly years. |
|
| China retail sales show strong growth in 2011 |
| SHANGHAI: Retail sales in China continued to show strong growth in 2011, rising by about 17 percent on-year. |
|
| Michael Tse's new crime film rakes in HK$670,000 on opening day |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Michael Tse may have left the recent 2011 TVB Anniversary Awards empty handed, but his new film is cleaning up at the Hong Kong box office. |
|
| PwC calls for corporate tax cut in upcoming Budget |
| SINGAPORE: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is calling for a reduction in the corporate tax rate in the upcoming Budget to help shield the economy from global turmoil. |
|
| Myanmar, Cambodia emerge as high-growth investment destinations |
| SINGAPORE: By some measure, Myanmar had a spectacular 2011. Endorsed as chair of Asean for 2014, and a high profile visit from the US secretary of state - reward for recent political reforms that have elevated confidence in an economy barely emerging from years in the dark. |
|
| CPFIS wrap fee to be capped at 1% per annum |
| SINGAPORE: The wrap fee charged for investments under the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS) will be capped at one percent per annum. |
|
| Bilingualism fund receives more than S$58m in donations |
| SINGAPORE: The Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism, which supplements efforts by the government in the teaching and learning of English and the Mother Tongue languages, has received more than S$58 million in donations and pledges. |
|
| Russian nuclear submarine fire contained, no radiation threat |
| MOSCOW: Russian officials said a fire on a nuclear submarine had been contained Friday and ruled out radiation threats but said some crew members were still aboard. |
|
| NUS, China's Tsinghua University to establish joint programme |
| SINGAPORE: The law schools of two leading universities in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Tsinghua University, will establish new programmes for students to earn degrees from both institutions. |
|
| Committee submits Ministerial salary review report |
| SINGAPORE: The Committee set up to review political salaries submitted its report to the Prime Minister on Friday afternoon. |
|
| MOE to set up forum to assist school principals in leading change |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) will set up a National Perspectives Forum next year to support school principals in leading and managing change. |
|
| SP Services to raise electricity tariffs in next quarter |
| SINGAPORE: Households will pay more for electricity in the next quarter in 2012. |
|
| 800,000 HDB households to receive S$40m of U-Save rebates |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Finance said on Friday that about 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive S$40 million worth of Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebates. |
|
| Jeon Ji Hyun dating grandson of renowned Korean designer |
| SEOUL: Korean actress Jeon Ji Hyun is off the market! |
|
| 'Voluntourism' on the rise |
| ANHUI: Soaking in the sights and sounds of rural China or visiting the homes of families affected by HIV and AIDS to better understand their needs may not be most people's idea of a vacation. |
|
| Tennis: Hewitt still up for the fight |
| PERTH, Australia: Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt says reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. |
|
| Nikkei closes 2011 at lowest year-end level since 1982 |
| TOKYO: Japan's headline Nikkei-225 index finished 2011 trade Friday at its lowest year-end level since 1982, despite rising on the day thanks to upbeat US data. |
|
| Basketball: Durant buzzer beater lifts Thunder over Mavericks |
| OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: Kevin Durant's buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Oklahoma City a 104-102 NBA victory over Dallas on Thursday that left the reigning champion Mavericks without a win in three games this season. |
|
| Govt to tweak Interim Rental Housing scheme |
| SINGAPORE: The government has tweaked the Interim Rental Housing (IRH) scheme to better help needy families with temporary housing at subsidised rates, while they work out a more permanent solution. |
|
| Unusual Entertainment found guilty of under-declaration of GST |
| SINGAPORE: A local promoter and organiser of shows and other entertainment acts has been found guilty of failing to ensure that its tax returns were accurate. |
|
| Jamaica opposition wins landslide vote |
| KINGSTON: Jamaica's leading opposition People's National Party won a landslide election Thursday, according to preliminary results, in a vote driven by concerns about crime, corruption and poverty. |
|
| Japan indicts Chinese skipper for illegal fishing |
| TOKYO: Prosecutors have indicted the skipper of a Chinese fishing boat for illegally operating in Japanese waters, a local official said Friday. |
|
| World Bank releases US$500m for Philippine flood |
| WASHINGTON: The World Bank said late Thursday it released $500 million to help the Philippine government's recovery and reconstruction efforts after Tropical Storm Washi tore through the country, killing more than 1,200 and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. |
|
| Australian police arrest man at China consulate |
| SYDNEY: Australian police Friday arrested a man who fled into the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Sydney and staged a six-hour standoff, after a tense pursuit during which shots were fired. |
|
| Singapore's bank lending up in November |
| SINGAPORE: Total bank lending in Singapore rose 2.3 per cent in November from October, according to figures from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. |
|
| US, Europe woes hit China manufacturing |
| BEIJING: China's manufacturing activity continued to shrink in December, HSBC said Friday, as economic strife in the key European and US markets hobbled demand for the nation's goods. |
|
| Negative ads signal dirty US presidential campaign |
| CHICAGO: The blast of negative ads that helped torpedo Newt Gingrich ahead of Tuesday's Iowa caucuses are just a small splatter of the mud set to fly when the eventual Republican nominee goes up against President Barack Obama. |
|
| N. Korea says policy won't change under new leader |
| SEOUL: North Korea Friday ruled out policy changes and rejected any engagement with South Korea's current government, a day after proclaiming the son of late leader Kim Jong-Il as its new supreme chief. |
|
| PUB provides updates on Orchard flashfloods |
| SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB said the heavy downpour on December 23 was equivalent to about half the average monthly total of rain recorded for the entire month of December over the last 142 years. |
|
| S. Korea December inflation above target range |
| SEOUL: South Korea's consumer prices rose more than the targeted maximum four percent in December for a second straight month, highlighting persistent inflation pressures, official figures showed Friday. |
|
| Football: United look to steal march on City |
| LONDON: Premier League champions Manchester United will try to put the pressure on leaders Manchester City when they face bottom of the table Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on Saturday. |
|
| Big-name stars in New York to perform on New Year's Eve |
| NEW YORK: Pop diva Lady Gaga, tenor Placido Domingo and rock veterans Chuck Berry and Patti Smith will join a star-studded line-up to ring in the new year on Saturday in New York. |
|
| Yachting: Loki declared overall winner of Sydney to Hobart race |
| SYDNEY: Australian yacht Loki was on Friday named overall winner of the Sydney to Hobart ocean race, taking handicap honours in the prestigious 628 nautical mile bluewater classic. |
|
| Euro rebounds after hitting 15-month lows |
| NEW YORK: The euro rebounded slightly on Thursday after sinking to 15-month lows against the dollar, in trading coloured by a mixed-result Italian bond auction. |
|
| US, South Korean envoys discuss 'next steps' on North Korea |
| WASHINGTON: Top US and South Korean diplomats discussed the "next steps" to take on the Korean peninsula following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, the US State Department said on Thursday. |
|
| Football: Capello urges UEFA to act on player poaching |
| PARIS: England coach Fabio Capello says UEFA must act to stop top European clubs poaching young players from other sides and wants the European governing body's head Michel Platini to stem the tide. |
|
| Jamaicans vote in tight election for PM |
| KINGSTON: Jamaicans worried about high unemployment, crime and corruption cast their votes on Thursday on the tourism-dependent Caribbean island, with their young prime minister's job on the line in a tight election. |
|
| Motorcycling: Hayden suffers training accident |
| WASHINGTON: Former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden has suffered a training injury which has thrown his participation in testing in Sepang, Malaysia, at the end of next month into doubt, his Ducati team said on Thursday. |
|
| Football: Fans step forth to promote the S-League |
| SINGAPORE: With much attention lavished on the LionsXII team that will start their campaign in Malaysia in a little less than two weeks, a group of local football fans have decided to bring the focus back to the Republic's own professional football competition, the S-League. |
|
| US stocks rally on US economic data |
| NEW YORK: US stocks rallied on Thursday, boosted by positive fresh data pointing to resilience in the US economy. |
|
| Football: Milijas fails with red card appeal |
| LONDON: Wolves reacted angrily after Nenad Milijas' appeal against the red card he received in Tuesday's 1-1 Premier League draw against Arsenal was rejected by a Football Association disciplinary panel. |
|
| US signs US$29b deal on F-15 warplanes to Saudi Arabia |
| HONOLULU, Hawaii: The United States announced on Thursday the signing of a $29.4 billion arms deal to provide Saudi Arabia with 84 new fighter jets, a move it said sent a "strong message" to the Gulf region. |
|
| Oil prices rise on Mideast tensions |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices edged higher on Thursday in volatile trading in New York, boosted by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and better-than-expected US economic news. |
|
| Top US diplomat to visit Asia after Kim's death |
| WASHINGTON: Senior US diplomat Kurt Campbell will visit China, South Korea and Japan next week to discuss developments after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, the State Department said on Thursday. |
|
| Iran-US brinkmanship over oil strait worsens |
| TEHRAN: A showdown between Iran and the United States over Tehran's threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers worsened on Thursday with warships from each side giving weight to an increasingly bellicose exchange of words. |
|
| India's new anti-graft law fails to pass in parliament |
| NEW DELHI: India's government and ruling Congress party failed to pass its proposed flagship anti-corruption law on Thursday as the legislation stalled in the upper house of parliament amid fierce opposition. |
|
| Britain eases quarantine rules for visiting pets |
| LONDON: For a famously animal-loving nation, pet owning visitors to Britain have had it remarkably tough. |
|
| Turkish air strike kills 35 Kurds in apparent 'blunder' |
| ULUDERE, Turkey: Turkish fighter jets killed 35 Kurds in an air strike the country's ruling party admitted on Thursday could have been a "blunder" that mistakenly hit civilians instead of Kurdish separatists. |
|
| Football: Ajax fan sentenced for attack on goalkeeper |
| THE HAGUE: A Dutch court has sentenced an Ajax fan to six months in jail after he ran onto the pitch during a Dutch Cup match and tried to assault an opposition goalkeeper, a report said on Thursday. |
|
| Myanmar may free more prisoners next week |
| NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar may free more political prisoners on the upcoming national holidays of January 4 and February 12, an official from the lower house of parliament said Thursday. |
|
| Football: All Liverpool need is a goal, says Dalglish |
| LIVERPOOL, England: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish believes there's nothing wrong with his side that a few more goals won't solve. |
|
| China limits foreign auto investment |
| BEIJING, China: China said on Thursday it will "withdraw support" for foreign investment in auto manufacturing to encourage the domestic industry in the world's largest car market. |
|
| British police arrest fifth man, see Indian murder as hate crime |
| LONDON: British police said on Thursday they were treating the murder of an Indian student in northwest England as a hate crime, as they arrested a fifth person in connection with the shooting. |
|
| Russian nuclear submarine on fire during repairs |
| MOSCOW: A Russian nuclear submarine caught fire on Thursday while undergoing repairs in its northern Murmansk region dock but there was no radiation leak, officials said on Thursday. |
|
| Cricket: Sri Lanka complete historic triumph |
| DURBAN, South Africa: Sri Lanka took the final three wickets in four balls to complete an historic 208-run win over South Africa on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead on Thursday. |
|
| Alpine Skiing: Slalom success again for Schild |
| LIENZ, Austria: Austria's world champion Marlies Schild maintained her perfect start to the women's slalom World Cup season with her fourth win out of four on Thursday. |
|
| US pending home sales hit 19-month high in November |
| WASHINGTON: Pending sales of US homes surged to their highest level in 19 months in November, pointing to improvement in the depressed housing market, an industry survey showed on Thursday. |
|
| US jobless claims confirm improving labour market |
| WASHINGTON - New claims for US unemployment benefits rose for the first time in four weeks, but the trend still pointed to a steady decline in job layoffs across the country, the Labour Department said Thursday. |
|
| Syrian forces kill 13 as observers fan out |
| DAMASCUS - Regime forces fired on protesters at a protest hub near Damascus and killed at least 13 people around Syria on Thursday, even as peace monitors spread out across the country, activists said. |
|
| Storm-orphaned children comforted in Philippines |
| ILIGAN CITY, Philippines: The deadly floods caused by storm Washi in southern Philippines -- which swept away whole villages -- have turned many surviving children into orphans overnight. |
|
| Iberia reports little disruption as pilots strike |
| MADRID: Spain's flag carrier Iberia reported little disruption on Thursday from a one-day pilots' strike expected to ground more than one-third of its flights. |
|
| Rotterdam port chalks up new record |
| THE HAGUE - Rotterdam, Europe's largest container port and among the world's top 10, said Thursday it recorded a new record throughput of 433 million tonnes, despite the continent's economic downturn. |
|
| Sales of car booster seats rise ahead new ruling |
| SINGAPORE: There has been an increase in sales and queries about car booster seats, ahead of the new seat belt ruling which kicks in on 1 January 2012. |
|
| China lays out five-year space plans |
| BEIJING - China said Thursday cleaner fuel will power its next-generation rockets, which will launch heavy cargoes into space, bringing nearer plans to build a space station and put a man on the moon. |
|
| S-chips underperform STI |
| SINGAPORE: Chinese companies listed in Singapore, more commonly known as S-chips, have underperformed the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) this year. |
|
| Six HDB blocks in Boon Lay Drive chosen for SERS |
| SINGAPORE: Six blocks of HDB flats in Boon Lay Drive have been chosen for the government's Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). |
|
| Liat Towers to build anti-flood curb |
| SINGAPORE: Liat Towers is planning to build a two-feet-high curb over a drain that runs along the side of the building as a last resort to keep water out of its basement. |
|
| Euro dives to one-year low after Italy auction |
| LONDON: The European single currency tumbled on Thursday to its lowest dollar level in more than one year, as investors fretted over the outcome of Italy's latest bond auction in volatile holiday-week trade. |
|
| Spanish king's son-in-law faces court in graft scandal |
| MADRID: Spanish King Juan Carlos' son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, will appear in court on February 6 as a suspect in a corruption scandal, a judge said on Thursday. |
|
| New Year's Eve traffic arrangement |
| SINGAPORE: Several roads will be closed to traffic between New Year's Eve and early New Year's Day for the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown. |
|
| Italy scrapes through key bond auction test |
| ROME: Italy scraped through a key bond auction test on Thursday at the end of a disastrous year for the eurozone, as Prime Minister Mario Monti prepared to outline plans to get the economy out of recession. |
|
| Taiwan central bank leaves interest rate unchanged |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's central bank on Thursday left its key interest rate unchanged, saying the island's economy was being hit by weakening overseas demand. |
|
| Get ready to count down at Marina Bay |
| SINGAPORE: This year's Marina Bay Singapore Countdown -- into its seventh year -- looks set to entertain party goers, with more fringe activities lined up. |
|
| Keppel O&M secures S$150m new orders |
| SINGAPORE: Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) has secured contracts totalling S$150 million from international customers through its subsidiaries, Keppel Singmarine and Keppel Verolme BV. |
|
| MRT breakdowns: Committee of Inquiry appointed |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew has appointed a Committee of Inquiry (COI) to look into the two major MRT breakdowns earlier this month. |
|
| NOL chairman to retire in April 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: NOL Group announced on Thursday that its chairman, Cheng Wai Keung, will retire from the NOL Board after its annual general meeting scheduled in April 2012. |
|
| Singapore shares end up 0.2% |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices edged up on Thursday on late buying as investors tracked early gains on European bourses. |
|
| Online vice ring suspects nabbed |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested 23 people for suspected involvement in an online vice syndicate, after an eight-hour island-wide operation. |
|
| Casket owner fined for corruption |
| SINGAPORE: An owner of a casket company was fined S$3,000 on Thursday for bribing an undertaker from a rival company to provide him addresses of deceased. |
|
| Social change in S'pore under way |
| SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans this year have spoken up and acted on a slew of social causes from heritage conservation and environmental protection to animal welfare. |
|
| Gloomy outlook for HK's exports sector |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong's Trade Development Council is forecasting a gloomy outlook for the city's key exports sector. |
|
| Spanish economy shrinks in final quarter of 2011 |
| MADRID: Spain's economy shrank in the final quarter of 2011, battered by financial market tensions and a deteriorating global economic outlook, the Bank of Spain said Thursday. |
|
| MinLaw announces moves to streamline conveyancing workflow |
| SINGAPORE: From 1 January, the Singapore Land Authority's Electronic Payment Instruction (ePI) service will allow lawyers to electronically notify banks of details of conveyancing money paid into conveyancing accounts, instead of using hard copy forms. |
|
| N. Korea acclaims new supreme leader at huge parade |
| SEOUL - North Korea Thursday staged a massive memorial service for Kim Jong-Il to end almost two weeks of official mourning, and formally declared his untested young son Jong-Un as the new supreme leader. |
|
| Squash: David vows to fight on for Olympic squash |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian superstar Nicol David has vowed to continue her fight to include squash in the Olympics following its rejection by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2016 Games, a report said on Thursday. |
|
| Indonesia's Lion Air to start private jet service |
| JAKARTA: Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air, which announced the world's biggest-ever commercial aircraft order last month, plans to launch a private jet service by mid-2012, the company said on Thursday. |
|
| US aircraft carrier "spotted" in Iran wargames zone |
| TEHRAN: A US aircraft carrier entered a zone near the Strait of Hormuz being used by the Iranian navy for wargames, an Iranian official said Thursday amid rising tensions over the key oil-transit channel. |
|
| Suspected armed robber nabbed |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 42-year-old man believed to be behind a series of armed robberies targeting victims who advertise their mobile phones for sale at an online marketplace. |
|
| Latest China food safety scandal widens to oil |
| SHANGHAI: Chinese authorities have recalled cooking oil products made by three companies after finding they contained the same type of cancer-causing toxin recently found in milk, state media said Thursday. |
|
| More deaths reported in Syria despite monitors |
| NICOSIA: Syrian security forces killed 14 more civilians as Arab observers were set Thursday to visit protest hubs as part of a mission to halt the regime's crackdown on dissent, a rights group said. |
|
| MTI releases more land under IGLS programme for H1 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will be releasing more land to meet potential demand under its Industrial Government Land Sales Programme (IGLS) for the first half of 2012. |
|
| Quan Yifeng gets 15 months' probation for committing mischief |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore television host Quan Yifeng was sentenced on Thursday to 15 months' supervised probation for committing mischief during her altercation with a taxi driver in June last year, when she damaged the fare meter and pulled out the receipt printer of his taxi, before spilling water on it. |
|
| India's PM, anti-graft law face parliament test |
| NEW DELHI: India's government and ruling Congress party faced a key test to its proposed flagship anti-corruption law on Thursday, with the upper house of parliament set to vote on the draft. |
|
| S'pore High Commission in KL moving to temporary premises |
| KUALA LUMPUR: The Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur will be moving to make way for the building of a new premises on the existing site. |
|
| Philippines files second case against ex-president |
| MANILA: Philippine prosecutors have filed a second criminal case against ex-president Gloria Arroyo over alleged corruption involving a telecom deal with a Chinese firm, officials said Thursday. |
|
| China's growth draws overseas returnees |
| CHANGZHOU, China: In the last decade, there were fears that China was suffering a severe brain drain as many Chinese headed to the west for more opportunities. That trend appears to be reversing, with more people returning to China thanks to the growing economy and preferential policies for overseas returnees. |
|
| Cricket: Australia crush India in first Test |
| MELBOURNE: Australia crushed India by 122 runs in the opening Test on Thursday, destroying their vaunted batting lineup with aggressive pace to claim a decisive victory inside four days in Melbourne. |
|
| S. Korea industrial output unexpectedly falls |
| SEOUL: South Korea's industrial production suffered a surprise fall in November as a global economic downturn curbed demand for electronics and other key products, official data showed Thursday. |
|
| SMRT extends train, bus service operations on New Year's Eve |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT is extending trains and bus service operation hours on New Year's Eve. |
|
| Strike at China LG plant ends after concessions |
| SHANGHAI: Thousands of workers at a plant in eastern China owned by South Korea's LG Group have returned to work after the firm doubled bonuses to end a three-day strike, a government official said Thursday. |
|
| Unused parking coupons can be exchanged from Jan 3 |
| SINGAPORE: Motorists are reminded that parking coupons valid up to December 31, 2011 can no longer be used from January 1, 2012. |
|
| Board appointment changes at IE S'pore, JTC Corp and STB |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry for Trade and Industry (MTI) has announced board appointment changes at International Enterprise Singapore (IE Singapore), JTC Corporation (JTC) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). |
|
| Chinese govt needs to clamp down on corruption: observers |
| WUKAN, China: The Guangdong provincial government may have intervened to prevent recent protests in a southern Chinese fishing village from spiralling out of control, but observers said that in the long term, the Chinese government needs to tackle the root causes of such unhappiness. |
|
| Airlines face EU pollution bill from New Year |
| BRUSSELS: Airlines will have to buy pollution permits to fly in Europe from January 1 under a disputed EU system to fight climate change, but slumping carbon market prices could make the bill less painful. |
|
| Myanmar warehouse blast kills 17 |
| YANGON: A large pre-dawn explosion at a warehouse in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon on Thursday killed at least 17 people and injured dozens but was not caused by a bomb, an official said. |
|
| Police kill seven hostage-takers in China's Xinjiang |
| BEIJING: China said Thursday police killed seven "terrorists" who took hostages in the nation's restive Xinjiang region during a rescue operation that left one police officer dead. |
|
| Non-euro Denmark takes over EU amid euro crisis |
| COPENHAGEN: Non-euro country Denmark takes over the European Union presidency Sunday, determined to solve the crisis in the 17-member eurozone by cultivating consensus among all 27 EU members. |
|
| N. Korea acclaims new "supreme" leader at memorial |
| SEOUL: North Korea Thursday staged a massive memorial service for late leader Kim Jong-Il attended by tens of thousands, and declared his untested young son and successor the supreme party and military chief. |
|
| Yachting: Jury upholds Investec Loyal Sydney-Hobart win |
| HOBART, Australia: An international racing jury on Thursday upheld supermaxi Investec Loyal's nail-biting victory over five-time winner Wild Oats XI in the Sydney to Hobart ocean race. |
|
| Italy faces key New Year bond auction test |
| ROME: Italy faces a key bond auction test Thursday at the end of a year in which the eurozone plunged into an unprecedented financial crisis that has threatened the very existence of the single currency. |
|
| Fifteen months probation for Quan Yi Feng |
| SINGAPORE: Television host Quan Yi Feng was sentenced to 15 months probation on Thursday for damaging a taxi meter and the receipt printer of a cabbie last year. |
|
| Huge waves damage anti-whaling boat |
| SYDNEY: Anti-whaling activists chasing the Japanese harpoon fleet suffered a major setback Thursday when the hull of one of their ships cracked in massive seas, forcing a second to divert to its rescue. |
|
| Football: Dalglish backs Carroll as Newcastle loom |
| LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has leapt to the defence of Andy Carroll as the striker prepares to face former club Newcastle. |
|
| S. Korea Nov current account surplus hits 13-month high |
| SEOUL: South Korea's current account surplus hit a 13-month high in November thanks to robust exports despite growing fears of a global slowdown, the central bank said Thursday. |
|
| Poll boost for Romney ahead of crucial Iowa vote |
| NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa: Mitt Romney has surged into the lead in Iowa just days before the unpredictable US state kicks off voting to decide the Republican presidential nominee, a new poll showed Wednesday. |
|
| Elderly who eat better stay mentally sharp, says study |
| WASHINGTON: Elderly people with higher levels of certain vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids in their blood score better on mental acuity tests than those who eat junk food, a study released on Wednesday showed. |
|
| Touting on the decline at Boat Quay |
| SINGAPORE: New Zealander Mark Kinsley had read about the "horror stories" about Boat Quay on travel forum website tripadvisor but when he was there on Wednesday evening, he was not harassed by any touts from the restaurants in the area. |
|
| Football: Celtic top Scottish Premier League |
| GLASGOW: Celtic leapfrogged Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 1-0 Old Firm derby victory which moves them two points clear of their rivals. |
|
| Euro sinks to 11-month low |
| NEW YORK: The euro plunged below the $1.30 line on Wednesday to its lowest level since January 11, hit by new nerves over Italy's ability to maintain financial stability. |
|
| UN flags at half-mast to mark Kim's funeral |
| UNITED NATIONS: The flag of the United Nations flew at half-mast on Wednesday at the world's body headquarters in New York and its Geneva offices to mark the funeral for late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Myanmar explosion kills 15, dozens injured |
| YANGON: At least 15 people were killed and dozens more injured in a large unexplained explosion and fire in Myanmar's commercial hub and former capital Yangon early on Thursday, officials and witnesses said. |
|
| Holiday online shopping surges in US |
| WASHINGTON: US consumers turned in record levels to the Internet for holiday shopping this year, further boosting online sellers' share of the huge national retail pie. |
|
| US stocks sink after five-session rally |
| NEW YORK: US markets fell on Wednesday after pushing higher for five days, with traders uninspired by troubled Italy's garnering lower rates in its newest bond auction amid thin trade. |
|
| China jails six over tainted pork |
| BEIJING: A court in east China has jailed six butchers for selling pork tainted with the carcinogenic chemical clenbuterol, which is fed to pigs to produce leaner meat, state press reported on Wednesday. |
|
| Bomb at Arabic school in Nigeria adds to sectarian fears |
| LAGOS: Attackers threw a bomb into an Arabic school in Nigeria's mainly Christian south, wounding six children and an adult, police said on Wednesday, after Christmas attacks stoked sectarian tensions. |
|
| Johnson launches third-party White House bid |
| SANTA FE, New Mexico: Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson launched a long-shot, third-party bid for the White House on Wednesday that could hurt Republican efforts to oust President Barack Obama in 2012. |
|
| Oil prices tumble on strong dollar, profit-taking |
| NEW YORK: World oil prices sank in volatile year-end deals on Wednesday, as traders took profits and eyed the strong dollar, new concerns over the eurozone debt crisis and fresh equity falls on Wall Street. |
|
| Cricket: Sangakkara wants to 'close out' South Africa |
| DURBAN, South Africa: Kumar Sangakkara hit a superbly-crafted century on the third day of the second Test match against South Africa at Kingsmead on Wednesday and put Sri Lanka in a strong position to "close out the game". |
|
| Football: LionsXII hold PKNS to 1-1 draw in friendly |
| SINGAPORE: The LionsXII played to a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Malaysia Super League side PKNS FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday evening. |
|
| Japan's PM Noda vows to press ahead with sales tax rise |
| NEW DELHI: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda vowed on Wednesday to press ahead with a controversial sales tax rise after a slew of lawmakers said they would leave the ruling party in protest. |
|
| Japan, India strike US$15b currency swap deal |
| NEW DELHI: Japan and India struck a $15 billion currency swap deal on Wednesday that could support the sagging rupee as Japanese premier Yoshihiko Noda made a lightning trip to New Delhi to push closer ties. |
|
| Football: O'Neill confirmed as new Northern Ireland coach |
| LONDON: Michael O'Neill was confirmed as the new manager of Northern Ireland's national team on Wednesday, agreeing a two-year contract to lead his country in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. |
|
| US warns Iran not to block Strait of Hormuz |
| WASHINGTON: The United States warned Iran on Wednesday against any attempt to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran issued threats over the vital oil route. |
|
| Cricket: Hussey, Ponting haul Australia from mire |
| MELBOURNE: The old firm of Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting kept Australia alive with a fighting century stand against India in the opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday. |
|
| Alpine Skiing: Fenninger reigns in Lienz giant slalom |
| LIENZ, Austria: Austria's Anna Fenninger claimed her first ever World Cup win by prevailing in the giant slalom on Wednesday, ahead of Italy's Federica Brignone and Tessa Worley of France. |
|
| Bosnia agrees to form central government |
| SARAJEVO - Bosnia's main Muslim, Croat and Serb parties agreed to form a central government on Wednesday, ending a 14-month political crisis that paralysed the state and blocked further EU integration. |
|
| France approves soda tax |
| PARIS - France's top constitutional body on Wednesday approved a new tax on sugary drinks that aims to fight obesity while giving a boost to state coffers. |
|
| Football: Wolves appeal Milijas red card |
| LONDON: Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday launched an appeal with the Football Association (FA) against the red card shown to midfielder Nenad Milijas in their 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Tuesday. |
|
| Indonesian foreign minister meets Suu Kyi in Myanmar |
| YANGON - Indonesia's foreign minister said on Wednesday that Myanmar was ending 2011 with "less democratic deficit" but cautioned there was more work to be done after meeting with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. |
|
| Israel okays 130 homes in east Jerusalem |
| JERUSALEM: Jerusalem municipality on Wednesday approved plans for another 130 housing units in Gilo, a settlement neighbourhood in the annexed eastern sector of the Holy City, a city councillor told AFP. |
|
| S'pore property prices edge up |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore residential property prices were slightly higher by 1.7 per cent on-month in November. |
|
| Spain's royals reveal salaries for first time |
| MADRID: Spain's scandal-hit royals revealed their detailed income for the first time on Wednesday, showing King Juan Carlos received a salary plus expenses of 292,752 euros ($382,600) in 2011. |
|
| Britain faces "great challenges" in 2012, says Clegg |
| LONDON: Britain faces "many great challenges" in 2012 if it is to avoid the fate of some European economies, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg warned on Wednesday in his New Year message. |
|
| Outlook for S'pore stocks |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore banks and telcos have been pitched as safe bets for investors in 2012, away from more volatile sectors such as commodities and property. |
|
| Taiwan snaps up tech products |
| TAIWAN: Taiwan is among the world's top suppliers of notebook computers and with the growing popularity of tablet notebooks, the island is quickly adapting itself to protect its market share. |
|
| Football: Suarez hit with new FA ban over Fulham gesture |
| LONDON: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned by the Football Association for one match and fined 20,000 pounds for a gesture made towards Fulham fans in the 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage earlier this month. |
|
| SMRT secures track claws |
| SINGAPORE: In its latest update following the two train disruptions this month, operator SMRT said it has completed securing the claws along all underground tracks on both the North-South and East-West Lines. |
|
| Yachting: Investec Loyal's win challenged |
| HOBART, Australia - Supermaxi Investec Loyal charged down five-time winner Wild Oats XI to claim her first Sydney to Hobart title Wednesday, but an official challenge means the victory could be short-lived. |
|
| Interior design firms hit lull |
| SINGAPORE: Interior design firms and contractors have reported a slowdown in business of as much as 30 per cent as fewer resale flats were sold. |
|
| Football: Ajax Cup match to be replayed behind closed doors |
| THE HAGUE - A Dutch Cup tie between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, abandoned last Wednesday after a fan ran on to the pitch and tried to assault AZ goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado, will be replayed behind closed doors on January 19, the Dutch football federation (KNVB) said on Wednesday. |
|
| Prices of Tiong Bahru pre-war homes surge |
| SINGAPORE: A wave of transformation is sweeping through the once-sleepy Tiong Bahru estate. |
|
| China blames design flaws for rail crash |
| BEIJING - China said Wednesday design flaws and poor management were to blame for a fatal high-speed rail crash in July that sparked public fury, and that 54 people would be punished for the disaster. |
|
| Family jailed for abusing boy |
| SINGAPORE: Members of a family who repeatedly tortured a 10-year-old relative over two years and left him permanently disfigured have been sentenced to jail. |
|
| 4G LTE mobile market's pros and cons |
| SINGAPORE: SingTel's latest fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband Internet service may not take off in a big way so quickly. |
|
| Shell expects Bukom refinery to resume full production soon |
| SINGAPORE: Shell has said it expects its oil refinery at Pulau Bukom to be in full production by the end of this year, or in three days' time. |
|
| More food firms get safety certification |
| SINGAPORE: More food companies in Singapore have put in place a universally recognised food safety management system known as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points system (HACCP). |
|
| Animal lovers save Punggol stray dogs |
| SINGAPORE: The effort to save the stray dogs in Punggol is growing into one that involves not just the authorities but also animal welfare groups and animal lovers. |
|
| Greek government gets more time to rescue economy |
| ATHENS: Early elections in Greece have been delayed to give the interim government more time to rescue the country's crisis-hit economy, but political uncertainty looks set to complicate delicate talks with creditors. |
|
| Thai court frees Red Shirt leader on bail |
| BANGKOK: A Thai court on Wednesday released on bail a top Red Shirt leader who recently surrendered to face terrorism charges over his role in last year's opposition rallies after almost 20 months on the run. |
|
| Afghanistan signs major oil deal with China |
| KABUL: Afghanistan on Wednesday signed an oil deal with China which could earn the war-torn country $7 billion over 25 years. |
|
| Anwar to tour Malaysia ahead of sodomy verdict |
| KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday he will tour the country to declare his innocence ahead of the verdict in a sodomy trial he says was cooked up to bar him from coming polls. |
|
| Rates plunge in Italian bond auction |
| ROME - Italy paid sharply lower rates on Wednesday to raise 9.0 billion euros (US$11.8 billion) in a six-month bond sale as tensions over the eurozone's third economy eased after its tough austerity plan. |
|
| Putin 'sidelines' strategist after protests |
| MOSCOW - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has sidelined the strategist who designed Russia's tightly-controlled politics, in a move seen on Wednesday as a reaction to the outburst of protests challenging his rule. |
|
| Police nab snatch theft suspects |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two men, aged 30 and 34, suspected of snatch theft.
Police said the men approached a 23-year-old woman from behind and snatched her purse on 3 December. |
|
| 90,000 displaced in Nigerian city hard hit by violence |
| KANO, Nigeria: Deadly clashes between Islamists and security forces last week have displaced an estimated 90,000 people in the northeastern Nigerian city of Damaturu, an emergency official said on Wednesday. |
|
| MFA unveils new Caribbean Community post |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Wednesday said Mr Kemal Siddique was appointed Singapore's first Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). |
|
| Morgan Stanley to lay off 580 US employees |
| NEW YORK: US investment bank Morgan Stanley will soon lay off 580 New York employees, according to an official US document, after earlier announcing plans to eliminate 1,600 jobs by the first quarter of 2012. |
|
| Floods, derailment cut off northern Australia |
| SYDNEY: Major supply and transport routes to parts of Australia's tropical north were cut Wednesday after wild weather derailed a freight train and destroyed sections of a major highway. |
|
| Yip Sai Wing weds Chinese model 22 years his junior |
| BEIJING: Hong Kong rock band Beyond's drummer Yip Sai Wing married his 26-year-old girlfriend, Chinese model Zhang Wei Ling in a low-key wedding ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday, reported Chinese media. |
|
| N. Korea TV shows footage of Kim's funeral |
| SEOUL: North Korean state television began broadcasting the funeral of late leader Kim Jong-Il on Wednesday, with footage of tens of thousands of troops bowing their heads in the snow outside a memorial palace. |
|
| Police warn of social website scams |
| SINGAPORE: Police have asked members of the public not to fall for scams where they can be asked to make bank transfer payments for persons they have met only on the Internet. |
|
| Thousands strike at LG plant in China |
| SHANGHAI: Thousands of workers have gone on strike at a factory in eastern China owned by the South Korean conglomerate LG Group, a campaign group said, as a wave of labour unrest hits China. |
|
| New floods hit Philippines |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Fresh floods brought more misery to the southern Philippines on Wednesday, a week after tropical storm Washi killed more than 1,200 and left hundreds of thousands homeless. |
|
| SMRT to resume operations of Service C on Bukit Panjang LRT |
| SINGAPORE: From December 30, the Ten Mile Junction LRT Station will re-open with the soft launch of the newly redeveloped Junction 10 shopping mall. |
|
| Republican hopefuls make final push in Iowa |
| DES MOINES, Iowa: Mitt Romney fiercely mocked President Barack Obama as Republicans blitzed Iowa, a week before the first votes of the 2012 White House race are cast in the US state's fabled caucuses. |
|
| Radio deejays to usher in 2012 at massive countdown party |
| SINGAPORE: Radio deejays Glenn Ong, Jean Danker, Tim Oh, the Muttons along with Shan Wee and Rosalyn Lee will be among the many radio personalities from 987FM, Class 95FM and Gold 90.5FM, who will usher in 2012 with revellers at the Radio's Rockin Countdown event at Ngee Ann City's Civic Plaza. |
|
| Bobby Chin re-appointed Board Chairman of Tote Board |
| SINGAPORE: Mr Bobby Chin has been re-appointed Board Chairman of the Singapore Totalisator Board (Tote Board) for another year. |
|
| Thai flooding dents Japan's November industrial output |
| TOKYO: Japan's industrial output shrivelled in November, figures showed Wednesday, as flooding in Thailand added to woes for companies already battling a strong yen and the global economic chill. |
|
| 20 bus services to be diverted on New Year's Day |
| SINGAPORE: Fifteen SBS Transit bus services and five SMRT bus services will be diverted on New Year's Day from 2pm to 11pm because of road closures for the Chinatown Lunar New Year Light Up. |
|
| Kim Jong-Il funeral ceremony starts |
| MOSCOW: The funeral ceremony for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il started Wednesday in Pyongyang, reported the ITAR-TASS news agency, the only Russian media with offices in the reclusive country. |
|
| Cheaper festive postage rates at SingPost in January |
| SINGAPORE: SingPost is offering festive postage rates for the festive period from January 2-23 in 2012. |
|
| Cricket: Hilfenhaus bowls Australia to innings lead against India |
| MELBOURNE: Ben Hilfenhaus claimed his Test best wicket haul to give Australia a handy 51-run innings lead over India in the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday. |
|
| Venezuela offers to remove French-made breast implants |
| CARACAS: Venezuela's public health service will remove for free French-made breast implants feared to be at risk of rupturing, Health Minister Eugenia Sader said Tuesday. |
|
| Mubarak trial resumes after 3-month break |
| CAIRO: The murder trial of Egyptian ex-president Hosni Mubarak resumes Wednesday after a three-month hiatus that saw the ousted strongman's fate eclipsed by deadly clashes and an Islamist election victory. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer look for early blows |
| ABU DHABI: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer meet in a $250,000 three-day exhibition tournament in the Gulf's winter sun from Thursday, eager to strike early blows ahead of the 2012 season. |
|
| Argentina's president diagnosed with cancer |
| BUENOS AIRES: Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will undergo surgery on January 4, her spokesman said Tuesday in a statement. |
|
| Yachting: Supermaxis in neck-and-neck race to Hobart |
| SYDNEY: Supermaxi rivals Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal were on Wednesday locked in a tight battle to the finish of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with light winds set to test nerves on day three. |
|
| Dollar flat against euro in light trade |
| NEW YORK: The dollar traded flat against the euro on Tuesday as markets remained quiet in the Christmas-New Year holiday period. |
|
| Singapore's sports future in trio's hands |
| SINGAPORE: With the S$1.33 billion Sports Hub slated to be ready by April 2014, the task of charting Singapore's sporting future will take on greater urgency. |
|
| Football: Bale double strengthens Spurs' grip on third |
| LONDON: Gareth Bale scored both goals in Tottenham Hotspur's 2-0 win away to Norwich on Tuesday as they tightened their hold on third place in the Premier League. |
|
| US stocks mixed as Sears' shares skid |
| WASHINGTON: US stocks were mixed on Tuesday as strong consumer confidence figures were offset by a drop in Sears' shares after it announced sweeping store closures, citing bad holiday sales. |
|
| Syria police tear gas thousands in Homs as observers deploy |
| DAMASCUS: Syrian police used tear gas to disperse some 70,000 people who took to the streets of Homs on Tuesday as Arab observers visited there a day after dozens of people died in the crackdown on dissent. |
|
| Early elections in Greece in late April |
| ATHENS: Early elections will be held in Greece in late April, the finance minister said on Tuesday, adding that the country's future would be decided in a debt rollover plan unfolding over the next month. |
|
| Iran's threat to close Strait of Hormuz spooks oil market |
| NEW YORK: Warnings from Iran that it will try to close the vital Strait of Hormuz in response to further Western sanctions sent oil prices markedly higher on Tuesday. |
|
| Man jailed in Sweden for child rape in Philippines |
| STOCKHOLM: A Swedish court on Tuesday sentenced a man to five years prison for a series of sex crimes against children including a rape in the Philippines and possession of more than 500,000 pornographic pictures featuring children. |
|
| Cambodia dismantles stampede bridge |
| PHNOM PENH: Cambodian workers on Tuesday began dismantling a bridge where 353 people lost their lives in a stampede last year, following the completion of two new crossings nearby. |
|
| Football: Swansea and QPR share spoils |
| SWANSEA, United Kingdom: Jamie Mackie scored for the second match in a row to help QPR rescue a point in a 1-1 Premier League draw against fellow promoted side Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday. |
|
| Second teen held after Indian student shot dead in Britain |
| LONDON: British police arrested a second teenage boy on suspicion of murder on Tuesday after an Indian student was shot dead in Manchester, northwest England. |
|
| Indian parliament adopts landmark anti-graft bill |
| NEW DELHI: India's government pushed a landmark anti-graft law through parliament on Tuesday, setting up a possible confrontation with supporters of a hunger-striking activist opposed to the bill. |
|
| Tennis: Corretja named captain of Spain's Davis Cup team |
| MADRID: Alex Corretja, former coach of British star Andy Murray, is taking over as captain of Spain's Davis Cup team, the Spanish federation said on Tuesday. |
|
| Japan-China currency pact underlined need for euro, says German minister |
| BERLIN: A surprise currency agreement between China and Japan highlights the importance of a united Europe and a common currency, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Tuesday. |
|
| Strong 6.6-magnitude quake rocks Siberia |
| WASHINGTON: A strong, shallow 6.6-magnitude quake shook southwestern Siberia on Tuesday some 94 kilometres east of the Russian city of Kyzyl, US seismologists said. |
|
| Football: Ten-man Wolves frustrate Arsenal |
| LONDON: Arsenal missed the opportunity to climb into the top four of the Premier League after 10-man Wolves held them to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. |
|
| US to hit debt limit early January: Treasury |
| WASHINGTON - The US government will hit its debt limit in the first week of January, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday, as it pointed to an imminent request for a $1.2 trillion increase. |
|
| Cricket: Tendulkar misses chance for elusive 100th ton |
| MELBOURNE: Sachin Tendulkar was sensationally bowled with three balls left on the second day of the first Test against Australia on Tuesday to be denied a crack at his 100th international century. |
|
| US consumer confidence jumps |
| WASHINGTON - US consumer confidence jumped this month, mapping the fourth-quarter surge in the economy and optimism about the coming half-year, a key gauge showed on Tuesday. |
|
| Eurozone banks park record funds at ECB |
| FRANKFURT, Germany: Eurozone banks deposited a record amount of overnight funds at the European Central Bank on Monday, official data showed on Tuesday as banks remain extremely wary of lending to each other. |
|
| Japanese PM Noda in India on economic mission |
| NEW DELHI: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, for a visit that is expected to unveil a currency swap deal and reopen talks on a civil nuclear pact. |
|
| Putin derides protestors, rejects demands |
| MOSCOW - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday belittled Russia's protest movement as lacking clear aims or leaders and rejected their demands for a review of the results of disputed parliamentary polls. |
|
| US Oct home prices drop |
| WASHINGTON: US home prices fell in October for the second straight month despite record-low home loan borrowing rates, a key index of the industry showed Tuesday. |
|
| No oil through strait if sanctions applied: Iranian VP |
| TEHRAN - No oil will be permitted to pass through the key oil transit Strait of Hormuz if the West applies sanctions on Iran's oil exports, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi warned on Tuesday. |
|
| Jurong East station opens new platform |
| SINGAPORE: Commuters can expect shorter waiting times and more waiting space at Jurong East MRT station in the evening peak hours. |
|
| New anti-drink driving blitz |
| SINGAPORE: Fifteen fatalities were reported in the first nine months of this year due to drink driving. |
|
| China plans Asia's biggest coal-fired power plant |
| BEIJING: China's Shenhua Group will build the largest coal-fired power station in Asia over the next five years, the official Xinhua news agency said Tuesday, as the country struggles to meet its energy needs. |
|
| Football: China "interested" in Chelsea's Drogba |
| BEIJING: Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande could be planning an audacious bid for Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, after a rival club bought Nicolas Anelka, a report said Tuesday. |
|
| Lucky Plaza to build flood barriers |
| SINGAPORE: Lucky Plaza - which was hit by flooding again last Friday - is in the process of installing flood barriers. |
|
| Foie gras burger goes on sale in Japan |
| TOKYO: US fast-food chain Wendy's, known for its square beef patties and baked potatoes, on Tuesday unveiled a foie gras burger as it sprang back into life in Japan. |
|
| Cleaning firms' earnings drop |
| SINGAPORE: Now that Christmas parties are over, annual spring cleaning operations are in full swing. |
|
| US stocks volatile in 2011 |
| NEW YORK: US stock markets had a volatile ride in 2011, with wild swings across all the major indices. |
|
| Italy fines Apple for misleading consumers |
| ROME: Italy's anti-trust authority said Tuesday it was imposing a 900,000-euro ($1.2-million) fine on US tech giant Apple for misleading consumers on assistance services and guarantees for its products. |
|
| Sears to close up to 120 stores |
| PARIS - US retailer Sears said on Tuesday it would close 100 to 120 of its Sears and Kmart stores and warned fourth-quarter earnings before charges would drop by at least half to $466 million due to lower sales and margins. |
|
| Stabbing on London shopping street raises gang fears |
| LONDON - British police Tuesday investigated the fatal stabbing of a man during post-Christmas sales on one of the world's busiest shopping streets, in an incident that has renewed fears about gang violence. |
|
| Who's in charge of bird nuisance? |
| SINGAPORE: Birds continue to be a source of problem in areas of dense population in Singapore but as Channel NewsAsia finds out, it's been a challenge pinning down the relevant authorities in charge of the problem. |
|
| How will Chinese stocks fare in 2012? |
| BEIJING, China: Chinese stocks have taken a hit this year, with the Shanghai Composite down by more than 21 per cent as the markets head into the last few days of trade in 2011. |
|
| North Korea prepares huge send-off for late leader |
| SEOUL - North Korea was Tuesday preparing a massive ceremonial farewell to late leader Kim Jong-Il as it strove to strengthen a new personality cult around his youthful son and successor Jong-Un. |
|
| 50 proposals for NMPs submitted |
| SINGAPORE: Fifty proposals have been submitted for consideration as Nominated Members of Parliament for Singapore's 12th Parliament. |
|
| Japan's US base move hits fresh trouble |
| TOKYO: Japan's years-long bout of indecision over plans to move a US military base on Okinawa appeared to be descending into farce Tuesday when protesters stopped couriers from delivering a report. |
|
| Sentosa raises New Year's Eve entry fees |
| SINGAPORE: Sentosa Island has raised its admission charges for vehicles entering the island between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. |
|
| British queen's husband leaves hospital |
| PAPWORTH, United Kingdom - Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip, left hospital on Tuesday, four days after being rushed in for heart surgery and missing the royal family's Christmas celebrations. |
|
| More focus on primary healthcare in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Chairman for the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health Lam Pin Min said he wants to see a complete removal of the age criterion for a scheme that provides needy Singaporeans better access to primary healthcare. |
|
| Singapore shares end flat |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended flat on Tuesday in thin trade as investors were sidelined amid the year-end holiday season and a lack of significant economic cues from the US and Europe. |
|
| China's affluent demanding better food & services |
| BEIJING: As salary levels climb in China, younger mainland Chinese with more disposable incomes are demanding better food and services. |
|
| Man jailed for theft, animal abuse |
| SINGAPORE: An unemployed man was jailed two months for torturing a cat which he hung outside his house, and also for theft. |
|
| Moscow has mildest December in 113 years |
| MOSCOW: Russian meteorologists recorded the mildest temperatures in 113 years in the capital Moscow, registering 4.1 Celsius (39.4 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. |
|
| Loanshark harassment suspects nabbed |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two men suspected of involvement in loanshark harassment. |
|
| Asia stocks marginally lower in quiet trading |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets were marginally lower in quiet trading Tuesday, with few economic developments or data in the region or elsewhere to drive sentiment. |
|
| S'pore ECMs raise US$6.3b in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's equity capital markets (ECM) raised US$6.3 billion from 68 equity issues to date in 2011, down three per cent on-year according to data from Thomson Reuters. |
|
| Top S'porean pastimes unveiled |
| SINGAPORE: The top three leisure activities among Singaporeans are eating, shopping and surfing the web. |
|
| S'pore Red Cross to send 2nd team to Philippines |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is sending its second team of seven personnel to the Philippines on Wednesday. |
|
| Iran signs fuel deal with Afghanistan |
| TEHRAN: Iran has signed a deal with Afghanistan to supply its neighbour with a million tons of fuel oil, petrol and aviation fuel a year, Iranian media reported Tuesday without putting a value on the agreement. |
|
| Honda scraps 1,000 flood-ravaged cars in Thailand |
| BANGKOK: Japanese automaker Honda on Tuesday began destroying more than 1,000 cars in Thailand to reassure customers that no vehicles damaged in the country's recent flood crisis will ever be sold. |
|
| Qaeda-linked group claims Iraq bombings |
| WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda's Iraq franchise claimed responsibility for a wave of bombings last week that killed scores of people and heightened sectarian tensions days after the withdrawal of US troops. |
|
| Japan eases self-imposed arms export ban |
| TOKYO: Tokyo on Tuesday eased a decades-old self-imposed ban on arms exports, paving the way for Japanese firms to participate in multinational weapons projects. |
|
| China unveils high-speed train despite safety woes |
| SHANGHAI: China has unveiled a prototype train capable of reaching speeds up to 500 kilometres (310 miles) an hour, state media said Tuesday, as the nation pushes ahead with high-speed rail despite a fatal crash. |
|
| Man jailed for causing hurt to three police officers |
| SINGAPORE: It started off as a skirmish between two friends but ended up with one of them sentenced to jail for causing hurt to three police officers. |
|
| Thai policeman kills six fellow officers |
| BANGKOK: A policeman in southern Thailand shot dead six fellow officers before turning the gun on himself after a drinking session in a police canteen turned sour, local police said Tuesday. |
|
| Asian markets lower in quiet holiday trade |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets were marginally lower in quiet trading Tuesday, with few economic developments or data in the region or elsewhere to drive sentiment. |
|
| China to face more Wukan-style protests |
| BEIJING: A top Chinese official who helped defuse a rare revolt by villagers has said the country should be prepared for further protests as people grow more assertive in demanding their rights. |
|
| BEAST to play in Singapore as part of massive 2012 world tour |
| SEOUL: Korean boy band BEAST's management agency Cube Entertainment announced at a press conference on Monday that the band will embark on a massive world tour next year, which will bring them to Europe, the US and Asia, including Singapore, reported Korean media. |
|
| S'pore's research talent pool sees steady expansion |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's research talent pool has continued to expand steadily. |
|
| S'pore mosques help raise funds for Philippine flood victims |
| SINGAPORE: The Malay-Muslim community, with the help of the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Mosque Committee, is organising a special fund raising effort for victims of the recent floods in southern Philippines. |
|
| Beyond drummer Yip Sai Wing to marry |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong rock band Beyond's drummer Yip Sai Wing, announced through his management company on Saturday that he will be marrying his girlfriend on Tuesday, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| S. Korea, China hold talks after Kim's death |
| SEOUL: Senior South Korean and Chinese officials held talks Tuesday to discuss the aftermath of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and its impact on regional security. |
|
| Japan's Noda heads to India on economic mission |
| TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda left for India on Tuesday, where economic ties will be the order of the day as Tokyo looks to shore up a financial friendship. |
|
| Indonesia volcano eruption panics villagers |
| JAKARTA: One of Indonesia's most active volcanoes erupted Tuesday, spewing clouds of ash and panicking villagers but no evacuation has been ordered so far, a government vulcanologist said. |
|
| Philippine flood toll surges by more than 200 |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: The death toll from killer floods in the Philippines surged by more than 200 on Tuesday, more than a week after the disaster struck, with officials expecting more corpses to be found. |
|
| MTI to release advance GDP estimates for Q4 & 2011 on Jan 3 |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will release the advance GDP estimates for the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2011 on January 3 at 8.00 am. |
|
| 3/4-tank rule to apply to CNG, petrol-CNG vehicles from Jan 1 |
| SINGAPORE: With effect from January 1, the three-quarter tank rule will also apply to compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel supply tanks of CNG vehicles and petrol-CNG vehicles. |
|
| Despite crisis Greece doesn't want to give up euro |
| ATHENS: Ten years of the euro have left Greece's economy in tatters, but the single currency remains highly popular among Greeks who fear a return to the drachma would be catastrophic. |
|
| Oil higher in Asian trade |
| SINGAPORE: Oil was higher in Asian trade Tuesday amid thin trading volumes with Middle East geopolitical tensions seen supporting prices in the long-term, analysts said. |
|
| Despite problems, economists still see euro benefits |
| PARIS: Ten years after it went into circulation, experts judge the euro to have helped cut inflation but say hopes it would boost growth were dashed by a lack of policy coordination. |
|
| N. Korea set to mobilise masses for funeral |
| SEOUL: North Korea is expected to mobilise hundreds of thousands of mourners for Wednesday's funeral of late leader Kim Jong-Il, as the world watches for clues to future powerbrokers in the nuclear-armed nation. |
|
| French breast implant maker faced US lawsuits |
| NEW YORK: Breast implants made by troubled French firm PIP have been at the heart of multiple lawsuits in the United States, where they were sold up until 2000, documents filed with the US government show. |
|
| Indian anti-graft campaigner in new hunger strike |
| MUMBAI: A veteran Indian activist, who galvanised millions with a hunger strike against endemic graft in August, was to begin a fresh fast Tuesday to force the redrafting of a key anti-corruption bill. |
|
| Pakistan president hits out at 'conspiracies' |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday the best way to pay tribute to slain premier Benazir Bhutto on the fourth anniversary of her death was to foil anti-democracy "conspiracies". |
|
| Britain in serious danger of return to recession: think-tank |
| LONDON: The ongoing crisis in the eurozone and sapped consumer confidence risk sending Britain into a new recession, a leading centre-left think-tank warned on Tuesday. |
|
| Cricket: Australian press slams India's review refusal |
| MELBOURNE: The Indian cricket board's move to scuttle the decision review system cast a controversial pall over the Boxing Day Test against Australia, newspapers said on Tuesday. |
|
| Arab monitors arrive in Syria amid more bloodshed |
| DAMASCUS: A first team of Arab League monitors landed in Syria late Monday to monitor a deal to end nine months of deadly violence, as 30 people died in gunfire in and near the besieged central city of Homs. |
|
| Yachting: Wild Oats XI leads start of Sydney to Hobart race |
| SYDNEY: Wild Oats XI was on Tuesday leading the prestigious Sydney to Hobart bluewater yacht race after rough southerly winds hit the fleet overnight, forcing the retirement of one boat. |
|
| Yachting: Telefonica edge Camper in Volvo Ocean Race |
| CAPE TOWN: Spain's Telefonica won a game of cat and mouse with chief rivals Camper on Monday, grabbing victory in the first stage of Leg 2 in the Volvo Ocean Race by a margin of less than two minutes. |
|
| Football: Stoke, Aston Villa play out goalless draw |
| STOKE-ON-TRENT, United Kingdom: Stoke came closest to winning a dour 0-0 draw against Aston Villa as Marc Wilson hit the bar in the second half at the Britannia Stadium on Monday. |
|
| A national health report card for seniors |
| SINGAPORE: As the Republic grapples with an ageing population, policymakers would soon have a snapshot of the state of health of seniors here - a database which would also enable them to formulate better-targeted prevention programmes - as preparations begin for a major islandwide health screening exercise. |
|
| Car park crunch: More radical solutions needed, say experts |
| SINGAPORE: Even as the authorities look into the idea of mechanised car parks, some analysts pointed out the challenges - such as maintenance and costs - with such a system. |
|
| Pakistani PM denies sacking plans to avert coup |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday dispelled rumours the government was mulling over whether to sack the country's powerful army chief and head of the intelligence to avert a coup. |
|
| Coup foiled in Guinea-Bissau, navy chief held |
| BISSAU: Guinea-Bissau's army on Monday said it foiled a coup attempt in the impoverished west African country and arrested the navy chief, accusing him of being the "mastermind" of the attack. |
|
| Fresh flood warning for Philippine disaster zone |
| MANILA: Philippines on Monday warned flood survivors in the south of the country to brace for fresh floods, just days after tropical storm Washi whipped the region leaving more than 2,000 dead or missing. |
|
| Chinese activist jailed for 10 years |
| BEIJING: A Chinese court said on Monday it had jailed veteran activist Chen Xi for 10 years for subversion, one of the longest sentences yet to be handed down in this year's crackdown on dissent. |
|
| Figure Skating: Plushenko wins ninth Russian title on return |
| MOSCOW: Former Olympic champion Yevgeny Plushenko enjoyed a winning return to the amateur ranks on Monday when he claimed a ninth Russian figure skating title. |
|
| Football: Penalty drama leaves Sunderland seething |
| SUNDERLAND: Sunderland were left seething as Leighton Baines' controversial penalty gave Everton a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light on Monday. |
|
| Football: Frustration for Liverpool despite Maxi's equaliser |
| LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom: Liverpool's top-four charge faltered despite Maxi Rodriguez's equaliser and Steven Gerrard's return from injury as the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Blackburn on Monday. |
|
| Football: Leaders Manchester City frustrated by gritty Albion |
| WEST BROMWICH, United Kingdom: Manchester City's Premier League title challenge suffered a significant setback after the leaders were held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Monday. |
|
| Japan urges Myanmar to continue with reforms |
| TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on Monday urged Myanmar to push forward its reform process, as the two nations agreed to launch talks on a bilateral investment accord, a report said. |
|
| Football: Berbatov's treble puts Man Utd level with Man City |
| LONDON: Dimitar Berbatov fired Manchester United level on points with Manchester City as his hat-trick inspired a 5-0 win over 10-man Wigan, while the Premier League leaders were held to a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Monday. |
|
| Horse Racing: Kauto Star wins record fifth King George VI Chase |
| KEMPTON, United Kingdom: Kauto Star won a record fifth King George VI Chase on Monday to cement his standing as the best chaser of his generation. |
|
| Spain's economy expected to contract by 0.2% to 0.3% in Q4 |
| MADRID, Spain: Spain's economy shrank in the last quarter and faces a bleak outlook for the coming months, its new economy minister said on Monday, heightening fears of a fresh recession. |
|
| India's Tata to replace starter on troubled Nano |
| NEW DELHI: India's Tata Motors offered Monday to replace the starter motor on all old Nano models, but said the move was not related to safety concerns surrounding the world's cheapest car. |
|
| Turks and Azeris in gas pipeline deal |
| ANKARA: Turkey and Azerbaijan signed on Monday an agreement to build a pipeline to carry 10 billion cubic metres of Azeri gas to European markets starting in 2017, the Anatolia news agency reported. |
|
| Football: Chelsea frustrated as Fulham make a point |
| LONDON: Chelsea wasted a chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City as Clint Dempsey's equaliser gave Fulham a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Monday. |
|
| Questions raised over N.Korea's new leader |
| SEOUL: With the sudden death of Kim Jong-Il, North Korea has elevated Kim Jung-Un's status from "Respected General" to "Great Successor". |
|
| Youth theft suspects nabbed |
| SINGAPORE: Two youths suspected of snatch theft were nabbed with the help of a quick-thinking member of public and an off-duty police officer. |
|
| British queen's husband spends third night in hospital |
| SANDRINGHAM, United Kingdom: Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip was set to miss the royals' traditional Christmas pheasant shoot Monday after a third night in hospital following heart surgery. |
|
| Kim Jong-Un meets S.Korea delegations |
| SEOUL: The heads of two South Korean delegations met North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-Un Monday during a visit to Pyongyang to pay respects to his late father Kim Jong-Il, Seoul's Unification Ministry said. |
|
| NEL train delayed after electrical surge |
| SINGAPORE: A loud bang was heard coming from a train along the North-East Line at about 7.20 on Monday evening. |
|
| Football: Mourinho yearns for English return |
| LONDON: Jose Mourinho says he has his sights set on an eventual return to England - but only once he has made the most of the "great experience" of being at the helm of Real Madrid. |
|
| More donations this festive season |
| SINGAPORE: In this season of giving, charity organisations Channel NewsAsia contacted have said donations are pouring in, despite concerns over an uncertain economic outlook. |
|
| Japan atomic regulators, TEPCO "unprepared": panel |
| TOKYO: The operators of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant and government regulators were woefully unprepared for disaster, the first official probe into the March 11 catastrophe said Monday. |
|
| Strike paralyses London underground train system |
| LONDON: London's underground train service was virtually halted by a strike over pay on Monday, disrupting the start of the post-Christmas sales and sporting fixtures. |
|
| Asian markets mixed on thin Boxing Day trade |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets were mixed in thin Boxing Day trade Monday, amid ongoing concerns over Europe's fiscal woes and investor caution in the last trading week of the year. |
|
| Kim Jong-Il's eldest son "under Chinese protection" |
| SEOUL: The eldest son of North Korea's late leader Kim Jong-Il has arrived in Beijing as Pyongyang prepares a state funeral for his father, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Monday. |
|
| TTSH first to perform robotic gastrectomy in SE Asia |
| SINGAPORE: A more precise surgery method is now available to those suffering from stomach cancer. Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has become the first in Southeast Asia to perform the robotic gastrectomy procedure. |
|
| More buying gold in S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: Demand for gold, a perennial hedge against inflation, is on the rise again. |
|
| Changi Airport sees 16% growth in retail sales |
| SINGAPORE: More cash registers are ringing at Singapore's Changi Airport. From January to October this year, the airport posted a year-on-year growth of 16 per cent from retail sales. |
|
| Mercy Relief helps Palembang children |
| PALEMBANG, Indonesia: Children with special needs in Indonesia's South Sumatra province are getting a helping hand from Singapore healthcare professionals. |
|
| Football: Wales "want Ryan Giggs as manager" |
| LONDON: Welsh football chiefs are hoping to persuade Manchester United veteran Ryan Riggs to become national manager, replacing Gary Speed, who took his own life last month, media reports said Monday. |
|
| Hu assures Noda on Korean peninsula peace |
| BEIJING - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday held talks with China's president during a visit to Beijing dominated by concerns over nuclear-armed North Korea after the death of Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| More S'poreans using smartphones to shop online |
| SINGAPORE: From brick and mortar shops to cyberspace - more Singaporeans are using their smart phones to shop online. |
|
| 2nd-time flat buyers priority in 2012? |
| SINGAPORE: With the backlog of first-time buyers of HDB flats largely cleared, Singapore's Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan has set his sights on helping second-timers get their homes faster in the new year. |
|
| Singapore's education plans in the years ahead |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Education Lawrence Wong has given the assurance that publicly-funded universities will continue to play a core role in Singapore's higher-education sector. |
|
| SG Cares looking for volunteers |
| SINGAPORE: Every Monday and Friday, a group of senior citizens will gather for a game of bingo at Friends@St Hilda's Link, a community services centre. The top prize may be just a box of cereal or a packet of tissues, but it is enough to keep the old folks happy. |
|
| Capture of rare Sumatran rhino gives hope for species |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian wildlife authorities said Monday the capture of a young female Borneo Sumatran rhino had given them a last chance to save the highly endangered species from extinction. |
|
| More hospital patients seeking speech therapy |
| SINGAPORE: Hospitals here have been seeing more patients seeking speech therapy. |
|
| Sony, Samsung wind up LCD joint venture |
| SEOUL: Japanese electronics giant Sony has agreed to sell its stake in a joint liquid crystal display panel venture in South Korea to its partner Samsung Electronics, the two companies said Monday. |
|
| More people with disabilities going for IT training |
| SINGAPORE: More people with disabilities are undergoing an IT Apprenticeship Programme at the Infocomm Accessibility Centre, to better prepare themselves for real work environments. |
|
| Retailers begin post-Xmas sales |
| SINGAPORE: Malls and retailers in Singapore kicked off their post-Christmas sales on Monday, with many offering storewide discounts of up to 20 per cent. |
|
| Basketball: Rose lifts Bulls over Lakers in opener |
| LOS ANGELES: Derrick Rose scored the go-ahead basket with 4.8 seconds remaining as the Chicago Bulls posted their season-opening win on Christmas Day by stunning the Los Angeles Lakers 88-87. |
|
| Japan PM's public support plunges |
| TOKYO: Support for Japan's prime minister plunged in December as voters lost faith in his leadership, amid party turmoil and criticism over his handling of the nuclear crisis, a poll said Monday. |
|
| UN condemns attacks on churches in Nigeria |
| UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the attacks targeting Christian churches in Nigeria and called for an end to violence there. |
|
| Police looking for missing man |
| SINGAPORE: Police are appealing for information on a 34-year-old man who was last seen at Ghim Moh Food Centre at Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road last Friday morning (December 23). |
|
| Toxin found in Chinese milk |
| SHANGHAI: China has discovered excessive levels of a cancer-causing toxin in milk produced by one of the nation's leading dairy companies, the firm said, in the latest in a series of food safety alarms. |
|
| Tent cities loom for Philippine flood victims |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Tens of thousands of flash flood survivors in the Philippines face life in tent cities for months while safe areas to resettle them are sought, top relief officials said Monday. |
|
| Five dead in Iraq interior ministry suicide attack |
| BAGHDAD, Iraq: A suicide attacker driving a car bomb killed at least five people when he detonated his payload at the interior ministry in central Baghdad on Monday, medical officials said. |
|
| Honeymoon over for Europeans and their money |
| BERLIN: The euro, rolled out as a cash currency with a string of promises about easy travel, European unity and stable prices, has left crisis-rattled consumers decidedly ambivalent a decade on. |
|
| Thousands march in Casablanca for political change |
| CASABLANCA, Morocco: Several thousand people took to the streets of Casablanca on Sunday to press for deeper political reforms, saying recent changes did not go far enough. |
|
| Focus on N. Korea as Japan PM meets China's leaders |
| BEIJING: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday held talks with China's leaders during a visit to Beijing dominated by concerns over nuclear-armed North Korea after the death of Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| China tightens control of microblogs |
| SHANGHAI: Shanghai will require microblog users to register under their real names from Monday, state media said, the latest local government in China to implement the rule after a spate of violent protests. |
|
| Indonesia probes Bali tattoo HIV infection report |
| JAKARTA: Indonesia is investigating the case of an Australian who is believed to have been infected with HIV while getting a tattoo on the resort island of Bali, an official said Monday. |
|
| S. Korea to buy two spy planes from France |
| SEOUL: South Korea will buy two French spy planes capable of intercepting radio messages from North Korea and detecting its missile launches, a state agency said Monday. |
|
| Mixed reactions on family medicine clinics |
| SINGAPORE: Some general practitioners have expressed concern about possible competition from family medicine clinics. |
|
| Biden urges Iraq 'dialogue' to head off political crisis |
| WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday urged Iraq's feuding leaders to convene a "dialogue" to head off a worsening political crisis that has raised sectarian tensions. |
|
| S. Korea delegations cross border to mourn Kim's death |
| DORASAN, South Korea: A former South Korean first lady and a leading businesswoman crossed the border to North Korea Monday to pay respects to its late leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Basketball: Knicks edge Celtics to open shortened NBA season |
| LOS ANGELES: The New York Knicks edged the Boston Celtics 106-104 on Sunday to get the NBA season rolling on Christmas Day following a bitter labour dispute which resulted in a shortened 66-game regular season. |
|
| Seven dead in US Christmas shooting |
| WASHINGTON: Police found seven bodies in a US apartment on Sunday after an apparent Christmas Day shooting in which the gunman killed six people before committing suicide, a newspaper reported. |
|
| Obama worships with Marines on Christmas Day |
| HONOLULU, Hawaii: US President Barack Obama and his family went to church on a Marines Base in Hawaii to celebrate Christmas Day on Sunday, during his vacation in his native state of Hawaii. |
|
| US teen sets seven-peak climbing record |
| WASHINGTON: A 15-year-old American has become the youngest person to climb the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, completing the feat by summiting Antarctica's Mount Vinson over the weekend. |
|
| European carbon market suffers in annus horribilis |
| PARIS: Europe's market in carbon emissions is hoping for outside help after a year in which prices slumped to record lows, savaging claims that trading in CO2 brakes the rise of dangerous greenhouse gases. |
|
| European markets await more turbulence in 2012 |
| LONDON: European stocks and the euro will face fresh turbulence in 2012 after a year in which equity markets slumped and the single currency lost ground against the dollar mainly due to the eurozone crisis. |
|
| British princes visit grandfather in hospital |
| SANDRINGHAM, United Kingdom: Britain's Princes William and Harry visited their grandfather Prince Philip in hospital on Sunday after the queen's husband missed the royal Christmas celebrations for the first time. |
|
| Freeport Indonesia workers end strike |
| TIMIKA, Indonesia: Workers at a giant Indonesian mine owned by US company Freeport-McMoRan burnt rocks and shot arrows at pigs on Sunday, marking the end of their three-month strike, a union official said. |
|
| Figure Skating: Asada to lead Japan at world championships |
| TOKYO: Two-time world champion Mao Asada will spearhead the Japanese team at the world figure skating championships in France next year, the Japan Skating Federation announced on Sunday. |
|
| Cricket: Australia rookies face Indian greats |
| MELBOURNE: Australia may have an inexperienced batting top three but they are in form ahead of the opening Boxing Day Test against India, Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin said on Sunday. |
|
| Hockey: Pakistan complete clean sweep against China |
| LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan on Sunday completed a clean sweep of China in their four-match series, the first international hockey event in the troubled country since 2004. |
|
| Afghan MP among 19 killed in suicide attack |
| KABUL: A suicide bomber attacked a funeral in northeastern Afghanistan Sunday, killing at least 19 people including an MP and wounding dozens of others, officials said. |
|
| 22 feared dead in India boat capsize |
| NEW DELHI: Up to 22 people were feared dead after a boat capsized Sunday on a lake in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, reports said. |
|
| Pope prays for peace after Nigeria church attacks |
| VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the victims of famine, floods and conflict in his Christmas message Sunday as a string of bomb attacks targeting churches in Nigeria killed dozens. |
|
| Japan's PM heads to China amid N. Korea worries |
| BEIJING: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrived in Beijing Sunday on his first official visit to China focused on regional security following the death of North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Wild Christmas weather hits Australia |
| SYDNEY: Wild weather battered Australia Sunday, with a tropical cyclone closing in on the north as tornadoes and thunderstorms brought hail in the south and huge swells forced the closure of popular beaches. |
|
| Arabs urged to monitor Syrian flashpoints |
| DAMASCUS: The opposition Syrian National Council appealed Sunday for the Arab League to immediately send observers to the besieged city of Homs and other hotspots of a bloody crackdown on dissent. |
|
| Christmas Day church attacks in Nigeria kill 28 |
| MADALLA, Nigeria: Bomb attacks on churches during Christmas services, including one outside the capital, have killed at least 28 people in Nigeria amid spiralling violence claimed by an Islamist group. |
|
| Football: All eyes on Suarez, Kean at Anfield |
| LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom: Kenny Dalglish has leapt to the defence of Blackburn manager Steve Kean as Liverpool's Luis Suarez prepares for his first Anfield game since receiving an eight-match ban from the Football Association. |
|
| More organ failure patients opting for outpatient antibiotics treatment |
| SINGAPORE: More organ failure patients are seeking outpatient antibiotics treatment in recent years. And the number tends to spike during the year-end period, as these patients choose to spend the festive holidays with their loved ones. |
|
| Free admission to NHB museums, galleries on Christmas Day |
| SINGAPORE: Visitors to the various national museums and galleries were greeted with a Christmas present of their own - free entry as part of the National Heritage Board's Christmas Day Open House. |
|
| New airport terminal set to be built within this decade: analysts |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's current Budget Terminal may be shifted to make way for a fourth terminal that analysts say is likely to take place closer to the end of the decade. |
|
| Part of Orchard Road closed to motor traffic |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's shopping belt Orchard Road was free from traffic on Sunday as part of the Celebrate Christmas in Singapore 2011 event. |
|
| Thais evacuate after big wave hits village |
| BANGKOK: About one hundred people in southern Thailand were evacuated Sunday when a large wave flooded their coastal village, a local official said. |
|
| Britain's Prince Philip spends Christmas in hospital |
| CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom: Britain's Prince Philip missed the royal Christmas celebrations for the first time as the husband of Queen Elizabeth II spent a second night in hospital following heart surgery. |
|
| International song and dance performance rings in Christmas Day |
| SINGAPORE: Various choir and performers from churches around the world are spreading a little Christmas joy in Singapore through song and dance. |
|
| Saudi jet makes emergency landing in Pakistan |
| KARACHI: A Saudi Arabian chartered jet made an emergency belly landing in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Sunday after one of its nose wheels jammed, a civil aviation spokesman said. |
|
| Putin team defiant after protest rocks Russia |
| MOSCOW: Vladimir Putin still has the support of a majority of Russians, his spokesman said Sunday after a mass protest challenged the premier's authority two months before he stands in presidential polls. |
|
| Christmas Day blast at church near Nigerian capital kills 15 |
| MADALLA, Nigeria: An explosion at a church near the Nigerian capital Abuja on Christmas morning killed at least 15 people, a rescue source said, as workers rushed to provide ambulances for the dead and wounded. |
|
| More choosing real Christmas trees over fake ones |
| SINGAPORE: More people are opting for live Christmas trees this year. |
|
| Sad Christmas for Philippine flood victims |
| ILIGAN, Philippines: Tens of thousands of Philippine flood survivors queued for their Christmas meal in packed evacuation centres Sunday, holiday spirits doused by thoughts of more than 2,000 dead or missing kin. |
|
| Japan foreign minister heads to Myanmar |
| TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on Sunday left for Myanmar, in the latest high-profile diplomatic trip looking to encourage reforms in the isolated nation, Tokyo's public broadcaster reported. |
|
| Police nab foreign syndicate selling fake gold items |
| SINGAPORE: Police arrested four men for their suspected involvement in a foreign syndicate which sells fake gold items to elderly victims. |
|
| Michelle Obama confirms Santa is on his way |
| HONOLULU: US First Lady Michelle Obama surprised excited kids Saturday, by answering an air defense hotline set up to track Santa's Christmas Eve trek around the globe with Rudolph and his reindeers. |
|
| 38 Haitians die in shipwreck off Cuban coast |
| HAVANA: At least 38 Haitian migrants died after a boat in which they were trying to flee their country started taking in water and got stranded at sea, the Cuban government said. |
|
| Kim's eldest son slips off radar in Macau |
| HONG KONG: The whereabouts of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's eldest son, once seen as the natural successor in the communist dynasty, has become a subject of intense speculation since his father's death. |
|
| Kim's eldest son slips off radar in Macau |
| HONG KONG: The whereabouts of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's eldest son, once seen as the natural successor in the communist dynasty, has become a subject of intense speculation since his father's death. |
|
| Anti-whaling activists use drone to track Japan fleet |
| SYDNEY: Anti-whaling activists said they had intercepted the Japanese harpoon fleet far north of Antarctic waters Sunday with the help of a military-style drone. |
|
| Seoul's stance may be catastrophic: N.Korea |
| SEOUL: North Korea warned Sunday of "unpredictable catastrophic consequences" for cross-border relations unless Seoul eases restrictions on visits by South Koreans to mourn late leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| North Koreans quietly starving |
| SEOUL: While North Korea prepares a lavish funeral for late leader Kim Jong-Il, outside the showpiece capital people are struggling to survive and so hungry they even eat grass, observers say. |
|
| Thousands in Bethlehem celebrate Christmas |
| BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territories: Tens of thousands of Christians were flocking to Bethlehem on Saturday to celebrate Christmas following a year of political upheaval and change across the Arab world. |
|
| UN cuts budget amid downturn |
| UNITED NATIONS: The 193 UN member countries agreed on Saturday to cut the global body's budget for only the second time in the past 50 years following a long night of negotiations. |
|
| Pope calls for peace |
| VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI Saturday hailed Christ's humility, urging the faithful to look beyond the Christmas "glitter" and "enlightened reason", and issued a powerful message for peace. |
|
| Colombia blast death toll rises |
| BOGOTA: Thirteen people were confirmed dead and nearly 100 injured in a pipeline explosion in western Colombia, officials said Saturday at the conclusion of a two-day rescue and recovery mission. |
|
| Football: United "won't make rash buys" |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will not be forced by public opinion into making rash buys in the January transfer window. |
|
| Japan PM visits China |
| BEIJING: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda heads for Beijing Sunday on an official visit expected to focus on regional security after the death of North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Libya economy minister quits |
| TRIPOLI: Libya's economy minister Tahar Sharkass, who also held a post under Muammar Gaddafi, has resigned after protests demanding the exclusion of former regime officials, the prime minister said on Saturday. |
|
| Football: Barcelona's Villa out of hospital |
| MADRID: Barcelona striker David Villa, who underwent surgery on a fractured left tibia on Monday, was released from hospital on Saturday, his club confirmed in a statement. |
|
| Football: City's Johnson eyes Euro spot |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester City winger Adam Johnson is desperate to cement a regular place in Roberto Mancini's side to guarantee his spot in England's Euro 2012 squad. |
|
| Yemen protesters shot dead |
| SANAA: Security forces and backers of Yemen's embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh shot dead seven protesters on Saturday, as Saleh said he would soon visit the US ahead of transferring power in February. |
|
| Thousands pray for Syria blast victims |
| DAMASCUS: Thousands of people turned out on Saturday for prayers in memory of the 44 people killed by suicide bombers in the capital as charge and counter-charge swirled over who was behind the attacks. |
|
| Gorbachev urges Putin to quit |
| MOSCOW: The last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, on Saturday urged Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to heed protester demands and quit politics instead of seeking a third term as Russian president. |
|
| Hockey: Pakistan beat China in friendly |
| FAISALABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan on Saturday emerged victorious in a four-match series with China, the first international hockey in the troubled country since 2004. |
|
| Cricket: Philander suffers knee injury |
| JOHANNESBURG: South Africa seamer Vernon Philander injured his knee in the nets on Saturday, but should be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka which starts on Monday in Durban. |
|
| Motor racing: Vettel eyes 3rd title |
| LONDON: Two-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel has spoken about his excitement at watching the new Red Bull car he hopes will deliver him a third consecutive title being born. |
|
| Indian telecoms win reprieve on 3G order |
| NEW DELHI: India's telecom operators on Saturday won a reprieve from a government order that they end "illegal" mutual roaming agreements to provide seamless nationwide 3G services, a report said. |
|
| Egypt Islamists sweep second round of election |
| CAIRO: Egypt's main Islamist parties won 65 percent of votes for party lists in the second round of a historic election for a new parliament after Hosni Mubarak's ouster, the electoral committee said Saturday. |
|
| Football: LionsXII edged out by Johor FA in friendly |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's LionsXII lost 2-3 to Johor FA on Saturday night in a friendly game at Jalan Besar Stadium, ahead of the Lions' Malaysia Cup campaign. |
|
| Cathay jet makes emergency landing in Moscow |
| HONG KONG: A Cathay Pacific flight from London to Hong Kong made an emergency landing in Moscow Saturday after smoke was detected in the cockpit, the airline said, the second smoke-related incident in a month. |
|
| Queen visits Prince Philip after heart surgery |
| CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom: Britain's Prince Philip was on Saturday in "good spirits" after his wife Queen Elizabeth II and his children visited him in hospital as he recovered from heart surgery, Buckingham Palace said. |
|
| QR code technology to speed up NEA inspections |
| SINGAPORE: Officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) are now using QR (quick response) code technology during inspections at hawker centres. |
|
| Managing flash floods is PUB's priority: CEO |
| SINGAPORE: PUB's new chief executive is no stranger to water security. |
|
| PUB on track to completing flood sensor network |
| SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB is on track to completing its network of flood sensors in Singapore's drainage system. This year alone, it added 57 more sensors in flood-prone areas - bringing the total number to 150. |
|
| Retailers bracing for wet Christmas after Friday's flash floods |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore retailers are bracing for a wet Christmas. This comes after flash floods hit several parts of the country's shopping belt, Orchard Road on Friday. |
|
| Football: Wenger considers Henry loan deal |
| LONDON: Thierry Henry could make a remarkable return to Arsenal with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger considering the possibility of a two-month loan deal for the club's favourite son. |
|
| Significant part attributed to MP Seng Han Thong is false: Shanmugam |
| SINGAPORE: Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said that a significant part of what has been attributed to MP Seng Han Thong by people and netizens over his recent comments is false. |
|
| MP clears the air regarding comments on transport workers |
| SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Seng Han Thong, has sought to allay concerns and clear the air with transport workers over his comments in a Channel NewsAsia programme, BlogTV. |
|
| Russian opposition masses for new anti-Putin protest |
| MOSCOW: Russia's opposition on Saturday started to mass for a new protest against the alleged rigging of parliamentary polls expected to attract tens of thousands of people in a new challenge to Vladimir Putin. |
|
| 17-year-old molester arrested |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 17-year-old youth suspected of several cases of outrage of modesty in Pasir Ris housing estate. |
|
| Kremlin panel urges new polls, firing of election chief |
| MOSCOW: The Kremlin's rights panel on Saturday called for the resignation of Russia's election chief and snap parliamentary elections in a damning statement on "discredited" polls that sparked mass demonstrations. |
|
| Seng Han Thong isn't racist, says fellow MP |
| SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio GRC Inderjit Singh said he is disappointed with the comments of fellow MP Seng Han Thong on Indian and Malay MRT staff, but is assured that he is not racist. |
|
| GPC calls for independence in train disruption inquiry |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport has echoed calls for independence from the public inquiry panel, tasked with investigating the recent train disruptions - one of the worst experienced by train operator SMRT. |
|
| Companies should not be overly dependent on govt: SNEF |
| SINGAPORE: Amid a tight labour market, Singapore's employment rate rose to a new high in 2011, with eight in 10 Singaporeans and PRs aged 25 to 64, employed. |
|
| Bali tattoo likely gave patient HIV |
| SYDNEY: Australian health authorities have said a patient diagnosed with HIV likely caught the virus while having a tattoo done on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. |
|
| Singapore's first eco-mall celebrates "green" Christmas" |
| SINGAPORE: One shopping mall is living up to its name as Singapore's first eco-mall this festive season by showing shoppers how they can be more eco-friendly. |
|
| 1,000-strong mass caroling for Christmas in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: The annual Celebrate Christmas In Singapore (CCIS) event is back with new acts to add cheer to this festive season. |
|
| Last minute shoppers brave rain, crowds in Orchard Road |
| SINGAPORE: Shoppers on Saturday were out early in the heart of Singapore's shopping district, Orchard Road, hoping to avoid crowds and the heavy rain that dampened festive shopping spirits on Friday. |
|
| South China town unrest cools after dialogue |
| BEIJING: Tenuous calm returned Saturday to a south China town that was the scene of violent clashes between police and protestors this week, after local residents said officials had agreed to a dialogue. |
|
| Britain won't negotiate Falklands sovereignty: Cameron |
| LONDON: Britain would "never" negotiate the sovereignty of the Falklands against its citizens' wishes, Prime Minister David Cameron said in a Christmas message to the islands claimed by Argentina. |
|
| Japan approves $1.16 trillion draft budget |
| TOKYO: Japan's cabinet approved Saturday a 90.334 trillion yen (US$1.16 trillion) budget for the 2012 fiscal year, with a record 49 percent financed by bonds even as the country struggles to rein in its massive public debt. |
|
| Kim Jong-Il's son hailed as supreme commander |
| SEOUL: North Korean media Saturday hailed the youngest son of late leader Kim Jong-Il as "supreme commander" of the powerful military, in the latest sign that the untested successor is cementing his hold on power. |
|
| Kim Jong-Il to be embalmed? |
| MOSCOW: It's a process described as "not a pretty sight" that involves the extraction of all the blood from a corpse. But if late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is to be embalmed, then Russia has expertise stretching back to the embalming of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. |
|
| 11 nabbed for drink-driving in early morning operation |
| SINGAPORE: Traffic Police arrested 11 people for drink-driving in an early morning operation on Saturday, as part of a reminder to the public not to drink and drive ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities. |
|
| Tennis: Sharapova out of Brisbane International |
| SYDNEY: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova Saturday withdrew from January's Brisbane International due to an ankle injury, but said she expected to be ready for the Australian Open later that month. |
|
| N. Korea changes secret communication channels |
| SEOUL: North Korea has changed its secret communication frequencies or encryption system to prevent spying by South Korea following the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, a report said Saturday. |
|
| Quakes overshadow Christmas in New Zealand |
| WELLINGTON: Aftershocks continued to rattle the earthquake-shattered New Zealand city of Christchurch Saturday overshadowing Christmas preparations for weary residents in a "hellish year". |
|
| Suicide attack kills six troops in Pakistan |
| PESHAWAR, Pakistan: A suicide car bomb attack in northwest Pakistan killed six soldiers and wounded about a dozen others on Saturday, police said. |
|
| Woman wins $100,000 from abandoned $1 |
| SYDNEY: An Australian woman has won the right to pocket the A$100,000 (US$101,000) she won on a slot machine, after a casino agreed to pay her the money she won with another gambler's abandoned dollar. |
|
| Russia opposition to stage new mass protest |
| MOSCOW: Russia's opposition plans to stage new nationwide demonstrations Saturday expected to attract tens of thousands of people to protest alleged rigging of December 4 parliamentary elections. |
|
| Queen to praise family in Christmas speech |
| LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II will use her Christmas Day message this year to praise the institution of family after a year in which her grandson Prince William's wedding gave the royals an enormous boost. |
|
| Breast implant company boss faces arrest |
| LYON: Interpol on Friday issued a "red notice" seeking the arrest of Frenchman Jean-Claude Mas, founder of the breast implant company at the centre of a widespread women's health scare. |
|
| Singer Etta James warded |
| LOS ANGELES: Grammy-winning blues and soul legend Etta James, famous for her hit "At Last," was taken to a California hospital on Friday for complications related to leukaemia, her publicist told AFP. |
|
| Tennis: Teen banned after corruption |
| PARIS: Swedish teenager Lucas Renard was banned for six months and fined $5,000 after admitting corruption, the Tennis Integrity Unit announced on Friday. |
|
| US Xmas shopping turns ugly |
| LOS ANGELES: Nike's latest Air Jordan basketball shoe triggered pre-Christmas stampedes Friday in shopping malls across the United States, resulting in several arrests, police and local media reported. |
|
| Russia test-fires missiles |
| MOSCOW: Russian military on Friday successfully test-launched two intercontinental nuclear-capable missiles, the defence ministry said. |
|
| Colombia blast kills 11 |
| DOSQUEBRADAS, Colombia: At least 11 people were killed and more than 80 others were injured Friday when an explosion ripped through a pipeline in western Colombia triggering a deadly inferno, relief agencies said. |
|
| US stocks make gains |
| NEW YORK: US stocks markets ended the pre-holiday week by booking solid gains Friday, after five sessions that saw trade marked by a rare slowdown in bad news from Europe and further evidence of a US recovery. |
|
| Queen's husband in hospital |
| LONDON: The Duke of Edinburgh, the 90-year-old husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, was taken to hospital Friday for "precautionary tests" after suffering from chest pains, Buckingham Palace said. |
|
| Egypt sees mass rallies |
| CAIRO: Thousands turned out for rival protests in Cairo on Friday, exposing the widening rifts among Egyptians over the ruling military's handling of transition from Hosni Mubarak's rule. |
|
| Canada unveils more Syria sanctions |
| OTTAWA: Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Friday the freezing of assets of more Syrians loyal to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, as well as a beefed-up trade ban. |
|
| Spain kicks off reform drive |
| MADRID: Spain's new right-leaning government set a tight timetable Friday to get cracking on promised reforms to fix the slumping economy and create jobs. |
|
| IMF keeps 0% loan rate for poorest |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund will keep its loan rate for the poorest countries in the world at zero percent for another year, the Fund said Friday. |
|
| Football: Cameroon pay Algeria after strike |
| YAOUNDE: Algeria have received $500,000 in compensation after the Samuel Eto'o-led Cameroon players' strike which forced the cancellation of a friendly between the two countries. |
|
| Tremors jolt quake-hit New Zealand |
| WELLINGTON, New Zealand: A moderate magnitude 5.0 tremor jolted New Zealand's South Island early Saturday, 21 kilometres from the earthquake-devastated city of Christchurch. |
|
| George Michael "almost died" |
| LONDON: George Michael fought back tears Friday as the British singer admitted he had been at death's door after contracting a case of severe pneumonia while on tour in Austria. |
|
| US new-home sales edge up |
| WASHINGTON: New home sales picked up pace in the United States in November while the prices of homes sold slipped, Commerce Department data showed Friday. |
|
| Football: UK match arrests drop |
| LONDON: Arrests for football-related disorder in England and Wales hit a record low last season, official figures showed Friday, raising hopes the "English disease" of hooliganism was now firmly in the past. |
|
| Girl, dad reunite after boat capsize |
| SIDOARJO, Indonesia: A 10-year-old Iranian girl was reunited with her father on Friday, after the two were separated when their Australia-bound migrants' boat capsized in Indonesian waters. |
|
| Russian satellite crashes after launch |
| MOSCOW: A Russian satellite on Friday crashed into Siberia minutes after its launch due to rocket failure, the defence ministry said, in the latest humiliating setback for Russia's embattled space programme. |
|
| This December the wettest in 4 years: NEA |
| SINGAPORE : The National Environment Agency (NEA) has said this December is the wettest in four years. |
|
| Central Sikh Temple reopens after S$4.5m upgrade |
| SINGAPORE : The Central Sikh Temple in Towner Road officially reopened on Friday after a S$4.5 million upgrade and renovation. |
|
| DR Congo's Tshisekedi takes 'presidential oath' |
| KINSHASA: Veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who has rejected Joseph Kabila's re-election as the Democratic Republic of Congo's president, held his own "swearing in" ceremony at his home Friday. |
|
| Use of social media will help shape Elected Presidency: analysts |
| SINGAPORE : In August, over two million Singaporeans voted in a new President for the first time in 19 years. |
|
| Malaysian lawmaker jailed over graft |
| KUALA LUMPUR - A powerful lawmaker from Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling party was convicted by a Malaysian court on Friday of corruption and sentenced to a year in jail. |
|
| US Congress passes tax break extension |
| WASHINGTON - US lawmakers on Friday passed a two-month extension to a payroll tax holiday for 160 million Americans handing victory to President Barack Obama after a tense political standoff. |
|
| US inflation slows in November |
| WASHINGTON: Inflation in the United States slowed in November, a key index based on personal consumption expenditures showed on Friday. |
|
| Strike over pension reform brings Belgium to standstill |
| BRUSSELS - Angry public sector workers protesting pension reforms shut down Belgium's schools, post offices and almost its entire transport grid on Thursday in the latest anti-austerity protest to grip Europe. |
|
| Earthquake hits southern Pakistan |
| QUETTA, Pakistan : A moderate 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted southern Pakistan on Friday but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, officials said. |
|
| Athletics: Six Indian women athletes banned for doping |
| NEW DELHI: Six Indian women athletes, including ace 400-metre runner Ashwini Akkunji, were each handed one-year bans Friday for doping violations, leaving little hope of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics. |
|
| Ukraine rejects Tymoshenko sentence appeal |
| KIEV: A Ukrainian court on Friday rejected an appeal by former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko against her seven year jail term on charges of abuse of power that sparked a crisis in relations with the EU. |
|
| Police fire tear gas at crowd in south China |
| BEIJING: Police on Friday fired tear gas at hundreds of people and detained a team of Hong Kong journalists in a southern Chinese town that was the scene of violent protests earlier this week. |
|
| Austria's Aaa rating backed by strong economy: Moody's |
| VIENNA: Moody's said Friday that Austria's top credit rating is firmly based on its well diversified economy, low unemployment rate and strong financial system but the eurozone debt crisis is a potential risk. |
|
| AVA says it does not practise blanket culling |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it supports the re-homing of stray dogs, and does not practise blanket culling. |
|
| Football: ManU boss Ferguson relieved as Jones fears allayed |
| MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson received a welcome boost on Friday after it was confirmed that Phil Jones had not suffered a fractured cheekbone against Fulham. |
|
| 1,000 families in storm-hit Philippines get Mercy Relief packs |
| SINGAPORE : About 1,000 families in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines affected by storm Washi received relief packs from Mercy Relief on Friday. |
|
| Britain to ban 'hidden' bank card fees |
| LONDON: Fees for using credit or debit cards to buy items such as airline tickets online will be banned by the end of next year under plans announced by the British government on Friday. |
|
| Infant formula linked to US baby's death not imported into S'pore |
| SINGAPORE : The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has said an infant formula implicated in the death of an infant in Missouri, US, is not imported into Singapore. |
|
| China's yuan trades big in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: Foreign exchange trading of the Chinese currency, yuan is taking on in a big way in Singapore. |
|
| More help arrives for Philippine flood victims |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines : More than 1,000 people are missing in the Philippines after deadly floods, the government said on Friday, doubling the feared death toll as relief groups rushed in aid for desperate survivors. |
|
| India's PM strikes back at industry critics |
| NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has struck back at his corporate critics, saying their negative comments over his government's reform programme have only served to dampen economic confidence. |
|
| New seat belt rules based on height |
| SINGAPORE : Police have announced changes to the seat belt rule which takes effect from January 1 next year. |
|
| France advises 30,000 to have breast implants removed |
| PARIS: France's health ministry on Friday advised 30,000 women with breast implants made by French firm PIP to have them removed as, while there is no proven cancer risk, they could rupture dangerously. |
|
| Bird flu investigation in Hong Kong continues |
| HONG KONG: Another dead bird has tested positive for the H5N1 flu virus in Hong Kong. |
|
| Indonesian girl back home 7 years after tsunami |
| BANDA ACEH: An Indonesian girl separated from her family during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami has been reunited with her family after seven years as a street child. |
|
| Tensions brew between Koreas after Kim's death |
| SOUTH KOREA: North Korea said it will accept any South Korean delegation that wants to pay its respects to the late leader, Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| S'pore stocks end firmer in line with regional markets |
| SINGAPORE: Shares in Singapore closed firmer on Friday, in line with gains on regional markets. |
|
| ECB's Stark warns against IMF funds for eurozone |
| FRANKFURT - The European Central Bank's chief economist Juergen Stark, who is stepping down at the end of the year, warned against using the IMF to bail out debt-mired eurozone countries in an interview on Friday. |
|
| Report on political salaries to be submitted by Dec 30 |
| SINGAPORE: The committee that is reviewing salaries of the President, Prime Minister, political appointment holders and members of Parliament said it has completed its deliberations and is finalising the report. |
|
| Suicide bombers strike security services in Damascus |
| DAMASCUS : Suicide bombers hit two security service bases in Damascus on Friday, killing many civilians and some soldiers, state television reported, in the first attacks of their kind in a quarter of a century. |
|
| Iconic buildings to shed more light on heritage |
| SINGAPORE: The facades of six iconic buildings in Bugis and Bras Basah have been turned into canvasses of light - to shed new light on their heritage. |
|
| Brown Eyed Girls' Ga-In signs solo album deal |
| SEOUL: Korean girl group Brown Eyed Girls' Ga-In has on Wednesday signed with Loen Entertainment, a music distributor which also manages Korean singers IU and Lee Seung Gi, to release a solo album, reported Korean media. |
|
| Flash floods hit several areas in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE : National water agency PUB said flash floods occurred in several parts of the city on Friday afternoon. |
|
| 5.4 magnitude quake jolts Philippines |
| MANILA: A 5.4 magnitude earthquake rattled the Philippines Friday, slightly shaking buildings in the capital Manila, but there were no immediate reports of damage, according to the government. |
|
| Pakistan's top judge rules out military takeover |
| ISLAMABAD : Pakistan's top judge on Friday ruled out any question of a military coup as the Supreme Court again deliberated a memo scandal that has raised tensions between the government and the military. |
|
| New platforms at Jurong East Interchange to operate in evenings |
| SINGAPORE: From next Tuesday (December 27), passengers at Jurong East interchange station will be able to use the two new additional platforms in the evenings. |
|
| Former teacher pleads guilty to underage sex with student |
| SINGAPORE: A former secondary school teacher pleaded guilty to having sex with his underaged student, claiming it made him feel "more of a man". |
|
| HDB studying high-rise mechanised parking systems for older estates |
| SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said he has asked the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to study the use of high-rise mechanised parking systems for older HDB estates. |
|
| Taiwan to offer US$266m to help small companies |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan said Friday it will put an extra Tw$8 billion ($266 million) into a credit guarantee fund aimed at helping smaller companies as the global economy slows. |
|
| Jolin Tsai tells tabloids to "print better-looking photos!" |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan singer Jolin Tsai said during a music awards ceremony on Thursday that she didn't really mind being stalked by the paparazzi, but hoped the tabloids they worked for could "print better-looking photos" of her, reported Taiwan media. |
|
| Suu Kyi to visit Myanmar parliament |
| NAYPYIDAW: Democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi was due to visit Myanmar's parliament for the first time on Friday to meet with the powerful lower house speaker, her party said. |
|
| No foul play suspected in death of Cisco officer |
| SINGAPORE: Police said no foul play is suspected in the case on Thursday where an auxiliary police officer was found with a gunshot wound to his head. |
|
| S'pore manufacturing output falls 9.6% in Nov |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's manufacturing output fell 9.6 per cent on-year in November due to production declines in various segments. |
|
| Singapore's inflation up 5.7% in Nov |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's inflation rose 5.7 per cent on-year in November due to higher costs of housing, car premiums and petrol. |
|
| NS registration for male citizens, PRs born between May and Aug 1994 |
| SINGAPORE: Male Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents born between May 29, 1994 and August 26, 1994 will have to register for National Service soon. |
|
| Public figures need to improve communication skills: Zaqy Mohamad |
| SINGAPORE: MP Chua Chu Kang GRC Zaqy Mohamad said politicians and public figures need to improve their own communication skills, especially in sensing the ground and the sensitivities with respect to beliefs and race. |
|
| IU: "Handsome men aren't particularly attractive" |
| SEOUL: You don't have to be particularly handsome to date Korean singer IU. |
|
| Pakistan military rejects US-led probe on air strike |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday rejected a US probe into American air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, providing little sign of a swift resolution to the worst crisis in the countries' fragile alliance. |
|
| Malaysia Airlines cuts more routes to stem losses |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Flag carrier Malaysia Airlines on Friday said it would cut four more routes in Asia, a week after announcing a suspension to some global destinations as it tries to return to profit. |
|
| Kim's death reignites talk of united Korea |
| SEOUL: The death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has revived debate in the capitalist South about the prospects for reunification with its communist neighbour after decades of growing ever further apart. |
|
| 39 bus services improved between Oct and Dec 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Thirty-nine bus services have been improved between October and December this year. |
|
| Russia opposition to stage new mass protest |
| MOSCOW: Russia's opposition is to stage new nationwide demonstrations Saturday expected to attract tens of thousands of people to protest alleged rigging in this month's parliamentary elections. |
|
| North Korea to loom large in Japan-China summit |
| TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda heads to Beijing on Sunday as the first foreign leader to meet the Chinese leadership after the death of North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| 1,000 missing in Philippine floods |
| MANILA: More than 1,000 people remain missing in the Philippines after devastating floods that have already left more than 1,000 others confirmed dead, the government said Friday. |
|
| Australia's Gloucester, China's Yanzhou in tie-up |
| SYDNEY: Australia's Gloucester Coal said Friday it had agreed to a merger with China's Yanzhou in a deal valued at some Aus$2.2 billion (US$2.3 billion) to create a major listed Australian coal firm. |
|
| Deep mistrust led to Pakistani border incident: probe |
| WASHINGTON: American and Pakistani forces both made a series of mistakes that led to "tragic" US air strikes which killed 24 Pakistan soldiers last month, reflecting deep mutual mistrust between the two nations, said a US-led probe released Thursday. |
|
| Ten major drainage improvement projects scheduled for next year |
| SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB said its drainage improvement projects for next year will take place as scheduled with eight of 10 major projects commencing in the first quarter. |
|
| Powerful quakes rock New Zealand's Christchurch |
| WELLINGTON: The earthquake-devastated New Zealand city of Christchurch was rocked by two powerful 5.8 magnitude tremors Friday, sending terrified residents onto the streets and forcing the airport to close. |
|
| N. Korea welcomes S. Korea mourners, raps Seoul |
| SEOUL: North Korea will accept any South Korean delegations that want to express condolences in Pyongyang for the death of leader Kim Jong-Il, the North's official website said in a posting seen Friday. |
|
| Walmart pulls formula from US shelves after baby dies |
| CHICAGO: Walmart has pulled infant formula from the shelves of its 3,000 stores after two babies in Missouri got sick and one of them died, the retailer said on Thursday. |
|
| Obama declares victory for Americans as tax deal reached |
| WASHINGTON: Congressional leaders reached a deal on Thursday to give 160 million Americans an extended payroll tax holiday, handing President Barack Obama a year-end political victory over his Republican foes. |
|
| Dollar, euro stable ahead of holiday |
| NEW YORK: The dollar and euro were stable on Thursday ahead of the long Christmas weekend, with little news to push either in any direction. |
|
| Water Polo: Dreaming to be among Asia's elite |
| SINGAPORE: Fresh off their latest SEA Games success, Singapore's national men's waterpolo team are now targeting a top-five finish at next year's Asian Championships. |
|
| Football: Terry spares Chelsea defeat against Spurs |
| LONDON: England captain John Terry produced a typical block to spare Chelsea defeat in a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in his first match since he was charged by British prosecutors with racial abuse. |
|
| US stocks rise on jobs news |
| NEW YORK: US stocks scored solid gains on Thursday in thin pre-Christmas trade helped by encouraging data on the jobs market. |
|
| Mass boycott of UN 'silence' for North Korea's Kim Jong-Il |
| UNITED NATIONS: The United States, Japan, South Korea and leading European nations on Thursday boycotted a minute of silence at the UN General Assembly demanded by North Korea for its late leader Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Hockey: Pakistan lead series against China |
| KARACHI: Pakistan came from two goals down Thursday to beat a much improved China 5-3, taking the lead 2-0 in a four-match series that marks the first international hockey in the troubled country for seven years. |
|
| Oil extends rally after strong US jobs data |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices rose further on Thursday following positive US employment data that offset disappointing data on third quarter growth in the United States - the world's biggest energy consumer. |
|
| US posts US$10m reward for Al-Qaeda financier |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of a key Al-Qaeda fundraiser, who is said to be a Syrian operating from Iran. |
|
| Football: Villarreal fire coach following King's Cup exit |
| MADRID: Juan Carlos Garrido was on Thursday sacked as coach of Spanish league strugglers Villarreal following their elimination from the King's Cup at the hands of second division Mirandes. |
|
| Football: Atletico Madrid fire coach after miserable run |
| MADRID: Atletico Madrid fired coach Gregorio Manzano on Thursday after a miserable run capped off by their elimination from the King's Cup. |
|
| Football: Beckham may sign for PSG in Doha |
| PARIS: David Beckham is expected to attend next month's Qatar ATP Open in Doha where he could sign for the Qatari-backed French league leaders Paris Saint Germain. |
|
| Bat experts slam filming of Stallone's movie in Bulgarian cave |
| SOFIA: Bat experts have slammed the recent filming of a Sylvester Stallone movie in a Bulgarian cave, saying thousands of the mammals had suffered from the Hollywood treatment. |
|
| US growth revised down for third quarter |
| WASHINGTON: The US economic growth rate was revised down to 1.8 percent for the third quarter, the Commerce Department said on Thursday, as household spending dropped. |
|
| US says ready to work with new regime as North Korea mourns |
| SEOUL: North Korea on Thursday burnished the image of its past and present leaders amid wintry scenes of mass grief, as Washington said it wants to work with the new regime when the mourning period ends next week. |
|
| They give free rides - no kidding! |
| SINGAPORE: Two Singaporeans have gone the extra mile in showing a little kindness to strangers this festive season, amid traffic congestion in the city. |
|
| Will US economy thrive in 2012? |
| NEW YORK: The US economy has had a tough year, growth has been difficult, unemployment remains high and investment patchy. |
|
| Analysts upbeat about Sing dollar in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Asian currencies are expected to trend stronger in 2012. |
|
| Football: Arsenal move fixture over London transport strike |
| LONDON: Arsenal have postponed their Boxing Day Premier League fixture with Wolves after threatened industrial action on London's Underground system, the club announced Thursday. |
|
| Indian parliament considers anti-corruption bill |
| NEW DELHI: The Indian government submitted two key bills to parliament on Thursday, including anti-corruption legislation that risks triggering a repeat of mass protests that rocked the country in August. |
|
| Shipping firms form alliance |
| SINGAPORE: Analysts have said container shipping firms are set to sail into choppier waters in 2012, as slowing export demand and overcapacity continue to plague the industry. |
|
| ST Engg unit to invest in EcoServices |
| SINGAPORE: US-based Vision Technologies Aerospace (VT Aerospace) has entered into a new partnership with Pratt & Whitney to invest US$33.3 million (S$43 million) for a 50.1 per cent stake in EcoServices. |
|
| US jobless claims at lowest level since April 2008 |
| WASHINGTON - Weekly claims for US unemployment benefits last week fell to the lowest level since April 2008 in yet another sign that the jobs market is in recovery, the Labor Department said Thursday. |
|
| SGX-China Sky row continues |
| SINGAPORE: In a rare and unexpected move, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has rejected a request by S-chip firm China Sky Chemical Fibre to lift the trading suspension of its shares. |
|
| Gunshot heard in VivoCity; man found dead |
| SINGAPORE: A gunshot was heard Thursday evening in shopping mall VivoCity. |
|
| 3G roaming pacts cause ruckus in India's telecom industry |
| INDIA: The Indian government has come down heavily on telecom operators for violating licence norms. |
|
| Green products on the rise |
| SINGAPORE: Kia Motor has unveiled South Korea's first electric vehicle, in line with the push seen across the globe towards sustainable alternatives. |
|
| NATO, Pakistan both to blame in border incident: probe |
| BRUSSELS: A NATO investigation into an air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers concluded that both alliance and Pakistani forces made mistakes in the incident, NATO said Thursday. |
|
| SG Changi not giving up on Motorsports Hub project |
| SINGAPORE: SG Changi chairman, Fuminori Murahashi, said he is not giving up on the Changi Motorsports Hub project. |
|
| Japan lends a hand to stressed-out mothers |
| TOKYO: Japan is concerned about its falling birthrate. |
|
| S'pore faces wet Xmas |
| SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) has forecast wet weather in the week from 24 December. |
|
| Tourists jailed for stealing, using stolen credit cards |
| SINGAPORE: Three Mongolian tourists have been jailed for stealing and using stolen credit cards. |
|
| MediaCorp, StarHub to launch 8 On-Demand channel |
| SINGAPORE: MediaCorp and StarHub will launch the new 8 On-Demand channel (StarHub Channel 116) that will offer the latest Chinese entertainment programmes on December 28. |
|
| India's food inflation dives to four-year low |
| NEW DELHI: India's food inflation has plunged to a near four-year low as prices of vegetables and wheat tumbled, official data showed Thursday, marking a rare piece of good news for the embattled government. |
|
| Britain surprises with 0.6% growth in quarter |
| LONDON: Britain's economy grew by a higher-than-expected 0.6 percent in the third quarter, a revised estimate from the Office for National Statistics showed on Thursday. |
|
| Ong Ye Kung to head SMRT probe |
| SINGAPORE: The SMRT board has appointed its independent director Ong Ye Kung to head an internal investigation into the recent train disruptions. |
|
| Premier Taxis to revise fare structure |
| SINGAPORE: Premier Taxis said it is revising its fare structure from the stroke of midnight on December 30. |
|
| Vulnerable groups "should get flu jabs" |
| SINGAPORE: Doctors here have advised those prone to infection -- such as the elderly and children -- to get flu vaccinations, following reports of a bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong. |
|
| Singapore shares end 0.3% lower |
| SINGAPORE - Singapore share prices ended 0.3% lower on Thursday, in line with declines across most Asian markets. |
|
| Hello again, "Mat Yoyo" |
| SINGAPORE: If you were a child in the '80s, you will remember what a hit the Malay-language children's television show "Mat Yoyo" was. |
|
| Single gene links rare cancers |
| WASHINGTON - Canadian researchers have discovered that a common gene links a number of rare reproductive cancers, a finding that could lead to new approaches for treatment, said a study published on Wednesday. |
|
| Asian markets down amid ECB loan scepticism |
| HONG KONG - Asian markets slipped on Thursday as traders questioned whether a European Central Bank move to pump cheap cash into banks would be enough to unclog credit markets and ease the region's debt crisis. |
|
| UN appeals for US$28m Philippine flood aid |
| MANILA: The UN Thursday appealed for more than $28 million in aid to help victims of devastating floods that killed more than a thousand people in the Philippines, many of them swept to sea in their sleep. |
|
| Malaysian threatened over "same sex union" |
| KUALA LUMPUR: A hardline conservative Malaysian Muslim on Thursday threatened to assault a gay fellow countryman who has apparently entered into a civil partnership in Ireland. |
|
| Malaysia more prepared to face economic crisis |
| KULIM - Malaysia has taken steps to prepare itself for a possible recurrence of the 2008/2009 world economic crisis next year, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said on Thursday. |
|
| A look-back at S'pore politics |
| SINGAPORE: It was a year of surprises for Singapore politics in 2011 with a watershed general election (GE) and the retirement of several ministers. |
|
| Lufthansa to sell British subsidiary to BA owner |
| FRANKFURT: Germany's Lufthansa on Thursday announced the sale of its British Midland Ltd. subsidiary to International Consolidated Airlines Group, which owns the rival carriers British Airways and Iberia. |
|
| China opposes EU airline emissions charges |
| BEIJING: China said Thursday it opposes a "unilateral" plan by the European Union to impose carbon emissions charges on all airlines in its airspace from January 1. |
|
| Japan cuts forecast for fiscal 2011, 2012 |
| TOKYO: Japan on Thursday cut its economic growth forecast for the year to March 2012 and the following 12 months, citing the impact of a soaring yen, natural disasters and the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| Medvedev to vow reform in farewell address |
| MOSCOW: President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday is expected to vow a revamped reform drive in Russia after protests rattled the authorities, in his final annual address to the nation as head of state. |
|
| Value of M&A deals involving S'porean companies up 10%: report |
| SINGAPORE: It was a busy year for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in Singapore in 2011. |
|
| China police arrest protesters in south, say witnesses |
| HAIMEN, China - Police have begun arresting protesters in southern China after two days of violent clashes, witnesses said on Thursday, as the local government warned against further "illegal" demonstrations. |
|
| China and Vietnam improve strained ties |
| HANOI - China's vice president was ending a visit to Vietnam on Thursday, part of an effort to consolidate ties that deteriorated following recent tensions over the disputed South China Sea. |
|
| Suspected WWII bomb found at Hong Kong trail |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong police disposed of a suspected World War II bomb Thursday after it was found near a popular hiking trail days ahead of the 70th anniversary of the fall of the city to the Japanese. |
|
| At least 27 killed in spate of Baghdad blasts |
| BAGHDAD: A wave of bomb attacks across Baghdad on Thursday killed at least 27 people, security and health officials said, as Iraq faced a political crisis, with its vice president accused of running death squads and the premier warning he could break off power-sharing. |
|
| S. Korea not hostile to N. Korea: President Lee |
| SEOUL: South Korea's conciliatory gestures to North Korea following the death of Kim Jong-Il are intended to show it is not hostile towards its neighbour, President Lee Myung-Bak said Thursday. |
|
| MHA clerical officer charged with forgery, CBT |
| SINGAPORE: A civilian clerical officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Liew Chee Meng, was on Thursday charged in court with forgery, cheating, criminal breach of trust and conversion of proceeds of crime. |
|
| Indonesia searches for bodies from migrant boat |
| BANYUWANGI, Indonesia: Indonesian boats and helicopters scoured the ocean around Bali Thursday in the grim search for more bodies from a capsized migrant boat, as officials said 74 had been retrieved so far. |
|
| MP Seng Han Thong's remarks spark online furore |
| SINGAPORE: A statement by Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong has sparked an online furore. |
|
| Indian parliament braces for graft bill showdown |
| NEW DELHI: The Indian government was to submit two key bills to parliament Thursday, including anti-corruption legislation that risks triggering a repeat of mass protests that rocked the country in August. |
|
| Taiwanese soldiers injured in clash with civilians |
| TAIPEI: Ten Taiwanese soldiers were injured when angry civilians attacked their camp on an islet near China, raising concerns that access to military facilities has become too easy, officials said Thursday. |
|
| Singaporeans not worried about HK bird flu scare |
| SINGAPORE: It is business as usual for many chicken sellers in Singapore. This, despite news out of Hong Kong on Wednesday that authorities had culled 17,000 chickens, after a chicken and two wild birds tested positive for the H5N1 virus. |
|
| MOE releases national exam performance data |
| SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has released data on the performance of the major ethnic groups in national examinations annually. It said this is to provide feedback to the communities on how their children fared in the examinations. |
|
| S. Korea envoy to visit China in wake of Kim's death |
| SEOUL: South Korea's nuclear envoy was to leave Thursday for China to discuss efforts to denuclearise North Korea after the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, the foreign ministry said. |
|
| Obama to pressure foes on tax showdown |
| WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama will on Thursday heap pressure on Republicans to extend a payroll tax holiday for 160 million Americans for two months, seeking to lock in an apparent political victory. |
|
| Toyota eyes 20% global sales growth in 2012 |
| TOKYO: Japan's biggest carmaker Toyota expects a 20 percent growth in global sales in 2012 after a dismal 2011 on the domestic front when the March 11 earthquake and tsunami hit demand. |
|
| Lockerbie bomber claims innocence in 'final' interview |
| LONDON: The only person convicted of the Lockerbie bombing in which 270 people died used his "final interview" to vow he would clear his name, British newspapers reported Thursday. |
|
| Chinese scientist gets 7 years for stealing US secrets |
| WASHINGTON: A Chinese scientist was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for stealing trade secrets of major US agribusiness firms to benefit China. |
|
| Immobile patients to benefit from new lifting system at SGH |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore General Hospital (SGH) patients who are immobile can benefit from a new lifting system at the hospital. |
|
| China's security chief urges "civilised" law enforcement |
| BEIJING: China's security chief has urged authorities to resolve conflicts swiftly and enforce the law in a "civilised" way, after a recent upsurge in social unrest in the country of 1.3 billion people. |
|
| Super Junior S'pore concert delayed till February 18 |
| SINGAPORE: Korean boy band Super Junior will perform at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on February 18, a day later than previously announced, due to changes in their touring schedules, said concert organisers Running Into The Sun (RITS) on Wednesday. |
|
| Corruption case of former STTA president adjourned to next month |
| SINGAPORE: Former table tennis chief Choo Wee Khiang, who was charged with accepting bribes from former coaches and a national player, had his case adjourned in court on Thursday till next month. |
|
| S'pore govt releases three residential sites for sale |
| SINGAPORE: The government has released three residential sites for sale on Thursday. These are at Bedok South Avenue 3, Jervois Road and Boon Lay Way. |
|
| US wants to work with N.Korea after mourning |
| WASHINGTON: The United States said Wednesday it hoped to work with North Korea after its mourning for late leader Kim Jong-Il and confirmed it had been in contact with the regime by telephone. |
|
| Controversial "bird flu" edits move ahead |
| WASHINGTON: Top US scientists on Wednesday defended their bid to stop details of a mutant bird flu virus from being published and called for global cooperation to ward off an uncontrollable pandemic. |
|
| Train service on North-South line slow due to "track fault": SMRT |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT said train service on the North-South Line towards Marina Bay is slow due to a "track fault". |
|
| Football: Liverpool united behind Suarez - Dalglish |
| WIGAN, England: Kenny Dalglish insisted his Liverpool squad are 100 per cent behind troubled forward Luis Suarez. |
|
| Australian jailed for 13 years over murder of Indian student |
| SYDNEY: An Australian teenager who fatally stabbed Indian student Nitin Garg, fuelling a diplomatic row with New Delhi over racist violence, was Thursday jailed for 13 years. |
|
| Iraq extends deadline for Iran camp closure |
| BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday that his government had agreed to extend a year-end deadline for the removal of Iranian dissidents housed in a camp northeast of Baghdad. |
|
| US unit of Saab will try to avoid bankruptcy |
| DETROIT: The North American unit of bankrupt Swedish automaker Saab will try to avoid going into bankruptcy itself to keep up warranties for recent car buyers and support dealers left with inventory, a company official said Wednesday. |
|
| Grammys to honour late Steve Jobs for contribution to music |
| LOS ANGELES: The Grammys will pay special tribute to late Apple founder Steve Jobs, Brazil's Tom Jobim - of "Girl from Ipanema" fame - and US singer Diana Ross at the upcoming awards show, the organisation announced on Wednesday. |
|
| Euro sags after banks show huge need for ECB funds |
| NEW YORK: The euro dropped against the dollar on Wednesday after the European Central Bank said banks had sucked up a huge 489.19 billion euros ($641 billion) in its first-ever three-year refinancing operation. |
|
| Football: Villa's Albrighton scores 20,000th EPL goal |
| LONDON: Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th goal in English Premier League history when he netted in the second half of his side's match against Arsenal on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Suarez can't inspire Liverpool as Adam misses penalty |
| WIGAN, England: Luis Suarez was unable to inspire Liverpool to victory at the end of a turbulent 24 hours for the Uruguay striker as Charlie Adam missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw at Wigan on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Giggs leads Manchester Utd rout |
| LONDON: Ryan Giggs continued his remarkable record of having scored in every Premier League season as Manchester United ran out comfortable 5-0 winners over Fulham on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Benayoun's late show sinks Aston Villa |
| BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Yossi Benayoun left it late to steal the points for Arsenal as the Israel midfielder's 87th minute header clinched a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Manchester City maintain two-point lead in EPL |
| LONDON: Manchester City maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 defeat of Stoke as rivals Manchester United destroyed Fulham 5-0 to stay in touch. |
|
| US stocks mixed as Oracle weighs on Nasdaq |
| NEW YORK: US stocks closed mixed on Wednesday after Tuesday's strong gains, with the Nasdaq dragged lower on poor Oracle earnings and other indexes finding little direction in holiday-thinned trade. |
|
| Oil prices rally further as US crude stockpiles slide |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices rose strongly for a second day running on Wednesday after official data showed that crude inventories fell by far more than expected in the United States. |
|
| North Korean leader's death fuels 'condolences' debate |
| WASHINGTON: North Korean strongman Kim Jong-Il's death is raising tough questions not only of policy but of protocol, with major world powers divided on whether and how to offer condolences. |
|
| Philippines seeks US F-16s amid China concerns |
| MANILA: The Philippines wants to acquire F-16 fighter jets from the United States as part of stepped up efforts to defend the archipelago, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Wednesday. |
|
| No Christmas at home for Arroyo |
| MANILA: A Philippine court on Wednesday rejected detained former president Gloria Arroyo's request to spend Christmas at home or use her mobile phone and computer in the hospital where she is being held. |
|
| Malaysian telcos lift ban on Alcatel-Lucent |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia and Malaysian mobile operator Axiata have lifted almost year-long business bans on French equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent after it admitted paying bribes for contracts. |
|
| Spain's austerity leader Rajoy names cabinet |
| MADRID: Spain's new leader Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday named the cabinet that must steer the country back from economic crisis, with a former manager of ruined bank Lehman Brothers in the key economy minister job. |
|
| Alpine Skiing: Kostelic shines in night-time slalom |
| FLACHAU, Austria: Croatia's reigning World Cup overall champion Ivica Kostelic won the men's slalom staged under floodlights on Wednesday for his second success of the season. |
|
| Syrian opposition urges UN action |
| DAMASCUS: The opposition Syrian National Council urged the UN Security Council and Arab League on Wednesday to hold emergency meetings, as the White House said President Bashar al-Assad did not deserve to rule. |
|
| British women to sue over French breast implants |
| LONDON: More than 250 British women are taking court action after more than half experienced ruptures in breast implants made by a French company at the centre of a cancer scare, a lawyer said on Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Terry vows to fight criminal racism charges |
| LONDON: Chelsea and England football captain John Terry vowed on Wednesday to prove his innocence after prosecutors said he would face criminal charges over allegations he racially abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand. |
|
| Thailand, Cambodia agree on troop withdrawal |
| PHNOM PENH: Thailand and Cambodia said they agreed Wednesday to redeploy troops "completely and simultaneously" from a shared border area that has been the scene of deadly clashes. |
|
| Germany to borrow 250b euros from markets in 2012 |
| FRANKFURT: Germany intends to borrow up to 250 billion euros ($329 billion) from the markets in 2012, less than this year's level, the government's financing agency said on Wednesday. |
|
| ECB pumps record funding to banks to douse debt crisis |
| FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank made a record volume of cheap loans available to eurozone banks on Wednesday hoping to turn back the debt crisis, but analysts were sceptical that it was enough. |
|
| Cricket: Pakistan wins Test series against Bangladesh |
| DHAKA: Abdur Rehman claimed 4-51 as Pakistan posted a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second and final cricket Test in Dhaka on Wednesday to make a clean sweep of the series. |
|
| China Sky hits back at SGX's reprimand |
| SINGAPORE: S-chip nylon fibre maker China Sky Chemical Fibre did not mince its words in reiterating its disagreement with the reprimand it received from the Singapore Exchange. |
|
| Orchard Rd retailers see jump in sales this festive season |
| SINGAPORE: Orchard Road retailers are ringing in more sales this festive season. |
|
| Football: Terry to face criminal racism charges |
| LONDON - Chelsea and England football captain John Terry will face criminal charges for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, England's Crown Prosecution Service said Wednesday. |
|
| STC Riding Centre spurs interest in horse riding |
| SINGAPORE : The Singapore Turf Club (STC) Riding Centre was the venue for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, and since that big event, the Centre has seen a 34 per cent increase in rider population. |
|
| S'pore's second guide dog for the blind settles in |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's second guide dog for the blind has arrived. |
|
| *SCAPE to launch programme for budding youth entrepreneurs |
| SINGAPORE: *SCAPE is launching a new entrepreneurship programme in March next year targeting youth-run businesses. |
|
| S'pore hotels see strong bookings this holiday season |
| SINGAPORE: As the countdown begins to Christmas Day and the New Year, hotels here are riding on the mood to celebrate. |
|
| Football: Liverpool furious as Suarez banned |
| LONDON: Liverpool reacted furiously after Luis Suarez was banned for eight games by the Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and vowed to fight the verdict. |
|
| China planning to release artificially-bred pandas into the wild |
| BEIJING : China is planning to release 108 artificially-bred pandas into the wild from January. |
|
| More S'poreans looking to buy property in Malaysia |
| SINGAPORE: It appears that more Singaporeans are looking at buying private residential properties in Malaysia according to some real estate agents. |
|
| Yachting: Sydney to Hobart race calls out to Asia |
| SYDNEY: Australia's bluewater Sydney to Hobart sailing race Wednesday called for more boats from Asia, as one of the organisers said Europe's financial woes could be hurting the size of the fleet. |
|
| EU court rejects challenge to airline emissions charges |
| BRUSSELS: Europe's top court on Wednesday threw out a US-led challenge to new charges for carbon emissions across EU airspace, opening up fears of a possible trade war which could also draw in China. |
|
| Malaysia unveils plan to boost bank sector |
| KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Wednesday unveiled fresh plans to liberalise the country's financial sector in a bid to develop it as an international Islamic hub. |
|
| Shorter wait time, faster speed for MRT trains? |
| SINGAPORE: Commuters can expect improved train service after last week's disruptions. |
|
| Indian govt set for showdown over anti-graft bill |
| NEW DELHI: The Indian government geared up Wednesday for a showdown with opposition parties and civil activists over a landmark anti-corruption bill to be presented in parliament. |
|
| Four killed, 100 rescued in Indonesia boat sinking |
| JAKARTA: Four passengers were killed but 100 others rescued when an overloaded boat filled with Indonesians going home for Christmas sank off the Maluku islands on Wednesday, a district official said. |
|
| MOH says bird flu risk in Singapore "very low" |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's health ministry has said the risk of bird flu in the country is very low, as no human cases have been reported in Hong Kong. |
|
| Malaysia's Najib unveils plan to boost bank sector |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Wednesday unveiled fresh plans to liberalise the country's financial sector in a bid to develop it as an international Islamic hub. |
|
| Fukushima reactors may take 40 years to dismantle |
| TOKYO: Japan said Wednesday that decommissioning the tsunami-wrecked reactors at Fukushima could take as long as 40 years, with melted nuclear fuel possibly stuck where it is for a quarter of a century. |
|
| CASE takes Concord Developments to court for unfair trading |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's consumer watchdog has taken a business and management consultancy services company, Concord Developments, to court for unfair trading. |
|
| Manage your smartphones, data plans properly when overseas: CASE |
| SINGAPORE: A picture of a mobile phone bill showing a staggering amount of about S$350,000 has gone viral on Facebook, prompting Singapore's consumer watchdog to advise smart phone users to better manage their data roaming plans. |
|
| 111 civilians killed in north Syria Tuesday: activists |
| DAMASCUS - The opposition Syrian National Council on Wednesday urged the UN Security Council and Arab League to hold emergency meetings after "massacres" carried out by regime forces. |
|
| 13 nabbed for suspected loansharking activities |
| SINGAPORE : Nine women have been arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. |
|
| Singapore stocks close 2.3% higher |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore closed 2.3 per cent higher on Wednesday, following overnight gains on Wall Street. |
|
| Mobile app to help Indian women fight sex assault |
| NEW DELHI: A smartphone app launched Wednesday in the Indian capital Delhi aims to fight a rise in sexual assault cases by enabling women to immediately alert friends or family if they feel at risk. |
|
| Researchers use recycled glass to filter raw water |
| SINGAPORE : A team of researchers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic has found a cheaper and more environmentally-friendly way to filter raw water - using recycled glass. |
|
| Orchard Rd rents expected to remain stable in Q4: CBRE |
| SINGAPORE : Real estate consultancy firm CBRE expects prime Orchard Road rents to remain stable in the fourth quarter of 2011. |
|
| Taiwan candidates gear up for final shot at the presidency |
| TAIPEI: With Taiwan's presidential elections less than a month away, all three candidates are gearing up for their final shot at the presidency. |
|
| MapleTree Logistics Trust issues 9b yen 10-year fixed-rate notes |
| SINGAPORE : Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT) has issued 9 billion yen 10-year fixed-rate notes to a long-term financial investor. |
|
| China strives to defuse unrest in wealthy south |
| WUKAN, China: Authorities in southern China moved Wednesday to defuse an outbreak of unrest, agreeing to free villagers detained for protesting land seizures and suspending a power plant project. |
|
| New English radio station to cater to women, families |
| SINGAPORE : A new English radio station, which caters to women and families, will hit local airwaves in nine months' time. |
|
| Egyptians vote after deadly clashes |
| CAIRO: Egyptians turned out to vote again on Wednesday in the run-off of a staggered election marred by deadly clashes between protesters and security forces that have left 14 people dead in five days. |
|
| SMU business school earns EQUIS accreditation |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Management University (SMU) Lee Kong Chian School of Business (LKCSB) has become one of the youngest institutions in the world to be conferred the prestigious EQUIS accreditation. |
|
| COE prices down |
| SINGAPORE: Premiums for certificates of entitlement (COEs) fell across the board at the end of the open bidding exercise at 4.00 pm on Wednesday. |
|
| Cleaner gets 10 months' jail for hitting wife |
| SINGAPORE: A 45-year-old cleaner with a string of brushes with the law for violent behaviour has been sentenced to 10 months' jail for hitting his wife even though she has a personal protection order against him. |
|
| N. Korea's young leader firmly in power |
| SEOUL: North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-Un has secured a solid power base in both the ruling communist party and the military despite his youth and meagre career credentials, analysts said Wednesday. |
|
| Thai PM backs Suu Kyi in landmark Myanmar talks |
| BANGKOK: Thailand's premier Yingluck Shinawatra offered Aung San Suu Kyi her support in a coming by-election during a historic meeting with the democracy icon in Myanmar, a Thai official said Wednesday. |
|
| Prices of rice at FairPrice to remain until end-Feb |
| SINGAPORE: Prices of housebrand rice from Thailand at NTUC FairPrice will remain the same until after the Chinese New Year celebrations, at the end of February 2012. |
|
| Share-a-Gift hits target of over 29,000 wishes |
| SINGAPORE: The Boy's Brigade has ended its annual gift collection drive on a high note, by meeting the full target for the Share-a-Gift project. |
|
| Man jailed for stealing bus & taking friends on joyride |
| SINGAPORE: A jobless man stole a private bus and took his friends on a three-hour spin. |
|
| Yangon blast kills one |
| YANGON: A blast in Myanmar's commercial hub and former capital Yangon killed one woman and wounded another on Wednesday morning, a security officer said. |
|
| US, EU banks face rough year ahead |
| WASHINGTON: Stalling economies, crumbling assets, tough new capital rules and shrinking avenues to make money paint a rough year ahead for banks on both sides of the Atlantic. |
|
| Tiger Airways to fly SIN-Dhaka from March |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's low-cost carrier Tiger Airways will start direct service between Singapore and Dhaka in Bangladesh. |
|
| 9 bodies found from capsized Indonesian boat |
| JEMBER, Indonesia: Indonesia rescuers found the bodies of nine asylum-seekers Wednesday, who died after the overloaded boat they were on capsized en route to Australia, an official said, as hopes of finding more survivors dwindled. |
|
| HSBC offloads Japan business to Credit Suisse |
| HONG KONG: HSBC said Wednesday it had sold its private banking business in Japan to Credit Suisse for US$2.7 billion, as part of its broader restructuring to reduce costs and focus on growth. |
|
| Son sobs as North Korea mourns Kim Jong-il |
| SEOUL: North Korea said Wednesday that millions of grief-stricken people had turned out to mourn "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-Il, whose death has left the world scrambling for information about his young successor. |
|
| Japan recovery 'has paused': BoJ |
| TOKYO: The Bank of Japan said Wednesday that the country's economic recovery "has paused" because of the slowing global economy, leaving its key rate unchanged at between zero and 0.1 per cent. |
|
| Asian markets rise on upbeat US, European news |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets enjoyed some Christmas cheer Wednesday as strong US housing data and a successful bond issue by Spain added to an upbeat business and consumer outlook in Germany. |
|
| SMRT peak-hour service "very close" to pre-disruptions: Lui |
| SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said SMRT is now able to operate its trains during peak hours at intervals very close to what they were before the two major disruptions last week. |
|
| Disease fears grow after deadly Philippines flood |
| MANILA: Philippines authorities Wednesday warned of a growing threat from disease in crowded evacuation centres, after devastating flash floods in the country's south that left at least 1,022 dead or missing. |
|
| China discusses Kim's death with Japan, Russia |
| BEIJING: China has held talks with Japan and Russia on the importance of maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula after the weekend death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, state media said Wednesday. |
|
| Subordinate Courts opens on Dec 26 |
| SINGAPORE: There will be a special sitting of the Criminal Mentions Court at the Subordinate Courts next Monday in Court 26. |
|
| S. Korea allows private condolences for Kim Jong-Il |
| SEOUL: The South Korean government will allow private groups to send condolence messages to North Korea following the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, Seoul's unification ministry said Wednesday. |
|
| Indonesian widows to seek Dutch justice |
| THE HAGUE: Widows of Indonesian men killed by the Dutch colonial army in 1946 and 1947 on Sulawesi island are planning to seek justice before a court in the Netherlands, their lawyer said Tuesday. |
|
| Investigators to raid Olympus HQ |
| TOKYO: Japanese prosecutors plan to raid Olympus' Tokyo headquarters on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a two-decade cover-up of massive losses at the electronics giant, reports said. |
|
| Japan exports down 4.5% in November on year |
| TOKYO: Japanese exports fell 4.5 per cent in November from a year earlier, expanding the trade deficit to 684.73 billion yen (US$8.79 billion), the government said Wednesday. |
|
| WikiLeaks suspect "punched boss" |
| FORT MEADE, Maryland: A former supervisor of US Army Private Bradley Manning, accused of spilling US secrets to WikiLeaks, said Tuesday she had repeatedly recommended that he not be deployed to Iraq. |
|
| Football: Blackburn bottom of league |
| LONDON: Blackburn Rovers were left bottom of the English Premier League after a 2-1 Lancashire derby defeat at home to fellow relegation candidates Bolton Wanderers at Ewood Park on Tuesday. |
|
| Football: City brace for Stoke clash |
| LONDON: Every Premier League match Manchester City play for the next few months is sure to be billed as a test of the table-toppers' title credentials and that will be the case when they face Stoke on Wednesday. |
|
| Blood pressure meds "prolong life" |
| WASHINGTON: People who took blood pressure medicine during a 1980s clinical trial showed longer life expectancy two decades later than people who took a placebo, a US study said on Tuesday. |
|
| Fitch downgrades French banks |
| PARIS: Fitch Ratings agency said Tuesday it was downgrading the credit outlook on four French banks, including Societe Generale, to negative and putting seven Italian and eight Spanish lenders on watch. |
|
| Egypt army sorry for beating women |
| CAIRO: Egypt's military said on Tuesday it strongly regretted attacks on female demonstrators as footage of soldiers beating women fuelled deadly anti-military protests in Cairo for a fifth straight day. |
|
| Fed toughens US bank rules |
| WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve on Tuesday moved to toughen capital requirements for the country's largest banks, saying their size and stretch could threaten the overall financial system. |
|
| Football: Bayern thrash Bochum |
| BERLIN: Dutch flier Arjen Robben scored an injury-time winner to send Bayern Munich into the quarter-finals of the German Cup on Tuesday, securing a 2-1 win at second division side Bochum. |
|
| US stocks surge |
| NEW YORK: US stocks rallied nearly three percent Tuesday, boosted by US data showing a surge in new housing starts, encouraging news on Germany's economy, and reports of a Greek deal with private debt holders. |
|
| EU summit set for Jan 30 |
| BRUSSELS: The next summit of European Union leaders focusing on the continent's troubled economies will be held on January 30, EU president Herman Van Rompuy announced late Tuesday in a video message. |
|
| Argentine official kills self at summit |
| MONTEVIDEO: A top Argentine official committed suicide Tuesday at a hotel in Montevideo during a summit meeting of the South American trade group Mercosur, officials said. |
|
| Football: Suarez banned for racial abuse |
| LONDON: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was hit with an eight-game ban on Tuesday after a Football Association disciplinary hearing found he had racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra. |
|
| Bangladesh returns Myanmar refugees |
| NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar will take back some of its refugees from neighbouring Bangladesh, an official said Tuesday, adding that hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohingyas will not be covered by the deal. |
|
| Google boosts solar investment |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Tuesday ramped up its investment in clean energy by backing the construction of solar panels that will feed electricity to California's power grid. |
|
| Thai exports plunge |
| BANGKOK: Thailand exports in November dived for the first time in more than two years because of the kingdom's recent devastating flooding, government data showed Tuesday. |
|
| Football: Injuries threaten Gunners |
| LONDON: Arsenal are set to be without any specialist fullbacks for their Premier League match away to Aston Villa on Wednesday. |
|
| India backs anti-graft bill |
| NEW DELHI: India's cabinet on Tuesday approved a landmark anti-corruption bill which was the focus of nationwide demonstrations in August that rocked the government, officials said. |
|
| UK PM visits Afghanistan |
| LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron paid a pre-Christmas visit to British troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday, although his plans were upset by a dust storm, officials and media said. |
|
| Spain gets new PM |
| MADRID: Spanish lawmakers voted Tuesday to make conservative leader Mariano Rajoy the new prime minister, approving his programme of sweeping budget cuts and tough economic reforms. |
|
| Greece set to reach bank deal |
| ATHENS: Greece is likely to reach a draft deal with creditor banks on writing off half of its debt by the beginning of January, a Greek government source said on Tuesday. |
|
| HK raises bird flu alert |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong on Tuesday raised its bird flu alert level to "serious" and announced it is to cull 17,000 chickens after three birds tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. |
|
| Is Jon Bon Jovi dead? |
| WASHINGTON: US singer Jon Bon Jovi went on Facebook on Tuesday to dispel rumours swirling on the Internet that he had died. |
|
| Michael Douglas son in drugs trouble |
| NEW YORK: Cameron Douglas, scion of one of Hollywood's most famous acting families, could face being ordered Wednesday to stay behind bars beyond his current sentence for drug dealing. |
|
| UBS 'rogue trader' in custody |
| LONDON: A trader accused of a US$2.25 billion fraud at Swiss bank UBS was remanded in custody by a London court on Tuesday as his case was adjourned until January 30, when he must enter a plea. |
|
| Iraq VP denies terror charges |
| BAGHDAD: Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president denied terror charges against him and vowed to defend himself in a defiant news conference on Tuesday as rival leaders called for urgent talks to resolve a worsening crisis. |
|
| France unlikely to keep triple-A rating |
| PARIS: It would be a miracle for France to retain its triple-A credit rating, threatened by the eurozone debt crisis, the head of its main market regulator said on Tuesday. |
|
| LTA, UITP sign agreement to develop centre of excellence |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) has signed an agreement to develop an Asia Pacific Centre for Transport Excellence in Singapore. |
|
| China's HNA Group plans more investments overseas |
| BEIJING : China's HNA Group, the parent of Hainan Airlines says it will continue investing overseas next year where it sees opportunities. |
|
| China losing its influence over N.Korea? |
| BEIJING: North Koreans mourning the death of Kim Jong-Il dominated news channels in Beijing. And observers said China, being North Korea's biggest and closest ally, will do all it takes to ensure a smooth and stable leadership transition in Pyongyang. |
|
| Not all doom and gloom for India's economy |
| INDIA: It has been a gloomy year for the Indian economy. Both the benchmark stock index and the rupee touched record lows, putting India among the worst performing markets in Asia. |
|
| China's rising economic power will enable it to play greater global role |
| HONG KONG : China is climbing up the ranks as an economic superpower, with analysts predicting that it could become the world's number one economy by 2020. |
|
| Communist official heads to China protest village |
| WUKAN, China: Residents of a Chinese village in open revolt against local authorities said Tuesday they had received word a senior Communist official was headed there to urge against a planned protest march. |
|
| HK developers oppose legislation aimed at regulating property sales |
| HONG KONG : Property developers in Hong Kong have voiced opposition to proposed legislation aimed at controlling the sale of new flats. |
|
| SMRT suspends bus driver as coma victim's condition worsens |
| SINGAPORE: Bus operator SMRT has suspended the driver who was said to have braked abruptly and caused a passenger to fall on Sunday. The victim, 54-year-old Madam Ding Weibo, has since slipped into a coma and her condition has apparently worsened. |
|
| Aviva study shows a decline in Singaporeans' confidence in the economy |
| SINGAPORE : Singaporeans are becoming increasingly concerned about the nation's state of economy, said a study released on Tuesday. |
|
| Young and old make new year wishes at Marina Bay |
| SINGAPORE: It is that time of the year again when wishes are made for the new year. Some 160 participants from various voluntary welfare organisations spent some time penning down their hopes for the new year. |
|
| S'pore offers condolences over death of former Czech President Vaclav Havel |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Acting President J Y Pillay has sent his condolences over the death of former Czech President Vaclav Havel. |
|
| Higher maintenance costs may impact rail operator SMRT's earnings: analysts |
| SINGAPORE : Some market watchers expect last week's train disruptions to have wide-ranging impact for SMRT. |
|
| China couple break law, have 8 babies |
| BEIJING: Authorities in China have launched an investigation after a couple broke family planning laws by having eight babies including several born illegally to surrogates, an official said Tuesday. |
|
| Fitch warns may downgrade EFSF eurozone bail-out fund |
| PARIS : The Fitch credit rating agency warned on Tuesday that the eurozone's new bail-out fund could lose its triple-A debt status if its main sponsors France and Germany do. |
|
| Retail sector faces twin challenges of rising rents and manpower costs in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore is renowned as a shopping paradise. |
|
| Da Vinci opens Shanghai store amid negative publicity |
| SHANGHAI: Spanning 12,000 square metres over four floors, Da Vinci's latest Chinese store opened in Shanghai this week amid a cloud of negative publicity. |
|
| Football: Mancini rules out Tevez loan move |
| LONDON: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini on Tuesday ruled out a loan move involving Carlos Tevez as the Premier League leaders prepared to meet officials from AC Milan. |
|
| Maid sentenced to jail for cheating employer |
| SINGAPORE: A Filipino domestic worker has been sentenced to three months' jail for duping her employer into handing over her jewellery and then pawning them. |
|
| NOL subsidiary joins G6 Alliance for Far East-to-Europe trade |
| SINGAPORE : Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) said its container shipping unit APL has join an alliance of five shipping lines to create one of the largest vessel networks in the Far East-to-Europe trade lane. |
|
| Police in China fire tear-gas, beat protesters: witnesses |
| BEIJING: Police fired tear-gas and beat demonstrators who stormed government buildings in southern China on Tuesday to protest a power plant, witnesses said, in the latest violent unrest to hit the country. |
|
| World economy at a 'very dangerous juncture': IMF chief |
| LAGOS : The world economy is at a "very dangerous juncture", IMF chief Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday referring to the potential impact on poorer nations during her first visit to Africa as head of the fund. |
|
| Wee Hur wins tender for Punggol Central site |
| SINGAPORE : Wee Hur Development Pte Ltd has won the tender for a land parcel at Punggol Central / Punggol Place at a price of $206.2m. |
|
| SingTel to launch 4G service |
| SINGAPORE: SingTel is moving into fourth generation mobile broadband internet services. The company said it is launching these services in Singapore for both retail and corporate customers. |
|
| MWC gears up to house migrant workers affected by slowdown |
| SINGAPORE: The Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) is gearing up to help migrant workers who may be affected by the economic slowdown next year. |
|
| Singapore stocks close easier on continued worries about the eurozone |
| SINGAPORE : Share prices in Singapore closed slightly lower on Tuesday following concerns over the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| Car catches fire after crash |
| SINGAPORE: A car crashed into a bollard and caught fire on Tuesday afternoon in Bedok South Avenue 3. |
|
| Rugby: Ex-Wallaby coach Jones "picked for Japan job" |
| TOKYO: Former Australia coach Eddie Jones has been chosen to replace All Blacks legend John Kirwan as head coach of the Japan rugby team, media reports said Tuesday. |
|
| Australia warns of 'sharp' Europe downturn |
| SYDNEY : Australia's central bank on Tuesday said there was a "non-trivial" possibility of a severe contraction in the eurozone economy, leaving the door open for further interest rate cuts in 2012. |
|
| Kim Jong-Il's death brings guarded hope of change |
| SEOUL: Kim Jong-Il's sudden death puts the fate of nuclear-armed North Korea in the hands of a young dictator-in-waiting whose penchant for tyranny -- or desire for reform -- remain a mystery. |
|
| Jurong Shipyard breaks ground on US$550m Brazilian shipyard |
| SINGAPORE: Jurong Shipyard, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine, has broken ground on its US$550 million shipyard in Brazil. |
|
| Japan wants post-Kim talks with US, South Korea |
| TOKYO: Japan wants to hold a high-level three-way meeting with the United States and South Korea "as early as possible", Tokyo said Tuesday, as the allies closed ranks following the death of Kim Jong-Il. |
|
| Asia markets mixed as N. Korea fears ease |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday as initial concerns about regional tensions after the death of North Korea's Kim Jong-Il subsided, although European debt woes continued dragon sentiment. |
|
| Outcry grows as Cairo violence enters fifth day |
| CAIRO: Clashes between Egyptian security forces and protesters demanding an end to military rule entered a fifth day on Tuesday, as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the beating of women as a "disgrace." |
|
| Thai army chief opposes change to royal insult law |
| BANGKOK: Thailand's powerful army chief expressed opposition Tuesday to amending the country's lese majeste law, recently criticised by the West, saying those who opposed it should move abroad. |
|
| Animal lovers want to save Punggol dogs |
| SINGAPORE: Some animal lovers are trying to save the stray dogs in Punggol from being culled. |
|
| Survivors recall horror of Indonesia boat disaster |
| LUMAJANG, Indonesia: From their hospital beds, shocked migrants on Tuesday recounted the horror of spending three days in violent seas clinging to wreckage after their overloaded boat sank off Indonesia, en route to Australia. |
|
| S. Korea sends condolences to N. Korean people |
| SEOUL: South Korea's government sent condolences Tuesday to the North Korean people for the death of their leader Kim Jong-Il, despite tense relations following two deadly border incidents last year. |
|
| Night Safari welcomes baby giraffe |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Night Safari welcomed a lanky newcomer this festive season - a 1.88-metre tall baby giraffe. |
|
| Aquino vows aid as Philippine flood toll tops 1,000 |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Philippine President Benigno Aquino pledged aid Tuesday to communities hit by flash floods that walloped the south, as the official toll topped a thousand dead or missing. |
|
| India may approve anti-corruption bill |
| NEW DELHI: India's cabinet was expected to approve a landmark anti-corruption bill which was the focus of nationwide demonstrations in August that rocked the government. |
|
| Michael Lim to chair Accounting Standards Council |
| SINGAPORE: Chairman of the Land Transport Authority, Mr Michael Lim Choo San, has been appointed as Chairman of the Accounting Standards Council (ASC). |
|
| Man survives plunge from Christmas stunt |
| SYDNEY: An Australian man has survived after plunging from an eighth storey balcony while performing a stunt during a Christmas party, according to police. |
|
| Trans Cab raises taxi fares |
| SINGAPORE: Trans Cab will raise flag-down fares from 3 January 2012. |
|
| Kim Jong-Un visits late father |
| SEOUL: North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-Un visited the body of his late father and former leader Kim Jong-Il Tuesday to pay his respects, state media reported. |
|
| Olympus eyes US$1.3b equity offering |
| TOKYO: Scandal-hit Olympus is preparing to issue around US$1.3 billion in new shares after correcting its financial books to reflect massive losses it had hidden for two decades, a report said Tuesday. |
|
| Man accused of filming 13-year-old girl charged |
| SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man, who allegedly filmed a 13-year-old girl when she was changing in her room, has been charged with insult of modesty. |
|
| S. Koreans to send anti-Kim leaflets to North |
| SEOUL: Anti-Pyongyang activists in South Korea said Tuesday they would float leaflets denouncing North Korea's late leader Kim Jong-Il across the tense border. |
|
| Maid jailed for cheating & pawning elderly's jewellery |
| SINGAPORE: A Filipino domestic helper was sentenced to three months' jail for duping her employer into handing over her jewellery and then pawning them. |
|
| Koda Kumi admits she is pregnant, cancels concert tour |
| TOKYO: Popular J-Pop singer Koda Kumi admitted that she is indeed pregnant on Saturday, days after she announced her wedding to Japanese rock band Back-On's vocalist Kenji03, reported Japanese media. |
|
| Santa arrested for threatening shopkeeper |
| BORDEAUX: A French Santa spent several hours in custody after threatening a Christmas tree seller who set up shop next to his grotto in Bordeaux, an official said Monday. |
|
| US committed to defending allies |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama told Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday that the United States was committed to defending its allies in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death. |
|
| N.Korea troops quit training |
| SEOUL: Some North Korean troops staging an annual winter exercise returned to their bases hours after the death of their leader Kim Jong-Il was announced, a South Korean military official said Tuesday. |
|
| Asia markets up as N. Korea fears ease |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets edged up on Tuesday as initial concerns about regional tensions after the death of North Korea's Kim Jong-Il subsided, although European woes continued to cast a pall. |
|
| S. Korea may scrap border Christmas lights |
| SEOUL: South Korea will reconsider a plan to display Christmas lights near the tense border with North Korea following the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, Seoul's defence minister said Tuesday. |
|
| CPF members to enjoy 12% savings HPS premiums |
| SINGAPORE: CPF members will pay significantly lower annual premiums for the Home Protection Scheme (HPS). |
|
| China's president offers condolences to N.Korea |
| BEIJING: China's President Hu Jintao on Tuesday visited the North Korean embassy in Beijing to offer his condolences on the death of Kim Jong-Il, the official Xinhua news agency said. |
|
| Japan to buy Chinese bonds |
| TOKYO: Japan is preparing to buy yuan-denominated bonds issued by the Chinese government under a proposed bilateral currency and financial agreement, according to the Nikkei business daily. |
|
| US lawmakers to vote on holiday tax |
| WASHINGTON: Republican lawmakers escalated a year-end showdown with the White House, putting off a vote on extending a payroll tax holiday demanded by President Barack Obama until Tuesday. |
|
| S. Korea raises alert on N. Korean cyber-attacks |
| SEOUL: South Korea's military has raised its alert against potential cyber-attacks from North Korea after the death of leader Kim Jong-Il, the defence ministry said Tuesday. |
|
| Cuba mourns for NKorea's Kim |
| HAVANA: Cuba on Monday declared three days of mourning for North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, a reliable ally in a world in which Havana has become increasingly isolated since the end of the Cold War. |
|
| Japan picks F-35 as new fighter |
| OKYO: Japan on Tuesday chose the US-built F-35 stealth jet for its next-generation mainstay fighter as North Korea provided a timely reminder of the region's potential for instability. |
|
| Clinton blasts Egypt's shocking treatment of women |
| WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced Egypt's treatment of women as "shocking" and a "disgrace" to the state after troops were shown ripping off a female protester's clothes. |
|
| Chinese protestor charged over LA consulate shooting |
| LOS ANGELES: A Chinese-born activist was charged with firing shots at China's consulate in Los Angeles following a human rights protest outside the building last week, police said. |
|
| NEL train service suffers delay |
| SINGAPORE: Train service on the North-East Line (NEL) between Outram Park and HarbourFront Stations were delayed for about 20 minutes on Tuesday morning due to a signalling fault. |
|
| Euro turns lower against dollar |
| NEW YORK: The euro turned lower against the US dollar on Monday after EU leaders failed to muster the whole 200 million euros ($260 billion) targeted for new rescue funding and the death of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il unnerved Asian markets. |
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| Rolls-Royce to hire 500 more staff in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE: Rolls-Royce, which currently employs 300 staff at its campus at Seletar Aerospace Park, is looking to hire another 500 employees - 90 per cent of whom will be Singaporeans and permanent residents. |
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| Football: Chelsea confident Terry will earn his Spurs |
| LONDON: Chelsea captain John Terry is expected to be fit to face Tottenham in Thursday's London derby despite limping out of Monday's open training session at Stamford Bridge. |
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| AT&T drops plan to buy T-Mobile |
| WASHINGTON: AT&T said on Monday it was abandoning its $39 billion effort to buy Deutsche Telekom's US cellphone carrier T-Mobile after US authorities moved to block the deal as anti-competitive. |
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| US stocks end lower in thin trade |
| NEW YORK: US stocks skidded on Monday as investors worried about Europe's latest efforts to contain the deepening eurozone debt crisis. |
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| Oil prices tick higher amid North Korea worries |
| NEW YORK: Oil prices climbed on Monday as investors fretted about North Korea after the death of leader Kim Jong-Il left the isolated communist nation in a state of uncertainty. |
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| Deadly Cairo clashes stretch into fourth day |
| CAIRO: Egyptian security forces clashed for a fourth straight day on Monday with protesters demanding an end to military rule as the death toll rose to 12, despite strong international criticism of the violence. |
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| EU urges world to aid eurozone via IMF bailout |
| BRUSSELS: Europe urged G20 nations and other big contributors around the world on Monday to come to the aid of eurozone bailout efforts through the IMF, after British resistance saw finance ministers miss a self-imposed EU target. |
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| Strict diet could save brain from aging |
| WASHINGTON: Eating less may keep the mind young, according to Italian scientists who reported on Monday they have discovered the molecular process by which a strict diet may save the brain from the ravages of age. |
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| Philippine storm toll passes 900 as cities prepare burials |
| ILIGAN, Philippines: The death toll from the cyclone disaster that swept the southern Philippines has jumped above 900, a senior government official said on Tuesday, as cities prepared mass burials for the victims. |
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| Football: Santana out of Dortmund cup tie |
| BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund will be without Brazilian centre-back Felipe Santana for Tuesday's German Cup last 16 tie with second-tier Fortuna Duesseldorf, the German champions announced on Monday. |
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| Alpine Skiing: World Cup slalom win for Hirscher |
| ALTA BADIA, Italy: Marcel Hirscher of Austria won the men's World Cup slalom race on Monday ahead of Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli of Italy and Germany's Felix Neureuther. |
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| Football: Scottish clubs ready to reintroduce standing areas |
| GLASGOW: Scottish Premier League chiefs are ready to consider requests to reintroduce standing areas for supporters in the country's top-flight stadiums. |
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| UN to step up help for North Korea after leader's death |
| UNITED NATIONS: UN leader Ban Ki-moon vowed on Monday to step up help for North Korea after the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, as the UN General Assembly condemned the human rights situation in the country. |
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| Berlin film festival picks Hanks, Zhang movies for line-up |
| BERLIN: The Berlin film festival unveiled its first selections on Monday including a 9/11 drama starring Tom Hanks and new pictures from China's Zhang Yimou and Filipino art house star Brillante Mendoza. |
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| Neighbours react warily to Kim Jong-Il's death |
| SEOUL: North Korea's neighbours responded warily to news of Kim Jong-Il's death on Monday, as the prospect of internal transition added another layer of unpredictability to the maverick nuclear-armed regime. |
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| IMF to release 2.9b euros to Portugal |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said on Monday it would release 2.9 billion euros ($3.8 billion) to Portugal in the newest instalment of the country's huge rescue loan. |
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| North Korea backs son after Kim Jong-Il's death |
| SEOUL: North Korea on Monday hailed Kim Jong-Il's young son as a "great successor" at the helm of the isolated country after the leader who built an atomic arsenal and presided over a devastating famine died. |
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| Race against clock as EU faces IMF bailout deadline |
| BRUSSELS: European Union finance ministers raced against the clock on Monday to meet a self-imposed deadline to raise 200 billion euros ($260 billion) for new eurozone bailout funding. |
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| Henry Tang seen as frontrunner for HK chief exec post |
| HONG KONG : The race for Hong Kong's top job is heating up, with some of the city's most influential figures backing candidate Henry Tang. |
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| Olympics: No Dow Chemical branding on 2012 Olympic stadium |
| LONDON: The organisers of the 2012 London Olympics said on Monday that Dow Chemical's name will not appear on a fabric 'wrap' around the main stadium, in an issue which sparked threats of an Indian boycott. |
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| Bleak outlook for manufacturing sector: analysts |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's manufacturing sector may be heading towards some dark clouds in 2012. |
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| Vietnam sees less foreign investments |
| SINGAPORE: Vietnam's spectacular growth story in recent years has turned it into a poster boy for emerging economies but it may be starting to lose some of its shine. |
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| Investment professionals pessimistic about capital markets |
| SINGAPORE : Investment professionals from across the globe who hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualification remain pessimistic about the prospects for capital markets in the coming year. |
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| GLP forms joint venture with CIC |
| SINGAPORE : Mainboard-listed Global Logistic Properties Limited (GLP) has formed an equal joint venture with sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation (CIC) to acquire 15 modern logistics facilities in Japan. |
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| Did train delays affect retailers? |
| SINGAPORE: The train disruptions over the weekend did not dampen the sales at malls located near MRT stations. |
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| Woman in coma after falling onboard SMRT bus |
| SINGAPORE : A 54-year-old woman is in a coma after falling onboard an SMRT bus on Sunday night. |
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| S'pore shoppers splurge amid Xmas |
| SINGAPORE: It appears the uncertain economic outlook has not deterred Singapore shoppers from splurging on gifts this festive season. |
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| CDCs geared up for downturn aid |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's community development councils (CDCs) are battle-ready to help citizens tide over difficulties if another economic downturn hits next year, as a result of the economic problems in Europe and US. |
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| Will post-Kim North Korea implode? |
| SEOUL - The shock announcement Monday of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death has raised fears of turbulence in the nuclear-armed nation which has been plunged into a second dynastic succession. |
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| ASEAN Para Games: Event ends |
| SINGAPORE: Team Singapore at the ASEAN Para Games have so far bagged nine gold, 10 silver and nine bronze medals in Indonesia. |
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| Villagers in southern China warned against protest march |
| BEIJING : Villagers in southern China in a rare stand-off with local authorities on Monday said they were being bombarded with calls from officials to warn them not to take part in a planned protest march. |
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| HK property prices "set to drop" |
| HONG KONG: Residential property prices in Hong Kong look set for a correction in the new year with some property watchers saying prices will drop by 10 to 15 per cent in 2012. |
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| Japan calls urgent security meeting after Kim's death |
| TOKYO: Japan gathered senior ministers Monday to discuss security concerns following North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death as the government offered rare "condolences" on the passing of a much-reviled man. |
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| Syria finally agrees to Arab observer mission |
| CAIRO - Syria finally gave its agreement Monday to an Arab observer mission to monitor a deal to end nine months of bloodshed, ending weeks of prevarication that had prompted the Arab League to adopt sanctions. |
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| Thai floods set to cut GDP growth |
| THAILAND: The massive floods that hit Thailand this year will slash gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the kingdom, and have global repercussions. |
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| North Korea test fires short-range missile: report |
| SEOUL - Nuclear-armed North Korea test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast on Monday, the same day it announced the death of leader Kim Jong-Il, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said. |
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| S.Koreans fearful over Kim Jong-Il's death |
| SEOUL : News of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il hit South Koreans like a bolt from the blue on Monday, sparking both fears of conflict and hopes of change across the heavily-fortified border. |
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| South Korea ratings at risk if instability hits North: S&P |
| SINGAPORE - South Korea's sovereign credit ratings may be affected if political instability hits North Korea following the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, Standard & Poor's warned Monday. |
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| Disruption at French airports as strike enters fourth day |
| PARIS : Passengers were facing delays at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and cancellations at Lyon's airport on Monday as a strike by security workers during the busy holiday season entered a fourth day. |
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| 13 people found alive near capsized boat in Indonesia |
| WATULIMO, Indonesia : Indonesian rescuers found 13 people alive on Monday 100 kilometres from where a boat capsized, raising hopes of more survivors among 200 missing asylum seekers who were en route to Australia. |
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| Tennis: Hantuchova eyes top 10 in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE: Slovakian tennis star Daniela Hantuchova -- one of the poster girls for the sport who also appeared in a 2009 Sports Illustrated bikini edition -- insists her best days are not over. |
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| Etihad lifts stake in Air Berlin to 29% |
| BERLIN: United Arab Emirates airline, Etihad, is to pay 72.9 million euros (US$95 million) to become the biggest shareholder in Germany's second-largest airline, Air Berlin, the German group said on Monday. |
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| White House condemns threat to sink tax cut deal |
| WASHINGTON: The White House reacted angrily Sunday to a threat by the top Republican in the House of Representatives to torpedo a two-month payroll tax cut extension already approved by the Senate. |
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| Fed to embrace global banking rules: report |
| WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve is expected to embrace a new global framework that requires giant financial institutions to hold extra capital, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. |
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| Singapore stocks close 1.6% lower |
| SINGAPORE : Stocks in Singapore closed 1.6 per cent lower on Monday amid lingering concerns over the European debt crisis. |
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| India's Kingfisher grounds 15 jets: report |
| MUMBAI: Troubled Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines has been forced to ground 15 aircraft because it is unable to pay their maintenance costs, according to the Economic Times newspaper. |
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| Saudi prince invests in Twitter |
| RIYADH: Saudi billionaire Prince Walid bin Talal and his Kingdom Holding Company announced a combined investment of $300 million in the social networking site Twitter, in a statement Monday. |
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| Flood-hit Philippine cities prepare mass burials |
| ILIGAN, Philippines : The Philippines prepared mass burials for decomposing bodies of flood victims on Monday after a cyclone disaster left more than 600 people dead on the southern island of Mindanao. |
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| Asian shares down on euro fears, Kim's death |
| HONG KONG - Asian shares fell Monday with Europe's debt crisis hitting sentiment, while news that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il had died also weighed amid uncertainty over the geopolitical outlook. |
|
| S'pore sends Philippines condolences |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore leaders have expressed sympathy and support in condolence letters to Philippine President Benigno S Aquino, after Tropical Storm Washi battered southern Philippines, leaving more than 652 people dead. |
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| Carmaker Saab files for bankruptcy: Swedish court |
| STOCKHOLM : Carmaker Saab filed for bankruptcy on Monday, a Swedish district court told AFP, bringing to an end two years of efforts to rescue the iconic brand. |
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| China expresses condolences on Kim Jong-Il |
| BEIJING - China on Monday offered its "deep condolences" on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, which analysts said will spur Beijing to boost ties with Pyongyang to prevent instability. |
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| US, S Korea close ranks after Kim's death |
| WASHINGTON : The United States swiftly closed ranks with its ally South Korea on Monday as the death of nuclear-armed North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il landed President Barack Obama with a sudden foreign policy crisis. |
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| GCE 'N' Level results out |
| SINGAPORE: Results of this year's Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) Level Examinations are out. |
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| Sonija Kwok over 3 months pregnant |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong actress Sonija Kwok, who married her 32-year-old Chinese action choreographer boyfriend Zhu Shao Jie in April, recently revealed that she is more than three months pregnant, reported Hong Kong media. |
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| S'pore contributes S$50,000 to Philippine storm Washi relief |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore will contribute S$50,000 to help the Philippines in its relief efforts in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Washi. |
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| SIA to make flight network changes next year |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will make some flight network changes between March 25 and October 27 next year to match capacity with prevailing demand for travel during the Northern Summer schedule. |
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| Swimmer Theresa Goh wins gold at ASEAN Para Games |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's swimmers picked up more medals at the ASEAN Para Games on Monday, with Theresa Goh winning gold in the 50m freestyle. |
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| Jackie Chan's family once so poor "my father almost sold me away" |
| BEIJING: Asian superstar Jackie Chan revealed during a charity auction in Beijing on Saturday that he is very enthusiastic about doing charity work and helping others because of his own difficult past, reported Chinese media. |
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| Japan expresses "condolences" on Kim Jong-Il death |
| TOKYO, Japan: The Japanese government on Monday offered its condolences on the death of Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, a country with which Japan has no diplomatic relations. |
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| Qantas flight dive due to software limitation |
| SYDNEY: A Qantas plane plummetted more than 1,000 feet in 38 seconds, flinging passengers around the cabin, partly because of a design limitation in the flight control software, an Australian probe found Monday. |
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| Kim Jong-Un: North Korea's enigmatic heir apparent |
| SEOUL: The young man tipped to be North Korea's next leader and propel the Kim dynasty into a third generation is even more of an enigma than his mercurial father Kim Jong-Il, who has died at the age of 69. |
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| Chinese skipper "admits killing S.Korea coastguard" |
| SEOUL: A Chinese fisherman accused of fatally stabbing a South Korean coastguard officer during a raid last week on boats fishing illegally, has admitted the offence, according to a report. |
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| S. Korea orders military alert after Kim death |
| SEOUL: South Korea ordered its military on emergency alert and increased border air surveillance after North Korea announced the death of its leader Kim Jong-Il, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. |
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| New course, test for lorry crane operators |
| SINGAPORE: All lorry crane operators will have to be certified under a new training course to enhance safe operation of cranes by September 2013. |
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| Ocean Butterflies Music kicks off search for next JJ Lin, BY2 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore music label Ocean Butterflies Music kicked off their search for candidates for their V-Singer 2012 professional singer's training programme, with a pre-audition event on Saturday at the Grid in *Scape. |
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| CPF keeps 4% Special and Medisave Account interest rate |
| SINGAPORE: CPF members will continue to enjoy a risk-free interest rate of 4 per cent on their Special and Medisave Accounts (SMA) from January 1 to March 31, 2012; and on their Retirement Account (RA) from January 1 to December 31, 2012. |
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| Asia shares slip on euro fears, Kim death |
| HONG KONG: Asian shares fell Monday with Europe's debt crisis hitting sentiment, while the announcement of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il also weighed amid uncertainty over the geopolitical outlook. |
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| N. Korea announces death of Kim Jong-Il |
| SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died aged 69 of a heart attack, state media announced Monday, plunging the impoverished nuclear-armed nation into uncertainty. |
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| Samsung files new claims against Apple in Germany |
| SEOUL: South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Monday it has filed new legal claims against US rival Apple in Germany, claiming that the iPhone maker infringed four of its patents. |
|
| Magnitude-5.9 quake hits Indonesia's Sulawesi |
| JAKARTA: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Monday, US seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, and no tsunami alert. |
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| Crude down in Asia on Europe worries |
| SINGAPORE: Crude prices dipped in Asian trade Monday with eurozone worries plaguing markets as the year winds down, analysts said. |
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| Trains at slower pace after week of disruptions |
| SINGAPORE: Trains along the North-South and East-West lines resumed normal services on Monday morning. |
|
| Afghans negotiating long-term US presence |
| WASHINGTON: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday that his government is negotiating the terms of a long-term US presence in his country that could involve US troops. |
|
| Euro ministers in new crisis talks |
| BRUSSELS: Eurozone finance ministers will hold talks on the debt crisis on Monday to flesh out plans made at a Brussels summit this month to save the European currency. |
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| EU to ask Britain for 30.9-billion euro rescue boost: report |
| LONDON: European Union ministers will ask Britain to contribute 30.9 billion euros towards an International Monetary Fund (IMF) package aimed at rescuing the single currency, the Daily Telegraph reported Monday. |
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| Australian police help Indonesia after boat tragedy |
| SYDNEY: Australian police were drafted in Monday to help Indonesia investigate people-smugglers whose "callous disregard for human life" saw more than 200 asylum-seekers feared dead in a boat wreck off Java. |
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| Clinton urges halt to Egyptian violence |
| WASHINGTON: Top US diplomat Hillary Clinton called on Egyptians to refrain from violence Sunday after a third straight day of deadly clashes in Cairo. |
|
| Qantas reaches agreement with engineers |
| SYDNEY: Qantas and one of three unions at the centre of a long-running industrial dispute that led to the airline's fleet being grounded on Monday reached an agreement to end their standoff. |
|
| Football: Lille prevent PSG from regaining first place |
| PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain were prevented from regaining top spot in Ligue 1 after being held to a 0-0 draw by defending champions Lille in an engaging game at Parc des Princes on Sunday. |
|
| Football: Two-goal Soldado boosts hopes of Spain recall |
| MADRID: Roberto Soldado scored both goals to take his La Liga season's tally to 11 as Valencia defeated Malaga 2-0 on Sunday, a victory which kept his side in third place and in the hunt for a Champions League place. |
|
| Pakistan's President Zardari returns home |
| KARACHI: Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari returned home on Monday following medical treatment in Dubai, an official said, nearly a fortnight after leaving the country in the midst of a major scandal. |
|
| Taiwan receives two US early warning aircraft |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan received two upgraded early warning aircraft from the United States Sunday, the island's airforce said, as part of an arms deal that upset China-US relations. |
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| Football: Derby win takes Juventus back to Serie A summit |
| ROME: Juventus returned to the top of Serie A following a 2-0 victory at home to Novara on Sunday, while Inter Milan's revival continued as they won 1-0 at Cesena to climb to fifth place. |
|
| Israel frees 550 Palestinian prisoners |
| JERUSALEM: Israel on Sunday freed 550 Palestinian prisoners, completing the second phase of a deal which saw Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit freed in October, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. |
|
| Thousands protest against 'rigged' Russia polls |
| MOSCOW: Around 8,000 people protested in Moscow and Saint Petersburg on Sunday against what they say were rigged parliamentary polls that handed victory to Vladimir Putin's ruling party. |
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| Britain to split up banks in 2019 |
| LONDON: The British government will on Monday accept in full recommendations to split banks' retail and investment units in a bid to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis, business minister Vince Cable said. |
|
| Mass burial readied as Philippine flood rescuers struggle |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Rescuers struggled to help survivors and a ravaged city prepared for a mass burial as the death toll from devastating flash floods in the southern Philippines rose past 650 on Sunday. |
|
| Football: Manchester City stay on top of Premier League |
| LONDON: Manchester City were left two points in front of champions Manchester United at the top of the English Premier League after a 1-0 win at home to Arsenal on Sunday. |
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| Football: Pavlyuchenko takes Tottenham into third |
| LONDON: Roman Pavlyuchenko's first Premier League goal of the season was enough to ensure Tottenham Hotspur beat Sunderland 1-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday to go third in the Premier League. |
|
| Let's Do it Again: Beach Boys announce reunion |
| LOS ANGELES: Iconic 1960s Californian band the Beach Boys are reuniting to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a new album and a 50-date world tour next year, the group announced. |
|
| Tens of thousands of Pakistanis rally against US |
| LAHORE, Pakistan: Tens of thousands gathered in one of the biggest-ever protests in the Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday to condemn NATO and United States over the killing of 24 soldiers along the Afghan border. |
|
| Violence rocks Cairo for third straight day |
| CAIRO: Deadly clashes pitting army troops and police against protesters rocked Cairo's political centre for a third day on Sunday, widening divisions over the military's handling of transition from Hosni Mubarak's rule. |
|
| Golf: Poulter masters wind to don gold jacket |
| MELBOURNE: England's Ian Poulter finished the season by donning the gold Australian Masters winner's jacket on Sunday after a resilient final round of four-under 67 at the windswept Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne. |
|
| Alpine Skiing: Blardone wins Alta Bardia giant slalom |
| ALTA BADIA, Italy: Italy's Massimiliano Blardone won the men's alpine skiing World Cup giant slalom on Sunday on his favourite slope with Austrian duo Hannes Reichelt and Philipp Schorghofer in second and third. |
|
| Badminton: China's Lin Dan wins first "Super Grand Slam" |
| LIUZHOU, China: Chinese ace Lin Dan claimed the World Superseries Finals title on Sunday, defeating his compatriot Chen Long in less than an hour, 21-12, 21-16. |
|
| Motor Racing: Argentina starts work on new F1 circuit |
| BUENOS AIRES: Argentina has started work on a $100 million grand prix circuit designed to see the country makes its return to the Formula One calendar. |
|
| Golf: Westwood storms to victory in Thailand Golf Championship |
| BANGKOK: Lee Westwood displayed all his class and experience on Sunday as he brushed aside a challenge from Masters champion Charl Schwartzel to win the $1 million Thailand Golf Championship by seven strokes. |
|
| Football: Liverpool too strong for dismal Aston Villa |
| BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Kenny Dalglish secured his first ever victory at Villa Park as a manager as Liverpool once again enhanced their aspirations of a top four finish with a 2-0 win on Sunday. |
|
| Sailing: Australia top world championships medal board |
| PERTH, Australia: The host nation enjoyed a golden finish on the final day of the ISAF World Sailing Championships in Western Australia on Sunday, finishing as the leading country. |
|
| Football: Barcelona beat Santos to win World Club Cup |
| YOKOHAMA, Japan: Lionel Messi grabbed a brace as a rampant Barcelona out-classed the Brazilians Santos 4-0 to lift the Club World Cup on Sunday and confirm their status as the best team on the planet. |
|
| Football: Quick-fire Rooney helps Manchester Utd down QPR |
| LONDON: A first-minute goal from Wayne Rooney sent Manchester United on their way to a 2-0 victory away at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday and increased the pressure on Manchester City. |
|
| Euro ministers to hold debt talks |
| BRUSSELS: Eurozone finance ministers will hold telephone talks on the debt crisis on Monday, a government source told AFP. |
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| S'pore needs to improve capabilties to respond to emergencies: Lawrence Wong |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong said Singapore should improve its capabilities to respond to emergencies, similar to the train breakdowns earlier this week. |
|
| K Shanmugam lights candles for peace |
| SINGAPORE: Christmas is not just about presents but it's also a time to share the message of peace. |
|
| R Suthashini wins MediaCorp's Vasantham Star title |
| SINGAPORE: The hunt for the next Vasantham Star ended on Sunday evening, with R Suthashini winning the coveted title. |
|
| ASEAN Para Games: Singapore athletes clinch three more gold medals |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore athletes continued their winning form at the 6th ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia. |
|
| Chinese villagers threaten govt office march |
| WUKAN, China: Protesting villagers in southern China said Sunday they will march on government offices this week unless the body of a local leader is released and four villagers in police custody are freed. |
|
| SMRT CEO not stepping down |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa has told Channel NewsAsia that she has no plans to step down over the disruptions. |
|
| Investigations should uncover adequacy of train maintenance: analysts |
| SINGAPORE: A formal inquiry has been called to uncover the reasons behind the recent train disruptions. |
|
| Former Czech president dies |
| PRAGUE: Former Czech president and hero of the Velvet Revolution Vaclav Havel, who steered his country to independence from Soviet rule in 1989, died on Sunday at the age of 75, his office said. |
|
| Violence spreads in Kazakh oil region |
| ASTANA: Violence in Kazakhstan's oil-rich Mangistau region began to spread when rioters blocked a passenger train and vandalised a village before police opened fire, killing one person, prosecutors said Sunday. |
|
| CDAC's Project Excellence sees PSLE students improve |
| SINGAPORE: An initiative by non-profit organisation the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), has seen grades for its students improve. |
|
| Pennetta wins S'pore tennis finals |
| SINGAPORE: Italy's Flavia Pennetta on Sunday won the inaugural Singapore Women's Tennis Exhibition tournament at the Indoor stadium. |
|
| 652 dead, 808 missing in Philippine floods |
| MANILA: The death toll from mammoth floods unleashed in the southern Philippines by tropical storm Washi has climbed to 652 with 808 others missing, the Red Cross said Sunday. |
|
| 652 dead, 808 missing in Philippine floods |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Philippine rescuers struggled against mud, fatigue and the stench of death Sunday to help the survivors of devastating flash floods that killed more than 650 people. |
|
| Christmas shopping still on despite delay in train services |
| SINGAPORE: The delay in train services on Sunday morning on the East-West and North-South Lines may have seen fewer early-bird shoppers in town. |
|
| Man arrested for suspected loansharking activities |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for suspected involvement in loansharking activities. |
|
| Grenade attack wounds 20 in Afghanistan |
| GARDEZ, Afghanistan: Eighteen civilians and two policemen were wounded when a man threw grenades at a police vehicle in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, an official said. |
|
| President Tony Tan in London |
| LONDON: Singapore's President Tony Tan and his wife Mary dropped into Singapore's High Commision in London on Friday evening, to meet and greet scores of expats who gathered to see them. |
|
| 200 feared dead as migrant boat sinks in Indonesia |
| WATULIMO, Indonesia: More than 200 people were feared dead after a heavily overloaded boat packed mostly with Afghan and Iranian asylum-seekers sank off Indonesia en route to Australia, rescuers said Sunday. |
|
| NS-EW trains to run slower; dislodged "claws" found in tunnels |
| SINGAPORE: Trains for the North-South and East-West Lines will be running slower, as the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has asked SMRT to apply a temporary speed restriction of 40 kilometres per hour in certain areas. |
|
| Christmas comes early for 100 children in Chong Pang |
| SINGAPORE: Christmas came early for more than 100 children from low-income households in the Chong Pang area. |
|
| Child coffins run out in Philippine flood city |
| CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines: Dexter Lacson has run out of children's coffins as wave upon wave of bloated corpses threatens to overwhelm his southern Philippine mortuary after the most fearsome flash floods in living memory. |
|
| SBS deploys more buses & trains to cope with MRT lines delay |
| SINGAPORE: SBS Transit deployed more buses and trains to help cope with the delayed start of train services on the North-South and East-West lines on Sunday. |
|
| S'pore athletes bag medals at ASEAN Para Games |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Benson Tan Eng Kiong has won gold and set another ASEAN Para Games record in Solo, Indonesia. |
|
| China says property prices fall in more cities |
| BEIJING: Home prices in most major Chinese cities fell in November from the previous month, official data showed Sunday, as government efforts to cool the red-hot property market prove effective. |
|
| Christmas belt-tightening in crisis-hit Europe |
| PARIS: Europeans are tightening their belts and spending less on Christmas gifts this year as they struggle with incomes hit by austerity measures or fear the economy could worsen in 2012. |
|
| China orders police charm offensive |
| BEIJING: China's security chief has ordered police on a six-month charm offensive to improve relations with the public and deal with their gripes, following a spate of social unrest across the country. |
|
| Key Iowa newspaper backs Romney for president |
| WASHINGTON: The most influential newspaper in the critical state of Iowa endorsed Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination Saturday, praising his "sobriety, wisdom and judgment." |
|
| Slow recovery for flood-hit Thai plants |
| AYUTTHAYA, Thailand: Piles of rubbish, rusting furniture and discarded machinery litter one of Thailand's top high-tech parks, a former symbol of economic prowess laid to waste by weeks of flooding. |
|
| Beijing hits 'blue sky' target despite bad air |
| BEIJING: Beijing authorities said Sunday they had met their target of "blue sky" days for 2011, amid growing public criticism that officials are underplaying the pollution problem in the Chinese capital. |
|
| Important to be prepared in face of emergencies: DPM Teo |
| SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Sunday said it's important to be prepared in the face of emergencies, as there are always unusual aspects within every scenario. |
|
| WP "deeply concerned" about frequency of train disruptions |
| SINGAPORE: The Workers' Party said it's "deeply concerned" about the frequency of MRT train service disruptions along the North-South and East-West (NS-EW) lines, as well as the Circle Line. |
|
| US forces leave Iraq |
| IRAQ-KUWAIT BORDER, Kuwait: The last US forces left Iraq and entered Kuwait Sunday, nearly nine years after launching a divisive war to oust Saddam Hussein, and just as the oil-rich country grapples with renewed political deadlock. |
|
| S.Korea urges "courage" from Japan on sex slaves |
| KYOTO: South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak urged Japan Sunday to have the "courage" to compensate ageing wartime sex slaves before it is too late and let the two nations' relationship progress. |
|
| New Australian inquest into 'dingo' baby death |
| SYDNEY: A new inquest will be opened into the death of baby Azaria Chamberlain, according to reports, 31 years after she was apparently taken by a dingo at Ayers Rock in a case that caused a worldwide sensation. |
|
| Arrests at Occupy Wall Street protest in NY |
| NEW YORK: Police made several arrests at a protest in New York marking three months of demonstrations by the Occupy Wall Street movement. |
|
| S'pore needs to strengthen civil defence: Lawrence Wong |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong said the commuting public, public transport operators and key government agencies should work on strengthening civil defence to manage crises similar to this week's breakdown in MRT services. |
|
| Unrest challenging China before leadership change |
| BEIJING: An open revolt against officialdom by Chinese villagers last week demonstrated the challenge social unrest poses to the Communist party as it prepares for a generational leadership handover. |
|
| East-West line resumes service |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT said the East-West Line resumed service at 11.00 am, but the North-South Line will resume service later. |
|
| US approves first heart pump for children |
| WASHINGTON: The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a first mechanical cardiac assist device for children that can help keep patients alive as they await a transplant. |
|
| Football: "No PSG deal for Beckham yet" |
| LONDON: Paris Saint-Germain have not agreed to sign former England captain David Beckham, his spokesman said on Saturday, despite reports in France that the player was already in the French capital. |
|
| "Asylum boat" sinks off Indonesia |
| JAKARTA: A wooden boat reportedly carrying 250 asylum seekers from the Middle East sank off Indonesia's Java island Saturday en route to Australia, state-run news agency Antara reported. |
|
| Tennis: Djokovic eyes 2012 repeat |
| ABU DHABI: World number one Novak Djokovic proclaimed himself fighting fit on Saturday and insisted there was no reason why he cannot repeat his sensational season in 2012. |
|
| French airport strike set to delay flights |
| PARIS: A two-day-old strike by French airport security workers that triggered widespread travel disruptions during the busy holiday season is expected to stretch into Sunday. |
|
| Football: Newcastle suffer slump |
| NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Newcastle's mini-slump continued at St James Park on Saturday as promoted Swansea held out for a 0-0 draw which saw the Magpies' winless streak extend to five games. |
|
| Football: Wigan score late draw goal |
| LONDON: A Petr Cech blunder brought Chelsea's recent revival to a halt on Saturday as relegation-threatened Wigan snatched a late 1-1 draw against the Londoners. |
|
| Cairo clashes kill 9 |
| CAIRO: Violence raged in the administrative heart of Egypt's capital on Saturday as troops and police deployed in force after clashes with protesters against continued military rule left nine people dead. |
|
| WTO 3-day talks end |
| GENEVA: Ministers wrapped up a three-day meeting of the World Trade Organisation on Saturday with no new direction in sight for the deadlocked Doha Round of negotiations for a global free trade pact. |
|
| Alitalia "eyes Air France merger" |
| ROME: Alitalia has held high-level talks on a possible merger with Air France-KLM, which already holds a 25 percent stake in the Italian airline, the Il Messaggero daily said Saturday. |
|
| US Senate okays tax, pipeline deal |
| WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Saturday passed a compromise measure extending a workers tax holiday and jobless benefits, but further denting President Barack Obama's authority by forcing him to look again at a contentious pipeline plan. |
|
| Swimming: Thorpe struggles in 200m |
| ROME: Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe endured a second disappointing outing on his return to long-course swimming after a six-year absence when he was 10th in the 200m freestyle at the Italian Winter Open. |
|
| Football: Bolton's league slump continues |
| LONDON: Bolton's slide towards Premier League relegation continued on Saturday as Owen Coyle's side crashed to their fifth consecutive loss with a 2-0 defeat at Fulham. |
|
| Florence killings spark march |
| FLORENCE, Italy: Thousands marched against racism in Florence on Saturday after a far-right activist killed two Senegalese street vendors in a shooting spree in the historic Italian city this week. |
|
| Tunisians mark revolution anniversary |
| SIDI BOUZID, Tunisia: Thousands of Tunisians rallied on Saturday to commemorate a young fruitseller's desperate gesture a year ago which unleashed the pioneering revolution of the Arab Spring. |
|
| Belgians mourn carnage victims |
| LIEGE, Belgium: Hundreds of people clad in white marched in silence in the Belgian city of Liege Saturday to mourn five people killed when a former convict went on a shooting spree this week. |
|
| Philippines storm death toll rises |
| ILIGAN, Philippines: Tropical storm Washi whipped the southern Philippines on Saturday, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas that left at least 440 people dead and nearly 200 missing, relief workers said. |
|
| Football: Dortmund down Freiburg |
| BERLIN: Japan's Shinji Kagawa played a starring role as defending champions Borussia Dortmund trimmed Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the German league back to three points with a 4-1 win at Freiburg on Saturday. |
|
| Football: FIFA demands Sion ban |
| TOKYO: Football's world ruling body FIFA has threatened to ban the Swiss Football Association if it fails to impose a transfer ban on FC Sion by January 13. |
|
| Pakistan PM denies rift with army over secret memo |
| ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has dismissed rumours of a rift with the country's powerful army over a secret memo that sought US intervention to prevent a feared military coup. |
|
| Singapore swimming duo win gold at ASEAN Para Games |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore added two more gold medals to their tally at the ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia. |
|
| Pentagon chief sees close partnership with Libya |
| TRIPOLI: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Saturday that Tripoli could become an important security partner of Washington as he visited Libya for talks with new regime officials. |
|
| MediaCorp's Class 95 DJs go the extra mile for smiles |
| SINGAPORE: With just a week away to Christmas, MediaCorp's Class 95FM DJs got in the spirit of giving by raising funds for their adopted charity - Operation Smile Singapore. |
|
| Iran intelligence "arrests CIA spy" |
| TEHRAN: Tehran has arrested an alleged US Central Intelligence Agency spy of Iranian origin before he could complete his mission of infiltrating the intelligence ministry, media quoted the ministry as saying on Saturday. |
|
| State of emergency in Kazakhstan's oil town |
| ASTANA: Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Saturday ordered a state of emergency in the Caspian town of Zhanaozen after clashes between police and laid-off oil workers killed at least 11 people. |
|
| Runners spruce up needy families' homes for Christmas |
| SINGAPORE: It's the season of giving and receiving. Some people have come together to bring cheer to others. |
|
| Taiwan leader denies meddling in opponent probe |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou Saturday rejected allegations that he was behind a corruption probe implicating his main political rival in a bid to manipulate next year's presidential polls. |
|
| Arab League to consider taking Syria plan to UN |
| DOHA: An Arab ministerial committee proposed Saturday taking an Arab League plan to end the crisis in Syria to the UN Security Council, Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani said. |
|
| NGOs submit proposals on action against human trafficking |
| SINGAPORE: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have submitted proposals to the authorities for a National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking. |
|
| Pennetta to the finals of S'pore Women's Tennis Exhibition |
| SINGAPORE: Current US Open Champ Samatha Stosur has been upstaged by Italy's Flavia Pennetta, at the semi-finals of the Singapore Women's Tennis Exhibition. |
|
| Public shy away from MRT after disruptions |
| SINGAPORE: The seven-hour MRT disruption on the North-South Line on Saturday morning definitely took its toll on the public. |
|
| New clashes rock Cairo |
| CAIRO: New violence rocked the administrative heart of Cairo on Saturday as troops and police deployed after clashes with protesters against continued military rule left eight people dead and 299 wounded. |
|
| Awning falls on man at Sengkang train station |
| SINGAPORE: A window cleaner is now in hospital after he fell through the roof and landed on the concourse in front of the control room of Sengkang train station. |
|
| North-South train commuters irritated and upset |
| SINGAPORE: Like Thursday, thousands of commuters were affected by Saturday's seven-hour disruption, which affected a stretch of the North-South Line in the city area. |
|
| Strauss-Kahn to speak at forum in Beijing |
| BEIJING: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn will speak at an economic forum in Beijing Monday, organisers said, in his first public professional speech since the New York scandal in May. |
|
| Public inquiry to look into MRT disruptions: PM Lee |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said there will be a public inquiry into the recent MRT disruptions, to understand why the incidents happened. |
|
| One dead, four wounded in aircraft accident |
| JAYAPURA, Indonesia: A small aircraft caught fire on landing in the remote Indonesian province of Papua on Saturday, killing one pilot and leaving four passengers with burn wounds, police said. |
|
| Deported thief slips into Hong Kong 40 times |
| HONG KONG: A woman barred from entering Hong Kong for life over serial shoplifting evaded security checks and slipped into the city more than 40 times in two years, according to a report. |
|
| Nancy Powell new US ambassador to India |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama named Nancy Powell, a career diplomat with wide experience in South Asia, to be the ambassador to India and fill a half-year vacancy. |
|
| NS-EW MRT lines to start 10am on Sunday |
| SINGAPORE: MRT service on Sunday for the North-South and East-West lines will start later - at 10am instead of 5.30am - after checks have been completed on all trains and tracks. |
|
| Seething anger led to China village stand-off |
| WUKAN, China: The villagers of Wukan in southern China say officials have been stealing their land for decades. So when a major deal involving yet more land was announced in September, their anger boiled over. |
|
| N.Korea "agrees to suspend uranium enrichment" |
| SEOUL: North Korea has agreed to suspend its enriched-uranium nuclear weapons programme, a key United States demand for the resumption of disarmament talks, according to news reports. |
|
| North-South Line service resumes after 7-hour disruption |
| SINGAPORE: Train services on the entire North-south Line resumed at 1.48 pm on Saturday, about seven hours after they were disrupted due to a possible fault with the power rail system. |
|
| Japan nuclear efforts only "first aid" |
| TOKYO: Japanese newspapers Saturday dismissed Tokyo's declaration of a "cold shutdown" at the Fukushima nuclear plant as meaning only "first aid" had been completed, saying a long recovery still lay ahead. |
|
| MRT system has some "instability", says Transport Minister |
| SINGAPORE: In response to questions on concerns over the MRT system's reliability, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Saturday said there is some instability in the system. |
|
| Thai PM to meet Myanmar's Suu Kyi next week |
| BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Saturday that she would meet Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on a visit to the neighbouring country next week. |
|
| Senate does deal on tax, dents Obama on pipeline |
| WASHINGTON: US Senate leaders agreed to extend a workers tax holiday and jobless benefits, but further dented President Barack Obama's authority by forcing him to look again at a contentious pipeline plan. |
|
| Philippines storm toll rises to 50 |
| MANILA, Philippines: The death toll from tropical storm Washi rose to 50 on Saturday as it raked across the southern Philippines, causing widespread flooding, officials said. |
|
| Embattled Australian PM says she's staying |
| SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Saturday her government would serve a full three-year term as speculation mounted that Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd is preparing a leadership challenge. |
|
| Football: Bayern down Cologne |
| BERLIN: Ten-man Bayern Munich ensured it would be cheery festive season in Bavaria with a 3-0 rout of visiting FC Cologne which took their lead over Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund to six points. |
|
| Britney Spears to marry again |
| LOS ANGELES: "Oops, I Did it Again" star Britney Spears is ready to marry for a third time, after accepting boyfriend and former agent Jason Trawick's proposal, the couple announced Friday. |
|
| Eleven dead in Colombia landslide, floods |
| BOGOTA: Eleven people were killed and four others reported missing Friday in Colombia after heavy rains caused a landslide and forced already swollen rivers to burst their banks, officials said. |
|
| MRT breaks down again |
| SINGAPORE: Train services between Toa Payoh and Marina Bay stations have been disrupted, in a third day of service breakdown for Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT). |
|
| UN lifts Libya sanctions |
| UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Friday lifted sanctions on Libya's central bank and one of the country's key foreign investment banks in a bid to ease a cash crunch, diplomats said. |
|
| US stocks close higher |
| NEW YORK: US stocks finished mostly higher Friday as investors digested tame US inflation data and a weak market debut of social games giant Zynga. |
|
| Baseball: Bonds under house arrest |
| SAN FRANCISCO: Barry Bonds, US baseball's all-time home run king, was sentenced Friday to 30 days of house arrest and two years probation for giving misleading testimony in connection with the BALCO probe. |
|
| Fitch doubts euro debt plan |
| PARIS: Fitch Ratings cast doubt Friday on the budget discipline pact European states intend to adopt being able to solve the eurozone debt crisis, and warned it may soon downgrade six countries, including Spain and Italy. |
|
| Moody's downgrades Hungarian banks |
| VIENNA: Moody's rating agency said Friday it has downgraded the stand-alone ratings of four Hungarian banks - K&H Bank, FHB Mortgage Bank, Erste Bank Hungary and MKB Bank. |
|
| France's Britain comment "unacceptable" |
| LONDON: Britain hit back Friday at French criticism of its economy as deputy premier Nick Clegg told France's prime minister the comments were "simply unacceptable". |
|
| Swimming: Thorpe 16th fastest after break |
| PARIS: Five-time Olympic Games gold medallist Ian Thorpe finished 16th in the 100m freestyle at the Italian Winter Open meet on Friday in the Australian's first long course outing in six years. |
|
| Massive outage hits northern France |
| RENNES, France: A storm battered France and Switzerland on Friday, with three people injured in a Swiss train derailment, hundreds of thousands left without power and a grounded ship spilling oil off Brittany. |
|
| Egypt clashes kill 2 |
| CAIRO: At least two people were killed and 220 wounded on Friday as Egyptian protesters and security forces clashed in the worst violence in weeks, overshadowing the vote count in the latest round of a landmark general election. |
|
| Skiing: Feuz wins World Cup Super-G |
| VAL GARDENA, Italy: Beat Feuz of Switzerland continued where he left off last season by winning the men's World Cup Super-G Friday ahead of American Bode Miller and Kjetil Jansrud of Norway. |
|
| Deaths mar Kazakh independence day |
| ASTANA: Ten people were killed Friday in clashes between striking oil workers and police at a ceremony marking Kazakhstan's independence day in the western city of Zhanaozen, prosecutors said. |
|
| Thai royalists rally in Bangkok |
| BANGKOK: About 100 royalists gathered in front of the US embassy in Bangkok on Friday in support of the kingdom's tough laws against insulting the monarchy, following criticism from Washington. |
|
| Kabul police station attacked |
| KABUL: A police station in the Afghan capital came under militant attack Friday, with at least one explosion and several bursts of gunfire heard, officials said. |
|
| Europe police smash child porn ring |
| THE HAGUE: Police in 22 European countries swooped on 112 suspects for allegedly sharing "the most extreme form" of online videos of children being sexually abused and raped, policing agency Europol said on Friday. |
|
| Clashes overshadow Egypt vote count |
| CAIRO: Egyptian troops clashed with petrol bomb-throwing protesters against military rule in Cairo on Friday as the worst violence in weeks overshadowed the count in the second phase of a landmark general election. |
|
| WikiLeaks suspect appears in court |
| FORT MEADE, Maryland: A US soldier accused of giving classified documents to WikiLeaks appeared in court Friday for the first time, with the defence immediately calling for the presiding officer to step down. |
|
| WTO approves Russia's membership |
| GENEVA : Russia secured the final approval Friday to join the World Trade Organization after a record 18 years of trying. |
|
| Badminton: Lin, Lee on collision course in China |
| LIUZHOU, China - Defending champion Lee Chong Wei and Chinese ace Lin Dan stayed on course for a dream World Superseries Finals title match Friday as both stormed into the semis unbeaten. |
|
| 1,287 Specialist Cadets graduate as specialists of SAF |
| SINGAPORE : 1,287 Specialist Cadets (SCT) graduated as specialists of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday evening. |
|
| Lion Air to launch premium airline in 2013 |
| SINGAPORE : Indonesia's budget airline Lion Air is heading upmarket as part of its expansion plans. |
|
| MF Global Singapore liquidators retrieve more of clients' funds |
| SINGAPORE : Provisional liquidators of MF Global Singapore say they have collected about US$392 million to date. |
|
| SMRT needs to improve technical operations, communications: Seng Han Thong |
| SINGAPORE : The deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, Seng Han Thong, has said that SMRT needs to improve its technical operations as well as its public communications. |
|
| Italian PM wins austerity confidence vote in lower house |
| ROME: Italy's lower house of parliament gave the green light to Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity package on Friday in a vote of confidence aimed at speeding up implementation of the urgent measures. |
|
| Singapore banks under pressure to keep up profitability in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore banks have been rated stable by international ratings agencies. |
|
| Tennis: Exhibition tournament kicks off at Singapore Indoor Stadium |
| SINGAPORE : Six of the biggest names in women's tennis are in Singapore for an exhibition tournament. |
|
| MRT breakdown "extremely serious": Lui Tuck Yew |
| SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has described Thursday evening's train breakdown as an "extremely serious" one, with the safety of commuters compromised. |
|
| US consumer prices steady as energy prices ease |
| WASHINGTON : The cost of living in the United States was unchanged in November from October as energy prices continued to fall for a second straight month, government data showed Friday. |
|
| Government's cooling measures dampen property auction sales |
| SINGAPORE : The government's property cooling measures have dampened the performance of auctioned properties in 2011. |
|
| SMRT to relook current SOPs after Thursday's MRT disruption |
| SINGAPORE : SMRT has acknowledged that its current standard operating procedures (SOPs) are inadequate in dealing with certain situations, even as more extensions to the train system are added. |
|
| Palm oil and consumer-related stocks to benefit from resilient ASEAN economies |
| SINGAPORE : It will not be all doom and gloom for stocks amid the ongoing market uncertainty. |
|
| Singapore swimmer Theresa Goh strikes gold |
| SINGAPORE: Team Singapore has won its first gold medal at the 6th ASEAN Paralympic Games in Solo, Indonesia. |
|
| Rents for Grade A office space to fall by 15 per cent in 2012: Savills |
| SINGAPORE : Property consulting firm Savills expects Singapore's overall rents for Grade A office space to trend downwards by 15 per cent in 2012. |
|
| Football: Asean ministers welcome regional league |
| JAKARTA - A proposed Southeast Asian super league has won approval of regional sports ministers, Indonesia's minister said Friday, in a move to match the sport's popularity in the bloc with stronger competition. |
|
| Commuters' reactions to SMRT's apology over train disruption |
| SINGAPORE : Many commuters Channel NewsAsia spoke with have responded positively to SMRT's apology over Thursday night's train disruption. |
|
| Football: Tough Champions league draw for Chelsea, Arsenal |
| PARIS: England's two surviving representatives in the Champions League, Chelsea and Arsenal, were handed tough ties against Italian opposition in Friday's draw, while holders Barcelona will come up against Germany's Bayer Leverkusen. |
|
| Golf: Sparkling Westwood builds up huge lead |
| BANGKOK - Lee Westwood put on another dazzling display at the US$1 million Thailand Golf Championship on Friday to finish the second round on 20 under par, creating a commanding 11-stroke lead. |
|
| PA to organise ministerial community visits from January 2012 |
| SINGAPORE : The People's Association (PA) and its grassroots organisations will hold a new series of ministerial community visits from January 2012. |
|
| France fuels row with fresh attacks on British economy |
| PARIS : France fuelled a burgeoning cross-Channel row on Friday, describing Britain's economy as "very worrying" as the press in London reacted with fury to French calls for British debt to be downgraded. |
|
| More training for train drivers to improve communication: SMRT |
| SINGAPORE : SMRT has said there will be more training for train drivers to provide more timely updates to passengers - not just to those on the trains, but even to passengers before they enter the MRT stations. |
|
| Economic turbulence to slash profit of aviation industry |
| SINGAPORE : The aviation industry has been racked by economic turbulence this year. |
|
| China govt seeks to reach out to citizens via Internet |
| BEIJING : China is trying to reach out to the Internet generation by opening more avenues for online discussion. |
|
| Badminton: China's Chen sends Hidayat crashing |
| LIUZHOU, China: Chinese second seed Chen Long sent former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat tumbling out of the World Superseries Finals with a masterful display on Friday. |
|
| Tan Jee Say publishes book on General and Presidential elections |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's two major elections and the experiences that some candidates went through have been documented in a book published by presidential candidate Tan Jee Say, who also took part in the May General Election under the Singapore Democratic Party. |
|
| Singapore shares end firmer following upbeat US economic data |
| SINGAPORE : Share prices in Singapore closed firmer on Friday following the release of upbeat US economic data. |
|
| World's largest floating book fair in S'pore for first time |
| SINGAPORE : The Logos Hope, a ship carrying the world's largest floating book fair, is in Singapore for the first time. |
|
| Thailand gives back passport to ex-PM Thaksin |
| BANGKOK : Thailand has given its fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra his passport back, the government said on Friday, despite strong opposition from the ex-tycoon's political opponents. |
|
| SMRT apologises for "income opportunity" message |
| SINGAPORE : SMRT has admitted that it was a "very bad mistake" to send out an "insensitive" message alert about the train disruption on Thursday night. |
|
| Putin's popularity takes a hit ahead of vote |
| MOSCOW: Vladimir Putin's approval ratings have declined to historic lows, polls showed Friday, as liberal media suggested the powerful prime minister was growing out of touch after Russia was swept by protests. |
|
| Tennis: Singapore eyes WTA debut next year |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore looks set to hold its first WTA tennis tournament as early as next year after being offered an end-of-season time slot, according to a promoter. |
|
| George Yeo to join Kuok Group |
| SINGAPORE : Former foreign minister George Yeo will join the Kuok Group as vice chairman of Kerry Group (HK) Pte Ltd. |
|
| Ratings agencies to follow Fitch on Indonesia upgrade: analysts |
| JAKARTA : Indonesia's recovery of its investment-grade status from Fitch ratings after 14 years will likely prompt upgrades by other agencies and attract an influx of foreign investment, analysts said Friday. |
|
| Tan Cheng Bock donates sales proceeds of photo diary to charity |
| SINGAPORE : Presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock has donated S$20,000 to charity from the sales proceeds of his photo diary. |
|
| Asian shares up on upbeat US data, Spain bond sale |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets followed Wall Street and European shares higher Friday as strong US data on jobs and manufacturing and a successful Spanish bond auction tempered fears over the eurozone. |
|
| Edison Chen vows to have no more photo scandals |
| TAIPEI: Hong Kong singer apologised once more for his involvement in a photo scandal with 16-year-old model Cammi Tse and vowed that such things won't happen again, when he attended a promotional event for his fashion label in Taiwan on Thursday, reported Hong Kong media. |
|
| S. Korea to raise comfort women issue with Japan |
| SEOUL: For decades Korean comfort women lived in shame, shutting themselves off from the outside world. |
|
| DBS Bank sets up $5b US commercial paper programme |
| SINGAPORE: DBS Bank has set up a US$5 billion US Commercial Paper Programme. |
|
| Japan says Fukushima reactors in cold shutdown |
| TOKYO: The Japanese government on Friday declared reactors at the tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant to be in a state of cold shutdown, media reports said. |
|
| Young women not seeking early help for womb disease |
| SINGAPORE: One in 10 Singapore women suffers from endometriosis. |
|
| SMRT CEO apologises for train disruption |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa on Friday offered her sincere apologies to all commuters affected in Thursday night's five-hour MRT network breakdown on the north-south line. |
|
| China's bank deposits fall as investors sell yuan |
| BEIJING: Chinese investors withdrew hundreds of billions of yuan from major banks in the first 10 days of December, state media said Friday, on falling expectations the currency will strengthen. |
|
| Benny Chan off the hook for drunken groping after newspaper apologies |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Benny Chan, who admitted to groping 19-year-old actress Rose Chan when he was drunk during a group outing in China last month, published a letter of apology in both Hong Kong and Chinese newspapers on Thursday. |
|
| Death toll from India toxic liquor rises to 155 |
| KOLKATA: The death toll from a mass poisoning in eastern India caused by toxic home-brewed alcohol rose to 155 on Friday, as police made more arrests in the case. |
|
| Beijing orders microbloggers to register real names |
| BEIJING: Beijing city authorities on Friday issued new rules requiring microbloggers to register their real names before posting online, as the Chinese government tightens its grip on the Internet. |
|
| Republicans mock Obama on lost drone |
| SIOUX CITY, Iowa: Republicans vying to oust Barack Obama from the White House ridiculed the Democratic president on Thursday for asking arch-foe Iran to "pretty please" return a downed US drone. |
|
| Mayor vows crackdown on China village protesters |
| WUKAN, China: Authorities in southern China have vowed to crack down on the instigators of a rare revolt against local Communist leaders by villagers who say corrupt officials stole their land. |
|
| India's central bank expected to halt rate hikes |
| MUMBAI: India's central bank was expected to keep interest rates on hold Friday, as a depreciating rupee and signs of an overall economic slowdown add to concerns over sustained high inflation. |
|
| Secondary One posting results out next Wednesday |
| SINGAPORE: Parents of pupils who took the Primary School Leaving Examination this year, will be able to check their Secondary One posting results next Wednesday (December 21) at 9:00 am. |
|
| Train disruption sends two to hospital |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force said two women were sent to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Thursday night after the train disruption. |
|
| Andre Chichak makes a film! |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore actor Alaric Tay, best known for playing the nasal-voiced reporter Andre Chichak on the hit comedy series "The Noose", revealed Thursday that he is currently working on a sci-fi action short film titled "Final Defect". |
|
| Thai police find 6 explosive devices in Bangkok |
| BANGKOK: Thai police said Friday they had found and defused six potentially explosive devices in the capital Bangkok, days after the government called for heightened vigilance over the New Year period. |
|
| Asian shares up on upbeat US data, Spain bond sale |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets followed Wall Street and European shares higher Friday as strong US data on jobs and manufacturing and a successful Spanish bond auction tempered fears over the eurozone. |
|
| I.Coast leader's party wins parliamentary majority |
| ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara's party won a parliamentary majority in Sunday's elections, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission said early Friday. |
|
| ICC prosecutor says Gaddafi killing could be war crime |
| UNITED NATIONS: The International Criminal Court chief prosecutor said Thursday there are serious suspicions that the killing of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was a war crime. |
|
| Qantas trials inflight Internet access |
| SYDNEY: Australian flag carrier Qantas said Friday customers will be able to access the Internet inflight on certain services from February using their personal electronic devices. |
|
| Australian beef industry hit by Indonesian cuts |
| SYDNEY: Australia's beef industry Friday said Indonesia's plans to slash live cattle imports was unwelcome news, but denied it was payback for Canberra's abrupt halt to exports earlier this year. |
|
| US Congress reaches deal to avoid shutdown |
| WASHINGTON: US lawmakers clinched a deal late Thursday to avoid a government shutdown that could have further undermined public confidence in American leaders, congressional sources said. |
|
| Crude down in Asia on Europe, China concerns |
| SINGAPORE: Crude tumbled in Asian trade Friday as traders remained sceptical of economic prospects in Asian powerhouse China and debt-laden Europe, analysts said. |
|
| Euro firms in Asia after smooth Spain bond auction |
| TOKYO: The euro rose against major currencies in Asian trade Friday, helped by a successful Spanish bond auction, as market players began turning their attention to the forthcoming holidays, dealers said. |
|
| Terry Fox Run returns to S'pore next year |
| SINGAPORE: The Terry Fox Run in support of cancer research returns to Singapore on January 15 next year. |
|
| Australian navy appoints first female admiral |
| SYDNEY: The Australian navy on Friday appointed its first female admiral, just months after the defence force allowed women to serve in frontline combat for the first time in its history. |
|
| Obama raps Republican 'lurch' to extremes |
| WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has complained that Republicans see "compromise" as a dirty word, in an interview aired as his aides pressed for a deal in Congress on ending the latest political standoff. |
|
| I. Coast PM says ready to face ICC if charged |
| UNITED NATIONS: Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro said Thursday that he was ready to face an International Criminal Court trial for political killings if charged. |
|
| Japan set to declare Fukushima plant shutdown |
| TOKYO: Japan on Friday looked set to announce it had finally tamed leaking atomic reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power station, nine months after one of the world's worst nuclear crises began. |
|
| Singapore's NODX up 1.6% in November on-year |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose a better-than-expected 1.6 per cent in November due to both electronic and non-electronic exports. |
|
| Dollar halts rise against euro |
| NEW YORK: The euro was slightly up against the dollar on Thursday, arresting the greenback's rise that has come on the back of the latest twists in the European debt crisis. |
|
| US Senate passes defence bill, targets Pakistan aid |
| WASHINGTON: The US Senate passed a $662 billion defence bill on Thursday that also freezes some Pakistan aid, imposes sanctions on Iran's central bank, and approves the indefinite imprisonment of suspected terrorists. |
|
| Singapore signs WTO pledge against protectionism |
| GENEVA: A group of World Trade Organisation members including Singapore, the US, Japan and the European Union have made a pledge against protectionism. |
|
| Fitch downgrades six global banks |
| NEW YORK: Ratings firm Fitch downgraded six major global banks on Thursday, citing increased challenges in the financial markets. |
|
| Buoyant economic data boosts US stocks |
| NEW YORK: Positive data on the US jobs market, industrial activity and trade gave a boost to US stocks on Thursday, but eurozone clouds continued to hover over the markets. |
|
| France to enter recession, 1% growth target hopeful: INSEE |
| PARIS: France will fall into a brief recession and the government's 2012 growth target of 1.0 percent will be difficult to achieve, the official INSEE statistics agency warned on Thursday. |
|
| Oil prices mixed on Europe, China worries |
| NEW YORK: Crude oil prices closed mixed on Thursday as investors worried about Europe's escalating sovereign debt crisis and China's slowing economy. |
|
| Protectionism gaining ground, WTO ministers warn |
| GENEVA: Protectionism is a growing threat as the global economy falters and could cost hundreds of billions of dollars (euros), ministers and officials told a World Trade Organisation meeting on Thursday. |
|
| Golf: Donald adds European tour award to honours |
| LONDON: England's Luke Donald was named the European Tour's Golfer of the Year on Thursday, having earlier this week received the corresponding award in the United States from the US PGA. |
|
| Blaze sweeps through Hanoi office tower |
| HANOI: A fire ripped through a high-rise office building in Hanoi on Thursday, sending a huge cloud of black smoke billowing out over the Vietnamese capital. |
|
| Football: Victory not enough as Spurs bow out of Europa League |
| PARIS: Tottenham Hotspur joined Fulham in bowing out of the Europa League on Thursday, despite winning 4-0 away to Irish champions Shamrock Rovers thanks to goals from Steven Pienaar, Andros Townsend, Jermaine Defoe and Harry Kane. |
|
| Golf: Westwood puts on sizzling display in Thailand |
| BANGKOK: World number three Lee Westwood fired a stunning 12-under 60 to take a commanding five-shot lead on the opening day of the inaugural $1 million Thailand Golf Championship on Thursday. |
|
| South Korea unveils interceptor missile |
| SEOUL: South Korea on Thursday unveiled a locally-made interceptor missile designed to counter North Korean ballistic missiles and fighter jets. |
|
| Golf: Thompson takes lead at Dubai Ladies Masters |
| DUBAI: Alexis Thompson made a spectacular move to the top of the leaderboard when the teenage sensation shot a bogey-free round of six-under par 66 in the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters on Thursday. |
|
| ABN Amro plans for more private bankers in Asia |
| SINGAPORE: ABN Amro plans to double its headcount of private bankers in Asia by up to 200 over the next five years. |
|
| Biathlon: Defending champion Boe claims narrow win |
| HOCHFILZEN, Austria: Norway's Tarjei Boe recorded his first World Cup win of the season on Thursday, beating France's Martin Fourcade by a margin of just four seconds to take the 10-kilometre sprint. |
|
| Train services on northbound North-South MRT Line resume |
| SINGAPORE: Train services on the northbound North-South MRT Line - between Marina Bay and Bishan stations - resumed at 11.40pm on Thursday. |
|
| Cricket: Philander and technology sink Sri Lanka |
| CENTURION: South African opening bowler Vernon Philander claimed his third five-wicket haul in as many Test matches as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 180 on the first day of the first Test at SuperSport Park on Thursday. |
|
| More than 100 countries recognise Palestine as a state |
| PARIS: At least 112 countries around the world have formally recognised Palestine as a state, stretching from Africa to Asia, Europe to Latin America. |
|
| FedEx earnings soar; to buy 27 Boeing planes |
| NEW YORK: US parcel delivery giant FedEx reported on Thursday solid quarterly earnings and unveiled an order for 27 Boeing aircraft as it updates its aging aircraft fleet. |
|
| Lim Hng Kiang calls for strong WTO to guard against protectionism |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore has urged the World Trade Organisation's Ministerial Conference to send an unambiguous message that the WTO continues to be strong, credible and relevant. |
|
| Morgan Stanley to cut 1,600 jobs |
| NEW YORK: US banking firm Morgan Stanley said on Thursday it will cut 1,600 jobs, as it grapples to find the "right size" amid lower revenues for the banking sector. |
|
| PM Lee on leave |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be on leave from Friday till December 27. |
|
| Badminton: 'Super' Dan steps up a gear |
| LIUZHOU, China: China's star shuttler and world number two Lin Dan stepped up a gear at the World Superseries Finals on Thursday, slamming 20 smash winners to beat Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat in straight games. |
|
| Explain why bus captain got lost: Seng Han Thong |
| SINGAPORE: The deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Transport has asked SBS Transit to explain how one of its bus drivers got lost. |
|
| Indian drivers switch off engines of stationary cars to save fuel |
| NEW DELHI : India does not have a law banning idling engine.
But drivers frequently switch off their engines when their cars are stationary - thanks to an awareness campaign to save fuel. |
|
| Lee Kuan Yew attends wake of former personal security officer |
| SINGAPORE: Mr Tan Kah Wan, who was a personal security officer for former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, has died at the age of 81. |
|
| Taiwanese young voters important in presidential elections |
| TAIPEI: Young voters will play a decisive role in Taiwan's presidential elections in January. |
|
| France likely to face new 'jolts' from debt crisis: PM |
| SAO PAULO : Visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Thursday that his country was likely to face new "jolts" from the eurozone debt crisis amid rumours that it could lose its triple-A debt rating. |
|
| Industry players look to "green tires" to increase fuel efficiency for cars |
| SINGAPORE : CO2 emissions can be cut by 350,000 tonnes in Singapore if drivers take to the roads with "green tires", said industry researcher Frost and Sullivan. |
|
| Singaporeans ate & drank more in October |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore retail sales rose by more than expected in October. |
|
| US jobless claims tumble to lowest since May 2008 |
| WASHINGTON : New claims for US unemployment benefits dropped last week to a level last seen more than three years ago, government data showed Thursday in a sign of stabilization in the troubled jobs market. |
|
| Local job market may be affected by West debt crisis: Tan Chuan Jin |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Minister of State for Manpower, Tan Chuan Jin said while Singapore's enjoying the benefits from the strong rebound in 2010, the spillover impact of the debt crisis in the West will hit its shores. |
|
| Punggol Central site gets top bid of $206.2m from Wee Hur |
| SINGAPORE : A Government Land Sales site in Punggol has received a top bid of $206.2 million. |
|
| e2i to increase training places in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE : The Employment and Employability Institute or e2i is ramping up training places in view of the economic slowdown next year. |
|
| Boeing delays delivery of third Dreamliner to ANA |
| TOKYO : Boeing's much-vaunted 787 Dreamliner was mired in yet more delay Thursday, launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) said in Japan. |
|
| European leaders struggle with plan to tackle debt crisis |
| BRUSSELS : It's been an anxious and dramatic year for the 17 European countries that use the euro as their currency. |
|
| Train services along North-South line down |
| SINGAPORE: Train services along the MRT North-South line are down. |
|
| Hong Kong blockbluster IPOs fall on debut |
| HONG KONG : Two blockbuster initial public offerings in Hong Kong, which raised a combined $3.9 billion, fell on their trading debuts Thursday amid global market volatility and fears of a eurozone meltdown. |
|
| Muslim community raises S$61,885 for flood victims |
| SINGAPORE: The Rahmatan Lil Alamin (Blessings-To-All) Foundation (RLAF) and all the mosques in Singapore have raised S$61,885 through a special collection from the Singapore Muslim community to help in the humanitarian relief efforts for flood victims in Thailand and Cambodia. |
|
| Hackers breach servers of Japan's Square Enix |
| TOKYO: Japanese game developer Square Enix said that servers containing data on 1.8 million customers had been hacked, but said the extent of the damage was not yet known. |
|
| China says its ambassador to Myanmar met Suu Kyi |
| BEIJING - China's ambassador to Myanmar has held talks with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, Beijing said Thursday. |
|
| Jogger attacked by 9 stray dogs at Punggol |
| SINGAPORE: A jogger was attacked by a pack of nine stray dogs at a park in Punggol on Wednesday night. |
|
| Thousands rally in China land grab village |
| WUKAN, China: Thousands of residents of a Chinese village under police blockade rallied on Thursday to demand the government take action over illegal land grabs and the death in custody of a local leader. |
|
| Singapore's table tennis duo kick off ASEAN Para Games |
| SINGAPORE: Team Singapore started their campaign with table tennis at the 6th ASEAN Para Games on Thursday morning in Solo, Indonesia. |
|
| Google boosts Asian presence with US$120m Singapore data centre |
| SINGAPORE : Internet giant Google has started construction of its US$120 million data centre in Singapore. |
|
| US military holds ceremony to end Iraq mission |
| BAGHDAD - A flag-lowering ceremony marking the end of the US mission in Iraq was held on Thursday afternoon near Baghdad, nearly nine years after the controversial invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. |
|
| SSC, University of Oregon to develop local sports industry |
| SINGAPORE: The Sports Hub which is due to be completed in 2014 will herald world class facilities for Singaporeans. |
|
| Golf: Poulter leads at Australian Masters |
| MELBOURNE: England's Ian Poulter, determined to pick up valuable end-of-season world ranking points, upstaged world number one Luke Donald at the Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club on Thursday. |
|
| Badminton: Lee stays perfect at Superseries Finals |
| LIUZHOU, China - World number one Lee Chong Wei trounced Indonesia's Simon Santoso 21-10, 21-15 Thursday as he stepped up his bid for a fourth consecutive World Superseries Finals crown. |
|
| Australian media review eyes Internet |
| SYDNEY : A review of Australia's media on Thursday recommended a major regulatory shakeup which would put Internet giants under the same umbrella as traditional outlets and see ownership laws axed. |
|
| Chinese carrier pictured at sea by US company |
| WASHINGTON - A satellite image of China's first aircraft carrier has been captured while the vessel was undergoing sea trials in the Yellow Sea, a US company said on its website Thursday. |
|
| Tan Chuan-Jin to attend forum on infrastructure development |
| SINGAPORE: Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, will be attending the 9th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia-Pacific Region on Friday in Hong Kong. |
|
| Asian shares lower as Europe fears grow |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets fell for a third straight session and the euro sat at 11-month lows Thursday on growing doubts over last week's European debt deal as Germany warned the crisis would last for years. |
|
| China's Geely to sell sedans in Britain |
| BEIJING: Chinese automaker Geely said it plans to start selling cars in Britain by the end of next year, as the company seeks to expand its presence in developed markets. |
|
| RBI faces pressure to ease falling rupee |
| INDIA: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is facing pressure to start easing monetary policy. |
|
| S'pore's office property market cools in 2011 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's office property market cooled in 2011, weighed down by concerns over the anemic growth in the US and the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| Staff charged with stealing duty-free items on SIA plane |
| SINGAPORE: Ground equipment staff were charged Thursday with five counts of stealing duty-free items onboard a Singapore Airlines plane. |
|
| Hong Kong enforces ban on idling engines |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong's long-awaited idling engine ban is finally in force, aiming to help tackle the city's chronic pollution problem. |
|
| Obama hails "extraordinary" US achievement in Iraq |
| FORT BRAGG, North Carolina: President Barack Obama on Wednesday honored America's nearly nine years of "bleeding and building" in Iraq, hailing the "extraordinary achievement" of a war he once branded "dumb." |
|
| SSC partners University of Oregon to boost local sports industry |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has embarked on a five-year partnership with the University of Oregon (UO) to further boost Singapore's sports industry. |
|
| Putin to address Russians in phone-in after protests |
| MOSCOW: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was on Thursday to address Russians during his trademark marathon televised phone-in session, after a rare outburst of protest against his rule. |
|
| Former cabby jailed for impersonating cop |
| SINGAPORE: A former taxi driver, who pretended to be a policeman to cheat a friend of S$24,000 in 2003, ran away to China for more than five years. |
|
| Loss-making Malaysia Airlines to axe routes |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Loss-making national carrier Malaysia Airlines said it will cut eight routes to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and other destinations starting next month as it seeks to return to a profit. |
|
| Toxic alcohol kills 102 in east India |
| KOLKATA: Toxic home-brewed alcohol thought to have been laced with the highly dangerous chemical methanol has killed 102 people in eastern India, a local official told AFP on Thursday. |
|
| PM Lee sends condolences to Belgium |
| SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has sent a condolence message to Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo. |
|
| ComCare hotline sees spike in social service calls |
| SINGAPORE: The ComCare hotline has seen a spike in calls for social services over the past three years. |
|
| Thai activist jailed for 15 years for royal slur |
| BANGKOK: A court in Thailand sentenced a "Red Shirt" political activist to 15 years in prison Thursday for insulting the monarchy, the latest in a series of convictions under the kingdom's lese majeste laws. |
|
| 1,701 units of private homes sold in November |
| SINGAPORE: The Urban Redevelopment Authority said developers sold 1,701 units of private homes, excluding executive condominiums in November this year. |
|
| Jetstar Asia CEO to step down |
| SINGAPORE: Low cost carrier Jetstar Asia has announced that Ms Chong Phit Lian has decided to step down from her position as chief executive officer on February 1, 2012. |
|
| China manufacturing activity still shrinking: HSBC |
| BEIJING: China's manufacturing activity continued to contract in December, banking giant HSBC said Thursday, as exports are hurt by the ongoing crises in the crucial US and European markets. |
|
| Indian rupee hits new record low against dollar |
| MUMBAI: The Indian rupee continued its downward spiral against the US dollar Thursday, hitting another record low due to concerns over eurozone debt crisis and weak domestic data. |
|
| M'sia judge to give Anwar verdict Jan 9 |
| KUALA LUMPUR: The judge in Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case said Thursday he would deliver a verdict on January 9 as the long-running and politically charged trial came to a close. |
|
| Rediscover the Bras Basah precinct |
| SINGAPORE: The National Heritage Board hopes that its new initiative in the Bras Basah and Bugis precinct will help more people discover the rich history of the area. |
|
| US holds first post-spill Gulf drilling rights sale |
| WASHINGTON: The US government on Wednesday staged its first auction of rights to drill offshore in the Gulf of Mexico since last year's catastrophic oil spill, attracting more than $337 million in bids. |
|
| Fatal accident near Boon Keng MRT station |
| SINGAPORE: An elderly Chinese woman was knocked down by a taxi early Thursday morning at Serangoon Road, near Boon Keng MRT station. |
|
| China's foreign direct investment up 13.15% in Jan-Nov |
| BEIJING: Foreign direct investment in China rose more than 13 percent in the first 11 months of 2011, data showed Thursday, slower than the January to October period as Western countries battled economic woes. |
|
| Hong Kong jewellery giant falls on trading debut |
| HONG KONG: Shares of Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co. fell as much as 9 percent on its trading debut Thursday, after raising a lower-than-expected $2.0 billion amid volatile global markets. |
|
| Obama dodges debate over Iraq as troops leave |
| FORT BRAGG, North Carolina: The presidency of Barack Obama was nurtured by the political firestorm whipped up by the Iraq war -- but in ending the conflict, he is leaving recriminations to history. |
|
| Armed N. Korean soldiers flee to China, says report |
| SEOUL: Six armed North Korean border guards tasked with preventing defections have themselves fled across the frontier into China, sparking a security alert on the Chinese side of the border, a report said. |
|
| Oil mixed after OPEC crude output decision |
| SINGAPORE: Oil was mixed in Asian trade Thursday after OPEC ministers agreed to higher crude output without setting new quota rules, analysts said. |
|
| Australian PM gets 31% pay rise |
| SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was Thursday recommended for a 31 percent pay rise to take her salary to Aus$481,000 (US$476,000) -- more than US President Barack Obama. |
|
| S'pore sees strong employment growth in Q3 |
| SINGAPORE: Employment growth was strong and unemployment dipped in the third quarter of 2011, according to the latest report from the Manpower Ministry. |
|
| DR Congo opposition calls for mass protests |
| KINSHASA: Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi's party called Wednesday for mass protests to "protect" the victory he claims to have won in disputed presidential polls. |
|
| US lawmakers target Pakistan aid, Iran central bank |
| WASHINGTON: With the White House's blessing, the US House passed legislation Wednesday to freeze some Pakistan aid, slap harsh new sanctions on Iran, and endorse indefinite imprisonment of suspected terrorists. |
|
| Japanese business confidence falls: BoJ Tankan |
| TOKYO: The business confidence of major Japanese manufacturers plunged in December, the Bank of Japan said Thursday, amid growing worries over Europe's debt crisis and a strong yen. |
|
| US unveils disturbing sex survey |
| WASHINGTON: Nearly one in five American women has been victims of rape or attempted rape at some point in their lives, the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) said Wednesday in a disturbing report on sexual violence in the United States. |
|
| Ireland to get IMF loan |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said it had agreed to lend Ireland 3.9 billion euros, as part of an effort to help the country avoid default. |
|
| Tan Jee Say pens book |
| SINGAPORE: Former presidential hopeful Tan Jee Say, who also contested in May's General Election under the Singapore Democratic Party banner, has published a book of his experiences from the two elections. |
|
| Fewer US teens smoke, drink |
| WASHINGTON: Cigarette and alcohol use by US teenagers are at their lowest point since the mid-1970s, but marijuana use remains steady, according to the findings of a national survey released Wednesday. |
|
| Greece "needs to cut state jobs" |
| ATHENS: Greece cannot raise taxes further and must make dramatic cuts in public sector employment in order to reduce its massive budget deficit, the head of the IMF mission said Wednesday. |
|
| US, N.Korea to hold food talks |
| WASHINGTON: The United States confirmed Wednesday one of its senior diplomats will hold talks with top North Korean officials in Beijing this week to discuss the possible resumption of US food aid. |
|
| Motor racing: Ricciardo joins Toro Rosso |
| PARIS:Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was named as a driver for the Toro Rosso team on Wednesday for the 2012 Formula One world championship after spending the second half of the 2011 season with HRT. |
|
| Gaddafi daughter urges ICC probe |
| THE HAGUE: The daughter of slain Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi has asked the International Criminal Court if it will probe the killing of her father and her brother, her lawyer said Wednesday. |
|
| US stocks sink over 1% |
| NEW YORK: US stocks sank Wednesday as cracks appeared in the eurozone's fiscal discipline deal and Italy was forced to pay record interest rates in a new bond issue. |
|
| Football: PSG out of Europe league |
| PARIS: Paris Saint Germain may or may not end up offering David Beckham a spell in the ultra-twilight of his career in the City of Light, but the former England star will not find any Europa League fare on his menu after the capital club were eliminated Wednesday. |
|
| Greek economy tipped to shrink 5.5% in 2011 |
| ATHENS: Greece will likely chalk up its worst-ever recession this year, Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned on Wednesday, with the contraction to be greater than the 5.5 percent forecast. |
|
| Zardari leaves Dubai hospital |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari was discharged from a Dubai hospital on Wednesday night, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. |
|
| US disappointed over China tariffs |
| WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday expressed disappointment at China's decision to levy fresh duties on the import of US cars, the latest in a series of trade spats between the two powers. |
|
| Canada, India in free trade talks |
| OTTAWA: Canada announced on Wednesday the start of a third round of free trade negotiations with India, while eyeing deeper trade ties with Japan in a major push to boost exports to Asia. |
|
| India toxic liquor kills 55 |
| KOLKATA, India: At least 55 people died after consuming toxic home-made liquor in an eastern Indian state, officials said Wednesday and warned the death toll could rise as more than 100 other victims were in hospitals. |
|
| Nigeria boat capsize kills 20 |
| PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria: An overloaded passenger boat capsized in southern Nigeria, killing at least 20 people, though emergency workers were able to rescue a number of others alive, officials said Wednesday. |
|
| Football: Suarez 'racism' hearing starts |
| LONDON: England's Football Association (FA) on Wednesday started a disciplinary hearing into claims Liverpool striker Luis Suarez racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra in a match in October. |
|
| Football: Wolves' Fletcher not up for sale |
| WOLVERHAMPTON, United Kingdom: Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was adamant Wednesday that in-form Scotland striker Steven Fletcher would not be put up for sale during the January transfer window. |
|
| Yemen food crisis worsens |
| DUBAI: Some people in Yemen have to go without food for days as the humanitarian crisis in the country deteriorates, with one in five children acutely malnourished, rights groups said on Wednesday. |
|
| Syrian clash death toll rises |
| NICOSIA: At least 21 civilians were killed by security forces in Syria on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement, raising its earlier death toll from five. |
|
| Britain jobless data soars |
| LONDON: Britain's jobless total has hit a new 17-year peak and youth unemployment a record high, data showed Wednesday, dashing government hopes that private companies would offset public sector job losses. |
|
| Clooney, Streep head list for Screen Actors awards |
| LOS ANGELES - George Clooney's portrayal of a newly single father in "The Descendants" and Meryl Streep's role as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" are in the running for best performances in upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards. |
|
| Singapore, Brunei conclude military exercise |
| BRUNEI: The armies of Singapore and Brunei concluded a bilateral exercise code-named Maju Bersama on Wednesday. |
|
| Europe could take years to solve debt crisis: Merkel |
| BERLIN : German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday it could take Europe years to solve its debt crisis, as growing scepticism about the outcome of last week's EU summit weighed on financial markets. |
|
| British High Commissioner explains UK's eurozone stance |
| SINGAPORE: In a rare move, the UK government has deployed diplomats in Asia to publicly explain that Britain has not ostracised itself from Europe or the rest of the world. |
|
| Keong Hong's IPO fully subscribed despite cloudy economic outlook |
| SINGAPORE : Keong Hong Holdings says its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Catalist has been fully subscribed despite the cloudy global economic outlook. |
|
| Sailing: France's Leroy through to women's match racing semi-finals |
| PERTH, Australia: French skipper Claire Leroy continued her superb form to advance to the semi-finals of the women's match racing at the ISAF World Sailing Championship on Wednesday. |
|
| Indonesian Freeport workers end strike |
| JAKARTA : Workers at a giant Indonesian mine owned by US company Freeport-McMoRan ended their three-month strike over wages after reaching a deal with the company Wednesday, a union spokesman said. |
|
| Ionescu's hit-and-run trial looks set to come to a close |
| BUCHAREST: The trial of Silviu Ionescu, the former Romanian Charge d'Affaires in Singapore, looks set to come to a close, according to court officials, one-and-a-half years since legal proceedings began. |
|
| Badminton: Lin Dan kicks off Superseries final with win |
| LIUZHOU: China's badminton star Lin Dan started his quest to bag his first-ever Superseries final title on Wednesday by dispatching compatriot Chen Long, while women's number one Wang Yihan lost to South Korea's Sung Ji Hyun. |
|
| OPEC agrees to oil output of 30m barrels per day: Venezuelan minister |
| VIENNA : OPEC agreed on Wednesday to an oil production ceiling of 30 million barrels per day, with members reducing output to allow for higher Libya supplies, Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said. |
|
| Football: Neymar lights up Club World Cup |
| TOYOTA, Japan: Neymar showed why he is the most coveted player outside Europe as he lit up the Club World Cup with a sumptuous strike on Wednesday to send Santos on their way to a likely final against Barcelona. |
|
| Sing Holdings buys Robin Road site for $52m in collective sale |
| SINGAPORE : The collective sale of a 16-unit apartment located at Robin Road has gone through for $52 million, says property consulting firm Credo Real Estate. |
|
| Manufacturing and financial services sectors to see slower growth next year: MAS |
| SINGAPORE : A survey by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) indicates that growth will be significantly slower for manufacturing and financial services in 2012. |
|
| Badminton: Malaysian, Chinese named players of the year |
| BEIJING: Badminton's world governing body on Wednesday named Malaysia's top men's singles player Lee Chong Wei and China's leading women's doubles pair Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang as 2011 players of the year. |
|
| British government insists it will not be isolated in Europe |
| LONDON: The British government insists it will not be isolated in Europe, despite last week's veto of treaty changes aimed at easing the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| China's 'tolou' earth buildings a popular tourist attraction |
| CHINA: In parts of mountainous rural china, there are tens of thousands of earth buildings, which for more than 1,000 years, have sheltered residents from bandits and natural disasters such as earthquakes. |
|
| Growth of computer graphic industry in Asia |
| HONG KONG: Asia is the new poster child for the computer graphics industry, as it moves away from its manufacturing roots. |
|
| Korean podcast group targets country's president |
| SEOUL: Political humour is not something that is common in South Korea and especially if the target is the country's president. |
|
| Analysts expect property prices to soften in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE : The Singapore private residential property market was hit with two rounds of cooling measures in 2011 - moves widely described by analysts as harsh. |
|
| Man investigated for making false police report |
| SINGAPORE: Police are investigating a 33-year-old man for making a false police report. |
|
| Singapore, Brazil sign partial visa abolition agreement |
| SINGAPORE: Citizens travelling between Singapore and Brazil for business or leisure will soon no longer need a visa. |
|
| Credit Agricole to cut 2,350 global jobs: union |
| PARIS - French banking group Credit Agricole is to cut 2,350 jobs around the world, including 850 positions in France, mainly at its Cacib investment bank, the Force Ouvriere (FO) union said on Wednesday. |
|
| China slaps tariffs on some US auto imports |
| BEIJING: China will levy anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on certain US vehicle imports, the commerce ministry said Wednesday, a move likely to fuel tensions between the world's two biggest economies. |
|
| OPEC urged to follow Saudi in boosting oil output |
| SINGAPORE : The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Tuesday called on members of the OPEC oil cartel to keep up with key member Saudi Arabia's above-quota crude production to aid global economic recovery. |
|
| Besieged China villagers vow to keep up protests |
| LUFENG, China - Residents of a southern Chinese village that has become a flashpoint for anger over government land grabs vowed Wednesday to continue protesting despite a six-day police blockade. |
|
| Football: Indonesia fines breakaway clubs |
| JAKARTA: Indonesia's football association has fined eight clubs for joining a rebel league, an official said on Wednesday, in a row that has seen the country's top club expelled from international competition. |
|
| Belgian gunman killed himself after spree: prosecutor |
| LIEGE, Belgium - A lone gunman who went on a murderous spree in the Belgian city of Liege committed suicide after slaying three youngsters in a crowded square and killing a cleaning-woman, the prosecutor said on Wednesday. |
|
| Singapore stocks fall following the overnight decline on Wall Street |
| SINGAPORE : Share prices in Singapore closed weaker on Wednesday following the overnight decline on Wall Street. |
|
| Nippon Steel, Sumitomo Metal merger approved |
| TOKYO: Japan on Wednesday approved a merger between the nation's biggest steel manufacturer Nippon Steel and third-ranked rival Sumitomo Metal Industries that will create the world's second-largest steel firm. |
|
| Olympus files corrected earnings to avoid delisting |
| TOKYO: Scandal-hit Olympus on Wednesday filed its delayed earnings report to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, avoiding an automatic delisting that would have wiped out the value of the 92-year-old company. |
|
| Two suspects arrested for loanshark harassment |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two men for suspected loanshark harassment. |
|
| Thomas Cook reports US$807m annual net loss |
| LONDON : Holiday firm Thomas Cook went off track and made an annual net loss of 520.7 million pounds($807 million, 620 million euros) because of unrest in the Arab world and the weak economy, the firm said on Wednesday. |
|
| Circle Line resumes train services |
| SINGAPORE: The Circle Line train service has been restored to its normal schedule at 11.45am. |
|
| Lights out for Earth Hour on March 31 next year |
| SINGAPORE: The global movement to switch off lights for Earth Hour will take place at 8.30pm on March 31 in 2012 for Singapore, with the theme "I Will If You Will". |
|
| Fire at French old folks' home kills six |
| MARSEILLE: A fire that broke out in an old people's home in the southern French city of Marseille on Wednesday killed six people, police said in a statement. |
|
| Youths arrested for stealing money from newspaper vendor |
| SINGAPORE: Police have arrested two male youths suspected of stealing money from an elderly newspaper vendor. |
|
| Hong Kong jeweller IPO 'moderately' oversubscribed |
| HONG KONG: Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook said on Wednesday its share sale was oversubscribed, after raising a lower-than-expected $2 billion from the initial public offering amid volatile global markets. |
|
| Former South Korean 'comfort women' hold 1,000th protest |
| SEOUL: South Korean women forced into wartime sexual slavery held their 1,000th weekly protest outside Japan's embassy on Wednesday, demanding compensation and an apology from Tokyo as they have since 1992. |
|
| New flyover along CTE towards SLE to open Saturday |
| SINGAPORE: A new flyover along the Central Expressway (CTE) in the direction of Seletar Expressway (SLE) will open on Saturday, from 6am. |
|
| Taiwan to reduce length of military service |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan will reduce compulsory military service from one year to four months, the defence ministry said on Wednesday, in what is widely seen as a first step towards scrapping conscription altogether. |
|
| Vandals attack mosque in west Jerusalem |
| JERUSALEM: Unknown attackers on Wednesday tried to set fire to a disused mosque in Jerusalem and scrawled anti-Arab slogans on the walls in an apparent "price tag" vengeance attack, an AFP correspondent said. |
|
| SAF servicemen commended for counter-piracy efforts |
| SINGAPORE: 279 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen were commended for their contributions to international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. |
|
| Fewer young working adults plan to study further |
| SINGAPORE: Fewer young working adults appear keen to pursue further education at a time when the economy is doing well. |
|
| Major 7.3 quake strikes Papua New Guinea |
| PORT MORESBY: A major 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, but no immediate tsunami warning was issued. |
|
| Call for improvement in China's road safety |
| BEIJING: A commentary in China's leading state-run newspaper on Wednesday called for improved road safety in the world's biggest car market after two fatal school bus crashes sparked a public outcry. |
|
| Singapore's economy may grow 3% in 2012: MAS survey |
| SINGAPORE: Private sector forecasters expect Singapore's economy to grow by 3 per cent in 2012. |
|
| China to maintain property restrictions in 2012 |
| BEIJING: Chinese leaders have vowed to maintain property market restrictions in 2012 to bring housing prices back down to a "reasonable level", the official Xinhua news agency said Wednesday. |
|
| Lim Hng Kiang to attend WTO Conference in Geneva |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang will attend the 8th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Geneva, Switzerland from December 15 to 17. |
|
| Asian markets mostly lower as Europe woes drag |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly fell Wednesday and the euro sat near one-year lows as traders unconvinced by Europe's deal to save their currency were upset by the US Fed's lack of fresh economy-boosting plans. |
|
| S. Korea mourns coastguard killed in Chinese attack |
| SEOUL: A group of South Korean lawmakers demanded tougher punishment for illegal Chinese fishermen as the country Wednesday mourned a coastguard officer killed while trying to arrest an offender. |
|
| GCE 'N' Level Examination results out on Monday |
| SINGAPORE: The results of the 2011 Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE) Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) Level Examinations will be released on Monday (December 19). |
|
| India's central bank tipped to hold rates |
| MUMBAI: India's central bank is likely to keep interest rates on hold this week, analysts and economists said, as policymakers prepare to meet amid fresh signs of a slowdown in the fast-growing economy. |
|
| China sends patrol ship to disputed waters |
| BEIJING: China has sent its largest patrol ship to the East China Sea to guard the country's territorial rights, state media said Wednesday, in a move likely to fuel tensions over the disputed waters. |
|
| KL best for Qantas hub: AirAsia |
| SYDNEY: Australian airline Qantas should base its Asian operations in Malaysia rather than Singapore if it is serious about expanding in the region, AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes said Wednesday. |
|
| Japan buys 13% of eurozone rescue fund sale |
| TOKYO: Japan has purchased 13 percent of the eurozone rescue fund's latest bond sale, a government official said Wednesday, as the region continues fundraising to help contain its sovereign debt crisis. |
|
| Transport minister to attend ASEAN meeting in Phnom Penh |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Lui Tuck Yew will attend the 17th ASEAN Transport Ministers' (ATM) Meeting and meetings with ASEAN Dialogue Partners in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. |
|
| Ionescu's hit-and-run hearing on Dec 14 |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Special Envoy to Romania, Mr Anil Kumar Nayar, will attend the next hearing in the trial of Dr Silviu Ionescu in Bucharest. |
|
| Hybrid HDD for tablets & mobile devices coming soon |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's Data Storage Institute (DSI) has sealed a crucial partnership with a leading maker of hard disk drive components, Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII). |
|
| Islamists look to build on success in Egypt polls |
| CAIRO: Islamists who swept to victory in the first stage of Egypt's parliamentary elections were looking to consolidate their winning streak in a second round of voting Wednesday. |
|
| Shanmugam reaffirms warm Singapore-Myanmar ties |
| SINGAPORE: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K Shanmugam has reaffirmed the warm and long-standing ties between Singapore and Myanmar, during his meetings with Myanmar leaders. |
|
| Delay in Circle Line services |
| SINGAPORE: Services on the Circle Line towards Serangoon and Marymount are being delayed on Wednesday, possibly due to signalling problems. |
|
| US drone shot down in Iran? |
| WASHINGTON: A key US lawmaker on Tuesday denied Iran's claims of having brought down a US drone, saying "technical" problems pulled the state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft from the sky and into Tehran's hands. |
|
| Israeli scientists develop cancer 'cluster bomb' |
| JERUSALEM: Israeli medical researchers say they have developed a new technique for blasting cancer tumours from inside out which reduces the risk of the disease returning after treatment. |
|
| Fitch downgrades Italian insurers |
| ROME: Fitch ratings agency downgraded Italian insurance giants Generali and Fondiaria-SAI on Tuesday, saying the companies were being affected by "ongoing pressure" from sovereign debt crises in Italy and Spain. |
|
| IMF not in talks for new Greek loan |
| WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund denied Tuesday it is in talks for a second huge rescue loan for Greece, after Greece's finance minister said discussions were under way for new financing. |
|
| Football: Inter down Genoa 1-0 |
| ROME: Japan full-back Yuto Nagatomo scored the only goal of the game as Inter Milan moved up to seventh in the Serie A table with a 1-0 win at Genoa on Tuesday. |
|
| US stocks fall |
| NEW YORK: US stocks fell in late trade Tuesday after the IMF warned Greece's economy was facing deep risks and the Federal Reserve refrained from providing any new spark for the economy. |
|
| Football: Madrid labour to Cup victory |
| MADRID: A goal in each half from Jose Callejon and Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid get their defence of the Spanish Copa del Rey off to a winning start at third tier club Ponferradina on Tuesday. |
|
| World oil prices spike |
| NEW YORK: Reports that the Iranian military planned exercises in the Gulf's strategic Strait of Hormuz chokepoint sent oil prices spiking Tuesday. |
|
| Taiwan sees record-high visits |
| TAIPEI: Taiwan said Tuesday a record 619,000 international visitors came to the island in November, boosted by a nearly 30 percent increase of arrivals from China. |
|
| Venezuela to get China loan |
| CARACAS: Venezuela has reached agreement with a Chinese bank for a US$4 billion loan to finance housing construction in the South American country, President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday. |
|
| New Russian parliament convenes |
| MOSCOW: President Dmitry Medvedev convened Tuesday the first session of Russia's newly-elected parliament despite a wave of protests over alleged fraud that helped the ruling party cling on to its majority. |
|
| Fed keeps interest rates low |
| WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve's top policymakers left interest rates near zero on Tuesday -- where they have been for three years -- as they described a moderate economic expansion fraught with problems. |
|
| Football: Man Utd's Fletcher extends break |
| MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is to take an extended break from football due to health reasons, the club confirmed on Tuesday. |
|
| Florence sees shooting spree |
| ROME: An Italian far-right militant killed two Senegalese street vendors and wounded three people in a shooting spree in Florence Tuesday after which he apparently killed himself, police said. |
|
| US defence chief visits Kabul |
| KABUL: US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta arrived in Kabul on Tuesday to reaffirm US' commitment to Afghanistan as Washington starts to withdraw combat troops and hand over security to Afghan forces. |
|
| Belgium sees killing spree |
| LIEGE, Belgium: A lone gunman armed with grenades opened fire on a square packed with children and Christmas shoppers in the eastern Belgian city of Liege Tuesday, killing three people and wounding 75. |
|
| Euro below US$1.31 for 1st time since Jan |
| LONDON: The euro fell Tuesday below $1.31 for the first time since January amid unrelenting concern about the eurozone debt crisis. |
|
| HK tops economic survey |
| GENEVA: Hong Kong has overtaken the United States and Britain to rank top in a World Economic Forum survey on countries' financial health published on Tuesday. |
|
| Palestinian flag raised at UNESCO after admission |
| PARIS: The Palestinian flag was raised for the first time on Tuesday above a UN agency, the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, in a diplomatic victory won despite stiff resistance from the US and Israel. |
|
| China to further open services sectors to HK firms under CEPA |
| HONG KONG : China has agreed to further open its services sectors to Hong Kong companies under the latest supplement to the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed on Tuesday. |
|
| Businesses hope for reduced costs and job security in upcoming Budget |
| SINGAPORE : In a pre-2012 Budget forum organised by KPMG, 83 guests representing a broad range of businesses in Singapore shared their hopes and concerns. |
|
| Shanmugam meets Myanmar's leaders |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam met Myanmar President Thein Sein in the country's capital Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday. |
|
| Southwest orders record 208 planes from Boeing |
| NEW YORK: Boeing bagged its largest-ever "firm" order for 208 airplanes from Southwest Airlines, including 150 of its new 737 MAX aircraft, the companies said on Tuesday. |
|
| Singapore hotels expect strong bookings for corporate events next year |
| SINGAPORE : Corporate events bookings at Singapore hotels have increased this holiday season and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) says the outlook for next year is also positive despite the economic slowdown. |
|
| Japan minister questions radioactive water dump |
| TOKYO: Japan's industry minister on Tuesday rejected a plan by the operator of the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to release low-level radioactive water into the sea without approval by local fishermen. |
|
| US retail sales weaken for second straight month |
| WASHINGTON: US retail sales faltered for the second consecutive month in November, the beginning of the crucial year-end holiday shopping season, official data showed on Tuesday. |
|
| Olympics: Sprinter Powell to compete in Birmingham |
| LONDON: Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell plans to compete in next year's indoor Grand Prix event in Birmingham as part of his preparations for the London Olympics. |
|
| Football: Barcelona players meet Fukushima children ahead of match |
| YOKOHAMA, Japan: Barcelona on Tuesday ended a brief break in Japan before their Club World Cup battle by meeting children evacuated from the region around the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. |
|
| Transport company Eitzen Chemical expects shipping volumes to grow in 2012 |
| SINGAPORE : One of the world's largest chemical transport company, Eitzen Chemical, expects shipping volumes to grow next year even as world trade slows. |
|
| Football: Indonesia's u-23 coach resigns |
| JAKARTA: Indonesia's under-23 football coach Rahmad Darmawan tendered his resignation on Tuesday as tensions rise between the country's football association and a breakaway league. |
|
| Sailing: Israeli windsurfer heads field |
| PERTH, Australia: Nimrod Mashich continued Israel's dream run in windsurfing at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Western Australia on Tuesday. |
|
| Social worker Teresa Hsu dies at age 113 |
| SINGAPORE : Singapore's oldest person and social worker, Teresa Hsu, has died at the age of 113. |
|
| Maid agencies support standard bio-data template |
| SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry is looking to introduce a standard bio-data template for foreign domestic workers. |
|
| ASME plans fresh initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises |
| SINGAPORE : The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) is set for a transformation in 2012. |
|
| Police reviewing NS manpower needs for rail networks |
| SINGAPORE : The police are reviewing National Service manpower needs to keep Singapore's rail networks safe. |
|
| Broadway musical WICKED lands in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE : Award-winning Broadway musical, WICKED, has opened in Singapore. |
|
| Over 3,000 subscribe to Police email alert service |
| SINGAPORE: Crime-fighting is going cyber! |
|
| More Indian companies showing interest in SGX listing |
| SINGAPORE : Royal Bank of Scotland has reported an increase in interest by Indian companies to list their shares on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). |
|
| New Malaysian king urges national unity |
| KUALA LUMPUR: In a glittering, pomp-filled ceremony, Malaysia installed its 14th king on Tuesday, a lover of jazz and football who has called for unity amid rising racial tension in the multi-ethnic country. |
|
| President Aquino hits out at 'rogue' Philippine judge |
| MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino applauded on Tuesday the impeachment of the Supreme Court's chief justice, describing him as a "rogue" judge who had blocked efforts to prosecute ex-leader Gloria Arroyo. |
|
| Greece pays increased rate to borrow for six months |
| ATHENS : Greece raised 1.625 billion euros ($2.14 billion) for six months at an increased interest rate of 4.95 percent on Tuesday, the Greek debt management agency said. |
|
| HK govt proposes measures to tackle vote-rigging |
| HONG KONG : The Hong Kong government is proposing new measures to crack down on vote-rigging. |
|
| Japan faces challenging recovery after March earthquake and tsunami |
| TOKYO : It has been a difficult year for Japan with the economy hurt by the massive earthquake and tsunami in March. |
|
| President Tony Tan, PM Lee congratulate new Malaysian King and Queen |
| SINGAPORE: President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have sent congratulatory letters to Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and his wife on his coronation as Malaysia's 14th King. |
|
| N.Korea, US may hold new talks this month: report |
| SEOUL : North Korea and the United States may hold new talks this month on ways to restart stalled six-nation discussions on the North's nuclear disarmament, a South Korean report said on Tuesday. |
|
| Singapore shares weaken amid concerns over the Eurozone debt crisis |
| SINGAPORE : Share prices in Singapore closed weaker on Tuesday amid doubts over the Eurozone's latest plan to contain its debt crisis. |
|
| SAF participates in Indonesia's Hari Nusantara |
| DUMAI, Indonesia: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) participated in Indonesia's Hari Nusantara, which celebrates the country's status as an archipelago, in Dumai, Indonesia, on Tuesday. |
|
| Yahoo! denies copyright infringement |
| SINGAPORE: Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd has denied allegations of copyright infringement in a case against the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). |
|
| Eurozone crisis cools oil market despite Iran tension: IEA |
| PARIS : The eurozone debt crisis is cooling the global oil market rapidly but likely sanctions against Iran are holding prices up for now, the IEA said on Tuesday. |
|
| Blasts hits gas pipeline in Syria's flashpoint province |
| DAMASCUS : An explosion ripped through a gas pipeline near the town of Rastan in Syria's flashpoint Homs province, the official news agency SANA reported on Tuesday, blaming the overnight incident on "terrorists". |
|
| Malaysia seizes million-dollar ivory shipment |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has seized elephant tusks and ivory handicrafts worth an estimated four million ringgit ($1.3 million) en route from Kenya to Cambodia, a customs official said on Tuesday. |
|
| South Korea calls for China crackdown after officer's death |
| SEOUL: Seoul urged Beijing on Tuesday to crack down on illegal fishing and growing violence by Chinese boat crews, after China's foreign ministry expressed regret over the killing of a coastguard officer. |
|
| JTC to launch 2-stage tender for Jurong Rock Caverns |
| SINGAPORE : JTC Corporation is launching a two-stage tender this Friday to engage an operator for Jurong Rock Caverns, Singapore's first underground hydrocarbon storage facility. |
|
| Australian health executive charged over huge fraud |
| BRISBANE, Australia: An Australian health executive accused of embezzling millions in government funds was charged with theft on Tuesday and made a dishevelled appearance in court. |
|
| Iran scoffs at Obama request for US drone's return |
| TEHRAN: Iran on Tuesday scoffed at US President Barack Obama's request for it to return a sophisticated US drone, with a foreign ministry spokesman stressing the aircraft violated Iranian airspace. |
|
| 6.1-magnitude quake strikes off central Indonesia |
| JAKARTA: A 6.1-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday struck off Sulawesi island in central Indonesia, the US Geological Survey said. |
|
| Kedah's sultan takes over as Malaysia's 14th king |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has a new king. |
|
| Asian markets fall on eurozone debt pact worries |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets mostly fell Tuesday, tracking losses on Wall Street as worries rose that a deal by European Union leaders to contain the region's debt crisis would not be enough to solve its fiscal woes. |
|
| China calls Canada's Kyoto withdrawal "regrettable" |
| BEIJING: China said Tuesday Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol was "regrettable" and went against international attempts to tackle climate change. |
|
| Horse Racing: Retired HK trainer jailed for bribery in local election |
| HONG KONG: Retired Hong Kong trainer Brian Kan was sentenced to 14 weeks in jail for offering a HK$130,000 ($17,000) bribe in a local election, officials said on Tuesday. |
|
| New managing director for S'pore Media Academy |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore's leading media company, MediaCorp, has appointed Ms Ong Lay Hong as the managing director of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Singapore Media Academy (SMA). |
|
| Fed to hone message in final meet of the year |
| WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve's top policy makers gather for their last meeting of the year on Tuesday, when they are expected to discuss the central bank's broadest communications overhaul in two decades. |
|
| China to "consider" navy stop in Seychelles |
| BEIJING: China has said it may use the Seychelles as a naval supply stop while conducting anti-piracy missions, at the invitation of the Indian Ocean island state. |
|
| Opposition head to be sworn in as Tunisian president |
| TUNIS: Rights activist and former opposition leader Moncef Marzouki will on Tuesday be sworn in as Tunisia's first elected president since the north African country's revolution sparked the Arab Spring. |
|
| US protests partially close West Coast ports |
| OAKLAND, California: US "occupy" protesters claimed victory in blockading ports along the West Coast and shutting down a major trade cargo hub in a new front on the anti-capitalist campaign. |
|
| Indian rupee hits record low against the dollar |
| MUMBAI: The Indian rupee on Tuesday hit a record low against the dollar due to continued demand for the US currency, amid concerns over eurozone debt as well as weak domestic data. |
|
| Japan chooses F-35 as mainstay fighter jet |
| TOKYO: Japan has chosen the US-made F-35 stealth jet as its next-generation mainstay fighter in a multi-billion dollar deal, reports said Tuesday. |
|
| New initiatives to develop precision engineering in S'pore |
| SINGAPORE: Craftsmen in Singapore will have more upgrading opportunities through a new Precision Engineering Vocational Continuing Education and Training (PEVC) initiative. |
|
| Activists urge arrest of Malaysian state governor |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Environmental groups and activists from Malaysia, Europe and Australia called Tuesday on Malaysian authorities to arrest a powerful state governor and 13 relatives accused of massive graft. |
|
| H.O.T. to make comeback with SM Entertainment |
| SEOUL: Korean boy band H.O.T., one of the pioneers of K-pop, is set to make a comeback, reported Korean media. |
|
| Asian markets down on eurozone debt pact worries |
| HONG KONG: Asian markets fell Tuesday, tracking losses on Wall Street as worries rose that a deal by European Union leaders to contain the region's debt crisis would not be enough to solve its fiscal woes. |
|
| Chinese skipper faces murder charge amid S. Korea anger |
| SEOUL: South Korea's coastguard said Tuesday it has firm evidence against a Chinese boat captain accused of murdering an officer to escape arrest for illegal fishing, amid growing anger and diplomatic strains. |
|
| Koda Kumi to marry Back-On's Kenji03 |
| TOKYO: J-pop singer Koda Kumi has announced on Tuesday via her website that she will be marrying rock band Back-On's vocalist Kenji03, reported Japanese media. |
|
| Suu Kyi's Myanmar opposition wins legal recognition |
| YANGON: Myanmar authorities have allowed Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition to legally re-register, state media reported Tuesday, clearing the way for the democracy champion's party to rejoin mainstream politics. |
|
| Crude mixed in Asia as EU worries weigh |
| SINGAPORE: Crude prices were mixed in Asia Tuesday with markets rattled by worries that a European Union deal on curbing the eurozone's debt crisis was not far-reaching enough, analysts said. |
|
| Salary outlook for next 12 months remains positive: survey |
| SINGAPORE: Despite the subdued economy, salary outlook for the next 12 months remains positive, said a global management consultancy. |
|
| S'pore invention, iTwin wins "Best of What's New Award" |
| SINGAPORE: A Singapore-invented plug-and-play file sharing device, iTwin, has been winning awards for its innovative properties and unique design since its launch less than two years ago. |
|
| SIA, Virgin Australia announce new Darwin services |
| SINGAPORE: As part of the recently-approved alliance between Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines' regional full service airline, SilkAir, will begin a four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin. |
|
| US lawmakers target Pakistan aid, Iran central bank |
| WASHINGTON: US House and Senate negotiators unveiled a compromise military spending bill Monday that ties strings to aid to Pakistan, targets Iran's central bank, and sets high hurdles for closing Guantanamo Bay. |
|
| Gingrich, Huntsman debate leaves Romney in the cold |
| NEW YORK: Leading Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich and his distant rival Jon Huntsman froze out big candidate Mitt Romney with a debate Monday where they agreed on everything. |
|
| Millions take part in Mexico pilgrimage |
| MEXICO CITY: More than five million people traveled to Mexico City's Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe this year to pay respects to one of Latin America's most revered holy figures, authorities said Monday. |
|
| Moody's may cut Spanish bank ratings |
| WASHINGTON: Ratings agency Moody's warned Monday it might cut the ratings of a number of Spanish banks, citing both their real estate exposure and weaker ability to generate earnings. |
|
| Syria crackdown death toll "over 5,000" |
| UNITED NATIONS: More than 5,000 people are now believed to have been killed in the Syrian government's crackdown on protests, UN rights chief Navi Pillay told the UN Security Council on Monday. |
|
| US demands Iran return drone |
| WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama acknowledged for the first time Monday that a US drone was in Iranian hands and said the United States has asked Tehran to return the sophisticated spycraft. |
|
| Canada withdrawing from Kyoto Protocol |
| OTTAWA: Canada is formally withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol, becoming the first country to abandon the agreement on climate change after ratifying it, its environment minister announced Monday. |
|
| World oil prices slide |
| NEW YORK: World oil prices sank Monday as investors fretted over weaknesses and unanswered questions in last week's deal to rescue the eurozone and shore up the European economy. |
|
| Football: Chelsea down Man City |
| LONDON: Chelsea inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Premier League leaders Manchester City after substitute Frank Lampard secured a 2-1 victory from the penalty spot at Stamford Bridge here on Monday. |
|
| Obese travellers to sue Air Canada |
| OTTAWA: A judge has authorised a class action lawsuit against Air Canada on behalf of obese travellers forced to pay for an extra seat, a law firm announced Monday. |
|
| Football: Juve gain point to top table |
| ROME: Juventus came from behind to draw 1-1 at Roma on Monday and return to the top of the Serie A table. |
|
| "No heart attack risk" from ADHD drugs |
| WASHINGTON: Most adults do not face a higher risk of heart attack when taking stimulant medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, US researchers said on Monday. |
|
| US stocks slump |
| NEW YORK: US stocks followed their European counterparts lower Monday, dragged down by doubts over the strength of the EU pact aimed at ending the eurozone financial crisis. |
|
| Japan lawmaker eyes base on disputed island |
| WASHINGTON: Japan should consider building a military base on islands disputed with China to counter Beijing's rising assertiveness, a leader of Japan's opposition said Monday on a visit to the United States. |
|
| Libya's new rulers under fire |
| BENGHAZI, Libya: Libya's new rulers came under fire from disgruntled protesters for the first time Monday as hundreds rallied in Benghazi, cradle of the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and brought them to power. |
|
| ICC elects African as chief prosecutor |
| UNITED NATIONS: International Criminal Court member states on Monday unanimously elected Fatou Bensouda of Gambia as the new chief prosecutor for the main genocide and war crimes tribunal. |
|
| IMF chief to visit Niger, Nigeria |
| WASHINGTON: International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde will visit Nigeria and Niger on December 18-22 on her first visit to Africa while leading the crisis lender, the IMF said Monday. |
|
| Pope to visit Cuba, Mexico |
| VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI said on Monday he will travel to Cuba and Mexico next year for a keenly-awaited visit "to proclaim the word of Christ," hailing Latin America as a new global player. |
|
| Football: Arsenal's Santos set for 3 months out |
| LONDON: Arsenal defender Andre Santos is set to miss the next three months of the season because of an ankle injury, the Premier League club said Monday. |
|
| Rugby: Jonny Wilkinson retires |
| LONDON: England fly-half great Jonny Wilkinson has retired from international rugby union, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said in a statement here on Monday. |
|
| Iraq-barred security firm gets new name |
| WASHINGTON: The US security firm formerly known as Blackwater, which was barred from Iraq over a deadly 2007 shooting, renamed itself a second time Monday. |
|
| Fitch sees global growth slowdown |
| PARIS: Global growth is set to slow to 2.4 per cent next year as market tensions mount and the risk of unfavourable developments has increased, Fitch Ratings said in its latest forecasts on Monday. |
|
| Bomb neutralised in Paris' Greek embassy |
| PARIS: French police on Monday neutralised a letter bomb sent to the Greek embassy in Paris from Italy in what appeared to be the latest in a string of explosive parcel attacks, officials said. |
|
| Stench hits Admiralty neighbourhood |
| SINGAPORE: Residents living near the Admiralty MRT station were greeted by an unpleasant smell on Monday night after several drains at Admiralty Place over flowed, causing a pungent stench in the neighbourhood. |
|
| China school bus accident kills 12 |
| BEIJING: A school bus overturned in eastern China on Monday killing 12 students, state media said, amid mounting pressure on Beijing to address bus safety after a series of fatal accidents. |
|
| Intel lowers outlook on disk drive shortage |
| NEW YORK : US computer chip giant Intel lowered its fourth-quarter outlook on Monday, citing a hard disk drive shortage caused by
flooding in Thailand. |
|
| Investors turn conservative as markets become more volatile |
| SINGAPORE : Conservative investing has ruled the day in 2011 amidst the volatility in markets. |
|
| Eurozone tensions mount as summit respite fades |
| PARIS : Crisis clouds darkened over the debt-ridden eurozone on Monday after last week's EU summit deal afforded only a brief respite from the markets and leaders warned of a two-speed Europe. |
|
| Singapore completes construction of 385 tube wells in Myanmar |
| Singapore has completed the construction of 385 tube wells in Myanmar. |
|
| Myanmar orders military to halt attacks against Kachin rebels |
| YANGON: Myanmar's president has ordered the country's powerful military to cease attacks against ethnic Kachin rebels in an effort to solve the damaging conflict politically, his office said on Monday. |
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| Syrians go to polls amid strikes, killings |
| DAMASCUS: Syrians were voting on Monday in municipal elections held amid a general strike called by the opposition and as security forces killed another seven people as they pursued a crackdown on dissent. |
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| Oil prices slide on fresh eurozone worries |
| LONDON: World oil prices sank on Monday as investors fretted that last week's European deal on adopting tougher fiscal rules might not be enough to save the eurozone from its debt crisis, analysts said. |
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| NATO announces end of training mission in Iraq |
| BRUSSELS: NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday announced that a mission to train Iraqi security forces will end at the turn of the year. |
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| Analysts to revise forecasts for China's economy amid signs of slowdown |
| HONG KONG : Amid growing signs of a slowdown in the Chinese economy, some analysts are relooking their forecasts for 2012. |
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| Three shot dead in Thai tourist town: police |
| BANGKOK - Three Thai men were shot dead when unknown gunmen sprayed bullets at worshippers at a mosque in a tourist town on the kingdom's southern coast, police said Monday. |
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| RBS ex-management slammed over bank failure |
| LONDON: Royal Bank of Scotland almost collapsed in 2008 due to poor management, particularly over the ill-fated ABN Amro takeover, and also weak regulation, Britain's financial watchdog said in a report on Monday. |
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| Philippines' top judge faces impeachment |
| MANILA: Philippine President Benigno Aquino's parliamentary allies moved on Monday to impeach the country's top judge, who in turn accused his opponents of seeking to destroy the Supreme Court's integrity. |
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| Sailing: Japanese pair in charge at ISAF world championships |
| PERTH, Australia: Japanese duo Ai Kondo and Wakako Tabata made a flying start to the women's 470 at the ISAF World Sailing Championships in Western Australia on Monday. |
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| SMRT Taxis announces fare revision |
| SINGAPORE: SMRT Taxis will revise its cab fares from 20 December. The changes are broadly in line with what has been announced by ComfortDelGro. |
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| France losing triple-A not 'insurmountable' problem: Sarkozy |
| PARIS : President Nicolas Sarkozy appeared on Monday to accept that France is facing a downgrade of its triple-A credit rating, when he declared that he would overcome this challenge to his policy. |
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| Hydroelectric project provides economic benefits for Laotian villagers |
| VENTIANE: Landlocked Laos, one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, is striving to become the 'battery' for the power-hungry region. |
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| World economy is slowing down: OECD |
| PARIS : Leading indicators all point to a slowdown in the world's major developed economies, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Monday. |
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| Blaze casts spotlight on poor safety standards in India's buildings |
| NEW DELHI: The deadly fire at a Kolkata hospital has cast the spotlight once again on the poor safety standards of the Indian city's hospitals and other buildings. |
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| US online spending rises 15% nearing year's end |
| WASHINGTON: US online shopping rose 15 percent from November 1 to December 9 compared to the same period last year, according to industry tracker comScore. |
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| Former sales assistant jailed for cheating, CBT |
| SINGAPORE: A former sales assistant was sentenced to six years' jail on Monday after pleading guilty to eight counts of cheating and one count of criminal breach of trust. |
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| The most common misplaced item at Changi Airport |
| SINGAPORE: Are travellers getting more careless? Well, between January and November this year, some 15,600 items were lost and found at Singapore's Changi Airport - more than the 14,000-odd belongings recovered in 2010. |
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| Japanese consumer confidence slips in November |
| TOKYO: Japanese consumer confidence weakened in November, registering the first decline in seven months, the government said Monday, amid growing concerns over Europe's debt crisis and a strong yen. |
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| Malaysians bid farewell to outgoing 13th king |
| KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have bid farewell to their King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin after his five-year term ended officially on Monday. |
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| Zurich Financial Services plans to boost life insurance business in Singapore |
| SINGAPORE : Zurich Financial Services plans to double its life insurance premiums generated in Singapore over the next three years. |
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| Danone, Nestle suspend or close factories in China |
| BEIJING: Global food conglomerates Danone and Nestle said on Monday they will suspend or close factories in China, moves analysts said highlighted the tough competition from domestic players. |
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| Singapore sending 33 athletes to ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia |
| SINGAPORE: Singapore is sending a team of 33 disabled athletes to the 6th ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia. |
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| Four Singaporeans deny conspiracy to defraud US |
| SINGAPORE: Four Singaporeans charged with illegally exporting US-made radio equipment to Iran have denied the charges in court on Monday. |
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| SG Changi, SSC end motorsports hub contract |
| SINGAPORE: The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) announced that it is terminating the Changi Motorsports Hub project that was awarded to SG Changi. |
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| Fraud claims won't alter vote results: Putin's aide |
| MOSCOW - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman said Monday the results of Russia's contested parliamentary polls will stand despite massive street protests and a probe by the election authorities. |
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| Straits Trading diversifies into property and hospitality services |
| SINGAPORE : Amid the sluggish outlook for industrial metals, at least one producer is hedging its bets. |
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| French opposition candidate "will renegotiate EU pact" |
| PARIS: French Socialist flag-bearer Francois Hollande, the opposition candidate seen as favourite to unseat President Nicolas Sarkozy in May, said Monday he would renegotiate last week's EU fiscal pact. |
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| Class 95FM Miles for Smiles charity event returns for third year |
| SINGAPORE: Class 95FM's Miles for Smiles event is back for the third year! |
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| Snooker: Trump repels Allen revival to win UK title |
| YORK, England: Judd Trump ended a breakthrough 2011 by winning the UK Championship - snooker's second most important tournament - with a 10-8 win over Mark Allen in an absorbing final on Sunday. |
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| Asian markets mostly higher after EU debt deal |
| HONG KONG : Asian markets were mostly higher Monday as optimism over last week's European plan to introduce tougher fiscal rules to save the eurozone were weighed by lingering concerns leaders may not have done enough. |
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