News Today

Smugglers raise a security concern for S'pore, says ICA
SMUGGLERS are trying every which way to get increasing amounts of contraband into Singapore, and that has serious security implications for the country. Right now, the items being brought in range from cigarettes to handcuffs and replica guns - plus the... [Read more]

Letter bomb explodes in central London
LONDON - A LETTER bomb exploded in central London yesterday, injuring one woman and causing panic. The blast occurred at the London headquarters of the company that administers the British capital's traffic congestion toll, Capita. It is less than 180m from... [Read more]

A big dose of sensitivity and humility needed when dealing with our neighbours
The article by The Economist, 'Let's all bash Singapore' (ST, Feb 10), described the string of recent disputes that Singapore have with our three closest neighbours - Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. While Warren Fernandez rationalised in his article, 'What's behind 'triple... [Read more]

Big businesses go green
PARIS - SOME of the very corporations once vilified by environmentalists are choosing to go green. In one initiative, Wal-Mart Stores chief executive Lee Scott unveiled a plan challenging employees, suppliers and customers to remove non-renewable energy from their lives. 'It... [Read more]

Two fatal accidents in five months near condo - do something please
I am a resident of Springdale Condo in Upper Bukit Timah Road.On the morning of Feb 15, a fatal accident occurred just in front of the condominium. It's scary that two fatal accidents occurred within five months in the same location... [Read more]

It's a pleasure to beat the pressure
PHOTO: AP Pub-goers having a thrashing good time during a fiesty pillow fight at a Shanghai bar. More than 50 people took part in the weekend event, organised by the bar as a way for stressed-out Shanghai residents to let off... [Read more]

Poor better off, Middle-incomers puzzled
For some, it was the Great Singapore Puzzle.When the Budget was announced on Thursday, it left quite a few people scratching their heads. A few savings here, a few goodies there. Different permutations, based on age, income and housing type. But... [Read more]

Tata wins Corus with $19b bid
LONDON - INDIA'S Tata Steel is set to become the world's fifth-biggest steelmaker after winning a battle for Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus Group with a &pound6.2 billion (S$18.8 billion) offer.The battle pushed Corus' share price to seven-year highs and pitted 70-year-old Tata... [Read more]

I feel like a WHORE
Daring bus stop shoot brings Fann close to 'emotional breakdown' - it's the price of taking on more risky roles CLAD in a short skirt, Fann Wong is sitting at a bus stop, her legs wide apart.She then props one foot... [Read more]

Google gains again beat analyst forecasts
SAN FRANCISCO - GOOGLE'S fourth-quarter profit nearly tripled as the online search engine leader once again sprinted past analyst expectations, but the breathtaking growth was still not enough for investors.Google said on Wednesday that it earned US$1.03 billion (S$1.58 billion), or... [Read more]

Coaches become shooters
THEY came to Singapore to coach the national air-pistol team two years ago.But China-born Fan Xiaoping, 35, and her husband Gai Bin, 38, will soon be donning Singapore colours - as athletes.They received their citizenship a fortnight ago, and have been... [Read more]

Hussey is the man Australia turn to

Group A: Australia (world ranking: 2), South Africa (1), Scotland, The Netherlands

RICKY Ponting may be the captain and Glenn McGrath may be the oldest player. But the real heartbeat of Australia's one-day team is Mike Hussey (below).

The man known as Mr Cricket has become the new saviour of Australia's one-day team, replacing Michael Bevan as the player they turn to in times of crisis.

Like Bevan, Hussey is at his best when the pressure is really on - batting with the tail, chasing a target that seems out of reach.

While others panic, Hussey stays calm. He discovers new ways to keep the scoreboard ticking along, smashing the ball over the fence or threading it through the narrowest of gaps in the field to scamper through for a single.

The 31-year-old is a quiet man but his exploits have not gone unnoticed. He was named by the International Cricket Council last year as the world's best one-day player.

He is currently the top batsman. From 61 one-day internationals, he has scored 1,739 runs - an average of 66.88 and a strike rate of 91.33. He has also captained his country four times in the absence of Ponting and his deputy, Adam Gilchrist.

The left-hander was not selected for Australia's one-day team until he was 28. He had scored more than 15,000 first-class runs before he made his Test debut, when Justin Langer broke a rib.

Hussey set a record for the fastest player to chalk up 1,000 Test runs. He reached the milestone 166 days after his debut.

Bevan played a key role in Australia's wins at the last two World Cups. Ponting says Hussey could be the player to give his team the edge this time.

'He has certainly stepped into the Michael Bevan role,' Ponting said.

'He has managed to win us a lot of games off his own bat - whether it be Test matches, making hundreds batting with the tail, or controlling one-day games.'

REUTERS

News Today

Floods over, now for the drought
KUALA LUMPUR - JUST weeks after devastating floods subsided, Malaysia has begun preparing for a drought that is forecast to hit the country next month.Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government was monitoring water levels and would ration supplies if... [Read more]

Rubbish-chute fire hits Shenton Way building
About 800 people were evacuated from a Shenton Way building yesterday morning after a fire broke out on the ground floor. No one was hurt at the 25-storey Shenton House. The evacuation was performed as a precaution by staff of the... [Read more]

Jewell holds his tongue this time
LONDON - WIGAN manager Paul Jewell refused to criticise referee Rob Styles' decision to send Fitz Hall off during the Latics' 1-1 Premiership draw with Watford on Wednesday.Hall was dismissed for a two-footed lunge at Johan Cavalli after just 20 minutes... [Read more]

More Singapore aid for victims of Jakarta floods
JAKARTA - MORE Singapore companies have pitched in for Jakarta's flood relief efforts. Singapore Ambassador to Indonesia Ashok Mirpuri yesterday handed over 200 million rupiah (S$34,000) worth of relief supplies to Indonesian Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari. The aid is... [Read more]

Man held over letter bombs, but threat remains
LONDON - BRITISH police have arrested a man in connection with a series of letter bomb attacks but say they cannot rule out the possibility that another similar device is still in the postal system.Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell said in... [Read more]

Directors' Trades
CAPITALAND DIRECTOR CUTS DIRECT STAKE A NON-EXECUTIVE director of property giant CapitaLand has reduced his direct stake in the company by selling 200,000 shares on the open market. Mr Lim Chin Beng, who is also Ascott's chairman, sold the shares for... [Read more]

GV has every right to defend its policy on food restrictions without reservation
I am surprised that Mrs Sharon Lim has chosen to express her dismay over the rules rather than her own actions, 'Golden Village's rules about food are too strict' (Online forum, Feb 6). Picture this: Mrs Lim was caught red-handed with... [Read more]

Bob Chandran
President and chief executive of marine fuels supplier Chemoil. The company sells about 5 per cent of shipping fuel globally, and was listed in Singapore in December last year. Born in India in 1950, he migrated to the US in 1976.... [Read more]

Citibank's reputation best among banks here
CITIBANK has leapfrogged its local rivals to become the bank with the best corporate reputation among Singaporeans, according to a new survey. The American giant scored 2.97 out of a possible 5 to edge out last year's chart-topper, DBS Bank, at... [Read more]

A slice of S'pore in the Philippines
President and Mrs S R Nathan, on a four-day trip to the Philippines, yesterday visited the Singapore GK Village, built in 2005 with the help of more than 50 Singapore volunteers for 46 poor families.Flanked by Mr Tony Meloto, founder of... [Read more]

Woman in coma in Perth hospital
A SINGAPOREAN tourist was in a coma in a Perth hospital last night after she nearly drowned on a diving trip off the west coast of Australia on Monday. Miss Serene Teng's boyfriend, who was with her during the dive, was... [Read more]

Platini seeks end to violence

THE new president of Uefa, Michel Platini, is struggling to find a solution to increasing fan violence in and around Europe's stadiums.

Crowd trouble in France, Greece and Serbia last weekend followed violent incidents in Germany and Italy.

'If you have solutions, give them to me,' he told L'Equipe. 'Today, a match is so crucial, as if sport has become more important than life. How to fight it? I don't know.

'There has always been violence in football. Why is it manifesting itself more and more often? And why football, when in other sports, there isn't such behaviour? I find it hard to understand.'

News Today

Increase speed of trains, which carry more people
AFTER the recent announcement of the implementation of full-day bus lanes on certain roads within the city area, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has now decided to do away with bus bays on a trial basis so as to further increase... [Read more]

The debate on biomedical research in Singapore
THE debate was sparked by an opinion piece by National Neuroscience Institute director Lee Wei Ling, headlined 'What ails biomedical research in Singapore?', published in The Straits Times on Nov 4, in which she wrote that in Singapore's push into the... [Read more]

Reasons for investors' concerns
TATA Steel's purchase of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus for more than US$12 billion (S$18.4 billion) has sparked concern among investors, who wonder if demand for steel will continue to record the steady growth of recent years.The following factors give them reason to... [Read more]

NHK loses case over toning down of sex slavery show
TOKYO - JAPAN'S public broadcaster was ordered to compensate a women's rights group yesterday after producers toned down a programme on World War II sex slavery following a complaint from government official Shinzo Abe, who is now the prime minister.The Tokyo... [Read more]

KL proposes strategic alliance with New Delhi
NEW DELHI - MALAYSIAN Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar has suggested that a 'strategic alliance' be set up between his country and India. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid, who was to have arrived in India last night on an official visit, told... [Read more]

Boy, 7, left in burning flat as family flees
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy - mistakenly left behind in a burning flat by his panicked family - was saved in a dramatic rescue carried out by firefighters yesterday. Muhamed Arrifin's relatives realised he was still in the Yishun flat only when they... [Read more]

Just 8% of SMEs took govt loan? That's good sign
ONLY 8 per cent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) last year took a loan under a government scheme to help them.But Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang saw this as a positive sign. 'It's good that our SMEs are... [Read more]

Bellamy a 'scapegoat' for Liverpool's training-trip fracas
LIVERPOOL - CRAIG Bellamy has been made a scapegoat for Liverpool's training-camp ruckus in Portugal. Sources within the club suggest the 27-year-old Welsh international's bad-boy reputation was exploited to deflect blame from a large number of players involved in breaches of... [Read more]

The four main plotters
Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed (Mohammed The Egyptian) The 35-year-old was arrested in June 2004 in Italy, where he was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Transcripts following three months of recordings by the Italian police showed... [Read more]

Ex-cop charged with corruption
A FORMER police officer was charged in court yesterday with 10 counts of corruption and two counts of cheating involving a total of about $12,000. Ex-senior station inspector Ko Poh Koon, 48, whose services had been terminated in January 2005, allegedly... [Read more]

Ancient water dispute still causing ripples
THOUSANDS of riot policemen fanned out across India's technology hub of Bangalore earlier this week, as a court ruled on an ancient water dispute between the country's federal states.Not long after the British conquered India, the colonial rulers decided that the... [Read more]

News Today

Soccer Shorts
KUYT STILL HOPEFULLONDON: Striker Dirk Kuyt insists Liverpool will not give up on the Premiership title.The Reds reduced the gap from leaders Manchester United to 11 points after a 2-0 home win over champions Chelsea last Saturday.Kuyt told Sky Sports: 'Winning... [Read more]

Book launched in honour of abbess
DEVOTEES had planned to celebrate her 98th birthday in February last year, but the founder of Man Fut Tong Nursing Home, Venerable Ho Yuen Hoe, died before they could do so. To mark her birth and death, a book about Venerable... [Read more]

Iran turns missile into satellite launcher
TEHERAN - IRAN has converted its most powerful ballistic missile into a satellite launch vehicle, a move that could herald a new dimension in Teheran's strategic capabilities, according to Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine. A recently assembled 30.5-tonne ballistic missile-turned-space... [Read more]

Video game maker raided for using illegal software
A COMPANY that develops video games was raided on Thursday morning - allegedly for using illegal software. The case has more than a touch of irony, considering the company is part of an industry that has always railed against the impact... [Read more]

Floods cripple much of Jakarta
JAKARTA - MUCH of Jakarta was crippled yesterday as the worst deluge in five years cut road, rail and telecommunications links to the Indonesian capital. Three-quarters of the sprawling city of 12 million people was under water, and officials now face... [Read more]

Change in COE tender dates
CERTIFICATE of entitlement (COE) tender dates are different this month because of Chinese New Year.The month's first exercise takes place today and tomorrow. Usually, it is over three days in the second week of the month.The second tender for this month... [Read more]

Roma's hopes rest on an improved performance
ROME - IF ROMA want to progress in the Champions League, they will have to play better than they did last Saturday.Then, they produced one of their worst performances in recent times in their 0-1 loss to Empoli.The result left them... [Read more]

Ailing Castro still has fight in him
CUBAN state television has shown footage of Dr Fidel Castro for the first time in three months, and the ailing leader said he was still in the fight to recover from surgery that forced him to relinquish power last July. The... [Read more]

Israel warns Iran of all-out retaliation
HERZLIYA (ISRAEL) - ISRAELI Prime Minister Ehud Olmert did not mince his words during a high-profile policy speech on Wednesday when he warned Iran that his country will respond to a nuclear threat 'with all the means at our disposal'. Addressing... [Read more]

Richard Yong may end up paying the most
WITH all four defendants now having admitted that they are liable to the new National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the way has been paved for the charity to recover the money it is claiming from them. But the twist is that it... [Read more]

Jakarta defends move to halt sharing of bird flu samples
JAKARTA - INDONESIA yesterday defended its decision to stop sharing bird flu samples with the World Health Organisation, saying it did not want the agency passing them to drug companies to develop vaccines the country could not afford. But Health Minister... [Read more]

News Today

China's life expectancy to hit 85 years by 2050
BEIJING - THE average life expectancy in China will jump by 13 years to 85 years by the middle of the century, Chinese academics said in a new report.All households will be lifted out of poverty by then, and children will... [Read more]

Opting out of Hota: It?s a matter of wresting back control over our persons
I wonder how Dr Lee Wei Ling, 'Organ transplant: Unease over last-minute opt-out' (ST Forum, Feb 22), came to the conclusion that 'given a choice, the vast majority of families would object strongly if they thought this could prevent their loved... [Read more]

Focus on Mideast peace, free trade, climate change
DAVOS (SWITZERLAND) - THIS year's gathering at the World Economic Forum produced fresh commitments to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, a glimmer of hope on liberalising world trade and determination to combat global warming. And, as a tailpiece, emotional appeals at yesterday's... [Read more]

Quick News
ROAD CLOSURES IN CHINATOWN SEVERAL roads in Chinatown will be closed to traffic from today, in the run-up to Chinese New Year.To facilitate the light-up ceremony there tonight, New Bridge Road between Upper Cross Street and Kreta Ayer Road, and Eu... [Read more]

Malay barber?s laudable example of fostering spirit of racial harmony
Four days before Lunar New Year, I had a haircut at a Malay barber shop in Bukit Batok.Typical Chinese New Year decorations, such as lanterns, greeting cards and mandarin oranges, adorned the shop. There was an air of festivity reminding patrons... [Read more]

3-nation accord to conserve Borneo rainforest
JAKARTA - INDONESIA, Malaysia and Brunei yesterday agreed to conserve a large swathe of mountainous rainforest covering a third of Borneo which is home to endangered orang utans, elephants and rhinoceros. 'This will put the 'Heart of Borneo' on the world... [Read more]

Forum on what it means to be moderate Muslims
CONCERNED that extreme views abroad may influence Muslims here, Islamic religious leaders are setting out to explain that being moderate is an essential part of being a good Muslim.The term 'moderate Muslim' has been debated within the community and abroad, with... [Read more]

Despite model drawing, pupils still stumped by problem sums
IF DEMAND is born out of a need, there must be some inadequacy in model drawing that impels parents and pupils to seek alternative means to tackle problem solving.Pupils continue to be stumped by problem sums despite the prolific use of... [Read more]

Materazzi head-butted again
ROME - MARCO Materazzi must have felt a sense of deja vu.The Inter Milan defender was embroiled in an argument with Sampdoria's Gennaro Delvecchio in their Italian Serie A match on Sunday.The next thing he knew, Delvecchio head-butted him in the... [Read more]

12 years
IN THE strongest signal yet that the courts intend to take a tough line on card skimming, a Malaysian fruit seller saw his jail term of four years and four months upped on appeal yesterday to 12 years.Law Aik Meng, 27,... [Read more]

Six-party talks 'not threatened'
ALLEGATIONS that North Korea misused United Nations development funds should not cloud talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons drive, said the United States. The State Department said the allegations made by the US delegate to the UN, Mr Mark Wallace,... [Read more]