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]