News Today

How the road tax on Lexus RX400h is derived
I REFER to Mr Steve Tan's letter, 'Anomalies on the road to 'greener' vehicles' (ST, Jan 24). Mr Tan commented that there is an anomaly in the pegging of road tax for environmentally friendly vehicles and mentioned the Lexus RX400h, a... [Read more]

Aussies pick Newater as best-tasting in test
ADELAIDE - SINGAPORE'S reclaimed water Newater trumped spring water, bottled water and desalinated water in a taste test in Australia, conducted as the country faces a chronic water shortage. It came out tops in a test among 56 participants, as politicians... [Read more]

News Corp nears deal for Chinese MySpace
SHANGHAI - NEWS Corp is finalising an agreement with partners to launch a networking website venture in China within a few months, venture capital and Chinese government sources said yesterday.The deal, if successful, would be a landmark step for News Corp,... [Read more]

Top MBA list: NTU up 35 spots
SIX years ago, Chinese national Peng Hong Jiang earned $46,000 annually as an assistant finance manager in a logistics firm here. Now, armed with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the 38-year-old takes home nearly three... [Read more]

Serie A
Yesterday AC Milan 2 Livorno 1 Atalanta 0 Lazio 0 Cagliari 2 Siena 2 Chievo 0 Inter Milan 2 Fiorentina 2 Udinese 0 Messina v Catania Kick-off delayed Palermo 0 Empoli 1 Roma 3 Parma 0 Sampdoria 2 Ascoli 0 Torino... [Read more]

Chelsea oozing confidence again
LONDON - HAVE Chelsea regained their swagger? With a month of speculation over his future behind him, manager Jose Mourinho is again confident that his side are ready to overhaul Manchester United for the title. After revealing that captain John Terry... [Read more]

Phelps rewrites 200m fly world mark
NEW YORK - AMERICAN Michael Phelps broke his own 200 metres butterfly world record in Columbia last Saturday. He clocked 1 minute 53.71 seconds at the Missouri Grand Prix meet. Tam Kerekjarto was second in 1:59.79 while Juan Veloz was third... [Read more]

30,000 fake Olympic mascots seized
BEIJING - WARNING: The cuddly Beijing 2008 Olympics mascots known as 'Fuwa' could be hazardous to your health.Police in the Chinese capital have seized nearly 30,000 counterfeit versions of the fluffy stuffed mascots, some made with toxic materials, the state-run Beijing... [Read more]

Illegal assembly: 6 sect members get maximum fine
SIX Falungong practitioners, who were jailed for two days recently for contempt of court, have each been fined the maximum of $1,000 for taking part in an illegal assembly.The six women - Pang Su Chin, 56, You Xin, 38, Wang Yuyi,... [Read more]

Drink and drive at your peril
A GOOD host will remind friends and loved ones not to drink and drive.He should ensure that guests take public transport after drinking or get a friend who is sober to take them home, said police spokesman Danny Tan. He added:... [Read more]

North Korean leader's son 'living quiet life in Macau'
HONG KONG - THE eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has been living a low-key but well-off life in Macau for the past three years, a Hong Kong paper reported yesterday. Mr Kim Jong Nam, 35, and his... [Read more]

Some of the best insults

Rod Marsh (Australia) v Ian Botham (England)

When Botham took guard in an Ashes match, Marsh welcomed him to the wicket with the immortal words: 'So how's your wife and my kids?'



Robin Smith (Eng) v Merv Hughes (Aus)

In the 1989 Lords' Test, Hughes said to Smith after he played and missed: 'You can't bat.'

Smith to Hughes after he smacked him to the boundary: 'Hey Merv, we make a fine pair. I can't bat and you can't bowl.'



Merv Hughes (Aus) v Javed Miandad (Pakistan)

In the 1991 Adelaide Test, Javed called Hughes a fat bus conductor. A few balls later, Hughes dismissed him and exclaimed: 'Tickets please.'



James Ormond (Eng) v Mark Waugh (Aus)

Ormond had just come out to bat and was greeted by Waugh: 'What are you doing out here, there's no way you're good enough to play for England.'

Ormond replied: 'Maybe not, but at least I'm the best player in my family.'



Ian Healy (Aus) v Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka)

Warne was trying to tempt portly Sri Lanka skipper Ranatunga out of his crease.

Wicketkeeper Ian Healy believed he had the solution: 'Put a Mars Bar on a good length. That should do it.'

News Today

Is there an offset plan for defence spending?
THE letter, 'Hefty spending on defence justified' (ST, Jan 30), by Mr Goh Khee Kuan says, and I agree, that a decisive deterrence is critical. He concedes that the defence expenditure is large and at the expense of many other areas,... [Read more]

Messages from Official Assignee's office inconsistent: SDP chief
CHEE Soon Juan yesterday blamed the inconsistent instructions he received from the Official Assignee's (OA) office for causing him to believe he could go abroad while still a bankrupt.Its staff did not 'categorically reject' his travel application, he told a district... [Read more]

Put Asia's foreign reserves to better use: ADB
TOKYO - ASIA'S huge foreign reserves can and should be used more productively for the region's infrastructure development, a senior official of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday. A portion of the region's roughly US$3 trillion (S$4.6 trillion) in reserves... [Read more]

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

Ferguson is sure that Rooney will score in Champions League soon
WAYNE Rooney will end his Champions League scoring drought against Lille - according to manager Alex Ferguson.The England striker had hit a hat-trick past Turkish side Fenerbahce on his United and Champions League debut in September 2004.Since then, he has not... [Read more]

News? Simi lancheow! Go Fuck yourself!
India to review policy on SEZ projectsNEW DELHI - INDIA is reviewing its policy on special economic zones as opposition to them grows.A panel of senior ministers will examine all new plans for the zones, which are intended to attract billions... [Read more]

Wait to see kidney doc at TTSH could take 7 months
HOSPITALS have been asked to take steps to cut long waiting times for patients with non-urgent kidney problems. According to figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Health (MOH) ,it takes 205 days - almost seven months - for half the... [Read more]

Appreciation of the arts sorely missing
I read with interest the article 'Crazy Horse show to shut down' (ST, Jan 26).The closure of Crazy Horse brings to mind yet another distinctive performing arts company. In 2000, Cirque du Soleil set up its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. However,... [Read more]

Japan's new HIV cases hit record high
TOKYO - JAPAN'S government-backed Aids agency yesterday called for better awareness about the disease after new HIV infections hit a record high, even though the number remains low by global standards.A total of 914 people tested positive for HIV last year,... [Read more]

FairPrice supermarkets to provide in-store banking
SHOPPERS at NTUC FairPrice supermarkets will soon be able to add some surprising items to their shopping baskets. They will be able to open a savings account and apply for credit and debit cards as they shop for groceries. Later, they... [Read more]

Other uses for special education account
I APPLAUD the Government in its generosity towards brightening the hopes of students and those who want to engage in adult learning.A case in point is the Post Secondary Education Account, which is designed for students from the age of seven... [Read more]

Beware of Braga's Brazilians, warns Jol

LONDON - TOTTENHAM have fond memories of playing Portugal's Braga, having walloped them 9-0 on aggregate in the Uefa Cup in 1984.

But Martin Jol is still wary of the club's Brazilian threat when the sides clash today in the first leg of their Uefa Cup last-16 tie.

In the recent League Cup semi-final, Spurs looked to be heading towards the final before Brazil's Julio Baptista turned the game in Arsenal's favour.

And hosts Braga have a strong Brazilian influence, with Diego and Ze Carlos scoring in the previous round against Claudio Ranieri's Parma.

'I went to see them personally last week. They used a lot of players in order to rest people for forthcoming big games,' said Jol.

'Overall, we have got a very good impression of them. If you let them express themselves on the ball, they are very strong with their Brazilian influence.

'Braga are well-organised at the back, so it will be a difficult match away from home. Hopefully, we can get a good result and finish them off at White Hart Lane.'

Spurs head into the clash in confident mood after four straight wins, with 14 goals scored. They also boast a 100 per cent record in the Uefa Cup this season, with striker Dimitar Berbatov chasing a club scoring record.

Should the Bulgarian net against the Portuguese at the Municipal, he will become the first Spurs player to score in five successive European games.

At St James' Park, an attractive contest is in prospect as Newcastle United host free-scoring AZ Alkmaar.

The Dutch side, sitting second in their domestic league, have scored 21 goals since the first round, making them top scorers in the Uefa Cup this season. They will test Newcastle's defence to the limit.

REUTERS

News Today

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]

Gas water heaters linked to three deaths
TOKYO - GAS water heaters manufactured by Japan's Rinnai Corp have been linked to at least three deaths over the past seven years, according to industry ministry officials.Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a statement late week detailing the poisonings... [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]

G-7 nations open to letting IMF sell gold reserves
ESSEN (GERMANY) - INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Rodrigo Rato said the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialised nations were 'open-minded' about allowing the fund to sell part of its gold reserves. An advisory panel said last month the fund should... [Read more]

Well, Singapore Sucks!
Technorati ProfileTechnorati Profile... [Read more]Liverpool need to keep on winningLIVERPOOL - IT IS no use beating Chelsea, and then losing to West Ham. Liverpool scored a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Premiership champions Chelsea last week, and moved to within five points... [Read more]

Communities learn to speak language of trust - and more
SELLING Chinese fine furniture and antiques is a struggle for Madam Siti Aliwiyah. The 46-year-old assistant retail manager speaks little Mandarin and her problem is acute when the customers hail from Taiwan or China. Often, her explanations are lost on these... [Read more]

More market volatility likely ahead of Fed meeting
VOLATILITY'S the buzzword this week as money managers and investors alike try to make sense of the huge array of economic data and corporate earnings due out in the next few trading sessions.While stocks, led by banking and property issues, generally... [Read more]

Rules eased to get more foreign docs here
THE door has been opened wider to foreign doctors, as Singapore moves towards a new goal of having one doctor per patient in public hospitals.The public sector currently employs 3,156 doctors, which translates to one doctor for every two patients at... [Read more]

Indonesia's uphill fight against bird flu
OFFICIALS conducted a door-to-door sweep for backyard fowl in Jakarta on Thursday, a day after Indonesia said it would declare bird flu a national disaster.This will allow the government to dip into a special budget fund to bolster efforts to contain... [Read more]

StarHub's annual income rises 63%, beating estimates
STARHUB surpassed market expectations by nearly doubling its fourth-quarter net profit, boosted by a tax credit and double-digit growth across all its businesses. Singapore's No. 2 telco posted net profits of $141.7 million for the three months to Dec 31 -... [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]

News Today

Grounded
JAKARTA - INDONESIA has grounded all of budget airline Adam Air's Boeing 737-300s after the fuselage of one of the aircraft cracked during a hard landing. The accident on Wednesday, which occurred as the plane arrived at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport... [Read more]

Management team at odds over $15k withdrawal
THE new Youth Challenge management committee yesterday appeared a fractured lot, publicly trading accusations over a $15,220 withdrawal from the charity's bank account.The committee told the media last Tuesday it had discovered that the sum - withdrawn via an Internet bank... [Read more]

Firms need 'up to 9 months' to prepare for GST increase
TAX experts have urged the Government to give the business community six to nine months to prepare for the higher goods and services tax (GST) rate to be announced in tomorrow's Budget. Some analysts expect the hike to kick in as... [Read more]

There's no substitute for support and love of a large extended family
PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Chinese New Year message urged families to stay together because the centuries-old networks that have provided Asian families with care, love and support 'remain useful and relevant today'.In my 20 years as a teacher and director... [Read more]

'Bubble forming' in China's stock market
DUBAI - CHINA'S stock market is developing into a 'bubble', and investors are in danger of behaving irrationally, a leading Chinese legislator has said.In the strongest public expression of concern to come from a senior state figure, Mr Cheng Siwei told... [Read more]

MRT mishap: Train officer didn't have details at first
I REFER to the letter, 'Where is compassion for MRT accident victim?' by Ms Natalie Yee Zimin (ST, Jan 30).We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers in the affected train at Clementi MRT station on Jan 27. As a woman's leg... [Read more]

Accused recounts sex, betrayal, street chase
IT HAS all the ingredients worthy of a gripping drama serial: sex, betrayal, a love triangle, even a chase on a crowded street.The lurid nature of the relationship between university professor Bryan Ngoi Kok Ann and his lover, 26-year-old nightclub singer... [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]

VW becomes first carmaker to sell its own vehicles in S'pore
FINALLY, it is signed and sealed. After two years of uncertainty, German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has publicly declared that it is now the importer and retailer for its own vehicles in Singapore. It has taken over the business from entrepreneur Peter... [Read more]

De La Hoya is prodded and provoked by brash challenger Mayweather
NEW YORK - FLOYD Mayweather pushed, prodded and provoked Oscar De La Hoya on Tuesday.It set the tone for what promises to be a bad-tempered world junior middleweight title showdown in Las Vegas on May 5. The match between De La... [Read more]

Old Changi hospital gets new life as spa-resort
THE former Changi Hospital will undergo a $20-million makeover to become a rustic spa and resort for Singaporeans and budget travellers by year's end. Property company Bestway Properties, which won a recent tender to lease the Halton Road site, wants to... [Read more]

News Today

Roma hopes may end at Inter
ROME - A ROMA win at leaders Inter Milan tomorrow could revive a Italian SerieA title race that is slowly turning into a procession. While the top-of-the-table clash at the San Siro takes centre stage, Ronaldo will steal much of the... [Read more]

Minimum Sum not needed here
I REFER to the letter, 'Be more flexible on CPF Minimum Sum' (ST, Feb 5). My wife and I retired from government service in 1996. We withdrew our CPF to help pay for our property. Because we depleted our Minimum Sum... [Read more]

Results
BASKETBALLNBA: Chicago 116 Phoenix 103, Atlanta 106 Golden State 105, Seattle 114 Sacramento 103, Portland 94 Washington 73, Miami 100 San Antonio 85, Indiana 94 LA Clippers 80, Cleveland 99 LA Lakers 90, Minnesota 109 Boston 107, Dallas 106 Philadelphia 89.CRICKETFourth... [Read more]

Finally, a good excuse for sleeping at work
WASHINGTON - THE next time the boss finds you snoozing at your desk, take heart - literally. The largest new study of its kind on siestas has found that people who take a short afternoon nap regularly are significantly less likely... [Read more]

Entertaining is out for Japan bank's unit
BANK of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, the Japanese bank which was recently censured over improper lending practices, has asked bankers at its Singapore office to stop entertaining clients as a penance.The bank is part of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, which has about 600... [Read more]

Bharti may invest $3.8b in Wal-Mart tie-up
NEW DELHI - INDIA'S Bharti Enterprises plans to invest up to US$2.5 billion (S$3.83 billion) in setting up a nationwide chain of supermarkets and retail shops in partnership with US chain Wal-Mart Stores. The investment will be spread over the next... [Read more]

New health website for working adults stay healthy
A NEW website was launched on Tuesday dispensing health tips to working adults - from dietary advice to guidelines on organising workplace health programmes. Called Health@Work, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) online portal www.hpb.gov.sg/healthatwork is divided into three main sections.A section... [Read more]

Love-sick widow, 70, on trial for stalking
TOKYO - A 70-YEAR-OLD Japanese woman has gone on trial for bombarding a 79-year-old man with 206 love letters, repeatedly cleaning his family tombstone and breaking a stalking ban.Prosecutors told a court in Ibaraki prefecture in eastern Japan that the defendant... [Read more]

Parliament sitting
PARLIAMENT will sit on Monday, Feb 12, according to a statement from the Clerk of Parliament.... [Read more]

World Quickly
SEGOLENE UNVEILS PROPOSALS PARIS: Socialist presidential hopeful Segolene Royal, trailing in the opinion polls and struggling to kick start her gaffe-prone campaign, unveiled 100 proposals yesterday that she said would make France a stronger, fairer place. Termed 'the presidential pact', the... [Read more]

3 charged over wave of violence in Thai south
PATTANI - THAI security forces have arrested three men in connection with a wave of violence that left eight dead and 69 injured across the Muslim-dominated far south at the weekend. Southern Army commander Viroach Buacharoon told a news conference yesterday... [Read more]