News Today

Charge Thaksin's wife with tax evasion: Committee
BANGKOK - A PANEL appointed to investigate corruption linked to deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has recommended that criminal tax evasion charges be filed against his wife, her secretary and her brother, its chairman said yesterday. Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra and... [Read more]

Why I like to post news in a fucking cheebye manner. Why cannot ah?! Fuck you!
Lim Hng Kiang upbeat on GDP growthTRADE and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang is upbeat about the economy despite an unexpected sharp fall in non-oil domestic exports last month.Speaking on the sidelines of an aviation event yesterday, he said in reply... [Read more]

New taste of egg-vertising
TOKYO - WHAT came first: the chicken or the egg? In a new twist to the age-old conundrum, a Japanese firm is betting that - in shopping baskets at least - the chicken or rather chicken noodles will follow the egg... [Read more]

IPOs: More shares should be allocated to the public
I feel increasingly frustrated when applying for Initial Public Offering (IP0) shares as the balloting ratio is increasingly low with a less than 10 per cent chance of being successful even if one applies for a big number of lots.Take the... [Read more]

Climate change report to fuel debate on global warming
WHAT IT IS THE Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release its report, said to be the most complete overview of climate change, in Paris on Friday. The draft report, prepared by some 2,500 scientists, is expected to warn of... [Read more]

Amri nets a brace, but Singapore lose
IN-FORM striker Khairul Amri bagged a brace for Singapore in the second leg of the Olympic pre-qualifying match against Pakistan in Lahore yesterday. But, just as in the first leg, his feat came to nought as Singapore's Under-21 team crashed 2-3... [Read more]

Knicks are most valuable
THE New York Knicks are the NBA's most valuable franchise.This, despite nearly US$40 million (S$62 million) in operating losses last season, according to a list compiled by Forbes.The Knicks topped the list for the second straight year, with a value of... [Read more]

Students risking their lives with their nonchalant attitude
It is appalling that some pupils from primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions in my neighbourhood are nonchalant when it comes to road safety. In one instance, students were walking across a road oblivious to traffic even though they did not... [Read more]

KL and Bangkok to jointly tackle strife in Thai south
BANGKOK - THAILAND and Malaysia yesterday agreed to work together to tackle the roots of conflict in Thailand's southern provinces. Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Badawi said they had 'found a formula' to address the prickly... [Read more]

Food, water and a question of stability
RAISING Singapore's population from 4.5 million to 6.5 million will also raise a host of issues that can pose a threat to stability. They include making sure there is enough food and water, that the environment is not damaged by pollution... [Read more]

Buyer beware
The world of motorcycles21 No of cases filed (January to December 2006)Top complaint1. Unsatisfactory service CASE STUDYA consumer signed a purchase agreement with a motorcycle dealer and paid a deposit of $800. As he waited for delivery of his bike, he... [Read more]

Conserve energy, raise thermostat to 25 deg C

I FIND the buildings in Singapore very cold - sometimes extremely so.

Enter any cinema, hotel, office, etc, and one cannot help but to put on a jacket.

Even parliamentarians need to put on jackets - just watch any parliament sitting.

The usual excuse given is that the air-conditioning is centrally controlled, but why, in this tropical island, would building owners think that people are genetically disposed to temperatures below 21 deg C, when the normal temperature range is 28-33 degrees?

With global warming, every effort is needed to conserve energy. I suggest the temperature in our buildings be raised, following Japan's example, to 25 deg C.

Someone can do the maths and see how much that would save for us as a country.



Helen Low Beng Lan (Ms)

First-round scores

64 Liang Wenchong (Chn), Marcus Fraser (Aus) 65 Jyoti Randhawa (Ind), Shingo Katayama (Jpn), Barry Hume (Sco) 66 Graeme Storm (Eng), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Angelo Que (Phi), Peter Lawrie (Ire), Mark Brown (Nzl) 67 Peter Hanson (Swe), Unho Park (Aus), Adam Blyth (Aus), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Esp) 68 Anthony Wall (Eng), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Brad Kennedy (Aus), Soren Kjeldson (Den), Richard Lee (Nzl), Gary Lockerbie (Eng), Simon Wakefield (Eng), Yasin Ali (Eng), Brett Rumford (Aus), Keith Horne (Rsa), James Heath (Eng), Matthew Zions (Aus), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Simon Yates (Sco), Jean Van de Velde (Fra), Ghaurav Ghei (Ind), Zhang Lianwei (Chn), Gary Rusnak (USA), Lee Won Joon (Aus)

Selected others: 69 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Frankie Minoza (Phi), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha). 70 Lee Westwood (Eng), Peter Senior (Aus), Nick Dougherty (Eng) 71 David Howell (Eng), Prom Meesawat (Tha) 73 Ian Woosnam (Wal) 74 Darren Clarke (Ire), Anton Haig (Rsa) 78 Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha).

Other Singaporean scores: 75 Lam Chih Bing 76 Bill Fung 77 Khalid Yusoff 79 Lim Kian Kee, Patrick Tang 80 M. Murugiah 81 Poh Eng Wah, Poh Eing Chong 83 Lim Kian Boon, Mohd Ashiek.

What's a husky doing in tropical Singapore?

THE article, 'Pet abuse case leads to family rift' (ST, March 6), begs the question, What is a Siberian Husky doing in Singapore?

Chewie has suffered more abuse than just the injury to its leg. It comes from a long ancestry of canines that natural selection has prepared for freezing temperatures and long runs in open spaces. Its coat is too thick for Singapore's tropical climate and its short, muscular legs will never get the workout they need to maintain health in the city's enclosed spaces.

To own a Siberian Husky in Singapore is to be disrespectful to the nature of this animal. Poor Chewie. It may not be against the law to keep it in a place like Singapore, but it sure is a crime.

Jennifer Eveland (Mrs)

TV times

SOCCER: Uefa Champions League last 16, 2nd leg: Manchester United v Lille (Live, Ch23 and TV3, tomorrow, 3.30am), Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (Live, Ch24, tomorrow, 3.30am), Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven (Delayed, Ch23, 6am).

Meyer, 50, dies on the pitch

HE DIED on the field he had lived to play on.

Former schoolboy international and passionate cricketer, Denis Meyer, died on Saturday after a heart attack as he was coaching a group of youngsters at the Ceylon Sports Club in Balestier Road.

He was 50.

Medics arrived 10 minutes after his collapse and rushed him to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His death comes as a shock to many as he had no history of heart problems. He had, in fact, just finished batting in a friendly game minutes before his collapse.

'My father was probably the fittest of those his age. Others are slowing down in life but he still played cricket regularly,' said his son, Glenn.

'He loved the game.'

Meyer played for the Australian and New Zealand Association in the cricket league for the past few years. He was one of the oldest active players around.

A Singapore Under-23 player in the 1970s, he started coaching in 1996, when he introduced the sport to his sons.

Cricket is a family affair for the Meyers, with 21-year-old Glenn now a national cricketer, and his 17-year-old brother, Shane, in the U-19 team.

Even Meyer's wife, Lorraine - a former school netballer - took up the sport under her husband's influence. She was his teammate in his last game on Saturday.

Said the Singapore Cricket Association's secretary, M.Neethiananthan: 'Denis and his family devoted much of their precious time to the game.

'He was a very dedicated player and coach.

'His sudden and untimely demise is a great loss to the sport, in particular the youth development.'

For Glenn, however, his father's manner of death lends some consolation.

'I could not have asked for a better ending for him.

'He was wearing his cricket outfit, and passed away on the field.

'He would have been happy.'

The wake will be held at 495C Tampines Street 43, #08-386. The cortege leaves tomorrow at 2.30pm for a funeral service at Church of the Holy Trinity.

HOE PEI SHAN

News Today

Ex-immigration officer jailed for taking bribes
A FORMER Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer who took bribes from two men for wrongfully granting 14-day social visit passes to foreign women was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail.Siti Sarina Mohamed Kassim, now unemployed, was also ordered to... [Read more]

Cheney reassures Japan over N. Korea deal
TOKYO - US VICE-PRESIDENT Dick Cheney worked yesterday to ease Japanese concerns about a landmark deal with North Korea and told its Iraq war allies that Washington will never adopt 'a policy of retreat'. With Japan refusing to contribute funds to... [Read more]

Tax rebates for natural parents of illegitimate kids
THE natural parents of illegitimate children can now claim parenthood tax rebates applicable for the second, third and fourth child, if they marry before the child reaches six years of age. This change is to further promote the importance of an... [Read more]

NTUC to sponsor training of SME workers
THE National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is going to step in and sponsor the training of unionised workers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Labour chief Lim Swee Say made the promise yesterday to these workers who are rarely sent for... [Read more]

India to set up aerospace defence shield
NW DELHI - INDIA will set up an aerospace defence command to shield itself against possible attacks from outer space, officials said.The announcement came three days after Russia backed India's response to a Chinese satellite-destroying missile test that demanded a 'weapons-free... [Read more]

Contracts for shipping sector firms steam ahead
TRADING of covered warrants issued on companies in the shipping sector is steaming ahead of that for their counterparts in other sectors.In the past trading week, turnover for shipping sector warrants cruised past that for traditionally more popular sectors such as... [Read more]

Deal to end N. Korean nuclear crisis may be at hand
BEIJING - A CAUTIOUSLY optimistic US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said last night that a deal could be close that will see North Korea begin to end its nuclear weapons programme. Negotiators yesterday started going through a draft proposal outlining possible... [Read more]

Results
BASKETBALL NBA: Toronto 119 Washington 109, Charlotte 104 New Yorks 87, Atlanta 115 Golden State 94, Orlando 98 Milwaukee 73, LA Lakers 111 Boston 98, Detroit 113 New Jersey 89, Dallas 95 Memphis 94, Philadelphia 89 New Orleans 78, Houston 112... [Read more]

Lions, let's hear you roar again at Kallang
AFTER Saturday's come- from-behind semi-final win over Malaysia, goalkeeper Lionel Lewis offered the victory to the fans who had packed the National Stadium.Thanks Lionel, but the fans would rather you and your mates dedicate the Asean Championship to them.Go beat Thailand... [Read more]

Good chance for Barca to increase league lead
MADRID - BARCELONA'S coach Frank Rijkaard refuses to see his team as the Primera Liga title favourites.He is adamant, despite history showing that the leaders at the half-way point have gone on to win the Spanish championship in 10 of the... [Read more]

Sports World
HARD FOR WILLIAMS: WEBBERMELBOURNE: Former Formula One champions Williams, on Toyota V8 engines this season, are just a Toyota B team now, claimed their former driver Mark Webber.The Australian, who moved to Renault-powered Red Bull at the end of last season,... [Read more]

Afghan opium output soars to record high

WASHINGTON - OPIUM production in Afghanistan surged to record levels last year, increasing the flow of heroin to Europe and the Middle East and undermining the fight against Islamist insurgents, the US reported on Thursday.

In its annual report on global narcotics, the State Department linked a 25 per cent jump in opium production in Afghanistan to the resurgence of the Taleban militia, which has reasserted control over swathes of the country from which it was ousted in 2001.

The congressionally mandated report revealed that despite four years of anti-narcotics assistance to the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, opium cultivation continues to rise in the country, with output growing from 4,475 tonnes in 2005 to 5,644 tonnes last year.

Last year's harvest was valued at US$3.1 billion (S$4.7 billion) - nearly a third of Afghanistan's total national product, including both legal and illegal activities, it said, citing United Nations statistics.

The report blamed the government's failure to curb opium output on the 'limited reach of Afghan law enforcement, endemic corruption and a weak judicial system'.

It also said there was 'strong evidence that narcotics trafficking is linked to the Taleban insurgency', which caught the United States government and its allies by surprise with its series of deadly attacks in 2005.

'These links between drug traffickers and anti-government forces threaten regional stability,' the report said.

Earlier this year, the US announced a massive US$10.6 billion in new aid to bolster the Karzai government, but all but US$2 billion will go to strengthen security forces and just a fraction of the rest will be used for anti-narcotics efforts.

The State Department report said the resurgence of Afghan opium production undermines 'the consolidation of democracy and security in Afghanistan' and could lead to a spike in heroin overdoses in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

Among other major opium producers, the report acknowledged efforts by Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand - the so-called Golden Triangle countries - to curb poppy cultivation.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SGX taking steps to prevent another glitch

THE Singapore Exchange (SGX) is taking steps to ensure there is no repeat of a glitch that clogged its computers during the sell-off panic that gripped the stock market on Wednesday.

A flood of orders triggered a massive log-jam in the SGX trading system. This led to the screen showing buyers wanting to pay more for shares than the sellers' asking prices.

The glitch occurred about an hour before market close, a traditionally busy time, especially on days when the market is in meltdown mode.

Although the SGX's trading engine was functioning normally in matching buy and sell orders, the order management system - Sesops - used by most brokerages was slow in coping with the deluge of orders.

And a related system which provides price feeds to SGX's website and data providers such as Bloomberg and Reuters also malfunctioned because of the congestion in orders.

This prevented The Straits Times and The Business Times from publishing Wednesday's closing share prices yesterday.

SGX's senior executive vice-president, Mr Gan Seow Ann, said yesterday that a combination of high volume and extreme price volatility in Wednesday's trading hit the system.

'It was different from what was experienced before,' he said.

The sell-off was a knee-jerk reaction to Wall Street's 416-point plunge.

This caused the Straits Times Index (STI) to fall by 192 points at one stage in its worst one-day drop in 20 years.

But it was the huge trading volume - 3.25 billion shares worth a record $4.03 billion - that strained the system.

'A lot of information was being pumped into the trading engines from the trading terminals,' said Mr Gan.

'Traders were putting in orders at prices way off market to bottom-fish and a few minutes later, when they were not done, they would pull them out and re-enter at another level.'

This led to a considerable slowdown in trading, with brokers having to wait longer for trade confirmation.

Bid and offer prices were also updated slowly and at different times resulting in anomalies when brokers look at the order queues.

By contrast, although higher daily volumes were traded during the boom period in late 1999, they were 'attained over a period when prices traded and volatilities were a lot more contained', added Mr Gan.

Despite the hiccups, he said there were so far 'no major incidents' involving settlements of trades.

Although information on trade settlements went out later than usual, 'brokers were all ready when the market opened this morning, knowing what their outstanding positions are', he said.

And there were also no grounds to halt trading on Wednesday.

Mr Gan said: 'We do have procedures for trading halts but those are for unique circumstances.

'The market was orderly. Brokers were able to see the top-line prices and the market was able to function. Under that kind of circumstance, it doesn't warrant a trading halt.'

But he said the SGX recognised the limitations of the existing technologies.

It is upgrading its entire trading infrastructure over the next two years and will also look into ways of ensuring the existing system copes better with high volatility.

'That is why we embarked on a technology upgrading programme - working with the brokerages to upgrade their terminals,' said Mr Gan.

But brokers are keeping their fingers crossed on the system that SGX will install to replace Sesops, which has been in use for 17 years.

An earlier replacement - SGXTrade - which was developed by an Indian software developer was so riddled with glitches that it was dumped early last year.

engyeow@sph.com.sg



DOUBLE WHAMMY

'In a nutshell, even though we experienced much higher volumes in the past, we didn't experience the kind of characteristics we saw yesterday - large volumes and extremely high volatilities that slowed down the flow of price information.'

MR GAN, OF THE SGX



WHAT HAPPENED

Large order flows jammed the Singapore Exchange computers on Wednesday when the Straits Times Index plunged 4 per cent. This created a host of problems including situations where buyers wanted to pay more for shares than sellers were asking. A related service - the provision of price feeds - to data providers such as Bloomberg and SGX's own website also malfunctioned because of the congestion. The result: There was no publication of Wednesday's closing share prices in The Straits Times and The Business Times yesterday.

Catch no ball

United States President George W. Bush looked startled, as the basketball he had dropped failed to bounce up.

It was a practical joke played by Shaquille O'Neal, the Miami Heat's star centre.

The National Basketball Association champions had been invited by the president to visit the White House on Tuesday.

President Bush lauded the Heat for succeeding the hard way in last year's NBA Finals. They had lost the first two games to the Dallas Mavericks before winning four straight to clinch the series.

He said: 'They had the stars, but it was the capacity to play together, to put the team ahead of themselves, that enabled them to be here at the White House.'

He called O'Neal one of the most well-known figures in the US.

Miami's other superstar, shooting guard Dwyane Wade, came with his left arm in a sling.

He had dislocated his shoulder last week, and is deciding whether to have season-ending surgery or enter a rehabilitation programme that could get him on the court in weeks.

Said Mr Bush: 'I know a lot of NBA fans, whether they like the Heat or not, are pulling for Dwyane to get back into action. We wish you a speedy recovery.'

The championship was the first in the Heat's 18-year history.

It came with contributions from some famous NBA players at the tail end of their careers, such as guard Gary Payton and centre Alonzo Mourning.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Results

BASKETBALL

NBA: Philadelphia 89 Sacramento 82, NY Knicks 99 Miami 93, Denver 111 Memphis 107, San Antonio 107 Toronto 91, Orlando 94 Chicago 87, Boston 77 Houston 72, Dallas 110 Atlanta 87, LA Lakers 102 Utah 94, Seattle 97 Portland 73, LA Clippers 100 Charlotte 93.

ICE HOCKEY

NHL: Atlanta 3 Boston 2, Montreal 5 Toronto 4, Calgary 5 Phoenix 2, Anaheim 3 San Jose 2.

SOCCER

FAS Women's Challenge Cup - Group A: NTU 2 NYPGA 0. Gp B: Police 12 Jollilads Arsenal 0, UWC 5 FAS U-17 0. Gp C: Sporting Westlake 2 Redhill Rangers 1, Tiong Bahru 4 Bishan Arsenal B 0.

TENNIS

ATP Dubai Open, 1st rd: Fabrice Santoro (Fra) bt Tommy Robredo (Esp) 7-6 (8-6) 6-4, Roger Federer (Sui) bt Kristian Pless (Den) 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3, Florent Serra (Fra) bt Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) 5-7 6-3 6-2, Olivier Rochus (Bel) bt Lee Hyung Taik (Kor) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, Tomas Berdych (Cze) bt Mohammed Al Ghareeb (Kuw) 3-6 6-3 6-2, Igor Andreev (Rus) bt Marc Gicquel (Fra) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5, Dominik Hrbaty (Svk) bt Omar Bahrouzyan (UAE) 6-1 6-2.

ATP Las Vegas Open - Group 1: Juan Martin del Potro (Arg) bt Evgeny Korolev (Rus) 6-3 6-2. Gp 2: Paul Goldstein (USA) bt Julien Benneteau (Fra) 6-1 6-0. Gp 5: Fernando Verdasco (Esp) bt Paul-Henri Mathieu (Fra) 3-6 6-3 7-5. Elimination rd: Gustavo Kuerten (Bra) bt Wesley Moodie (Rsa) 6-4 7-5, Thomas Johansson (Swe) bt Bjorn Phau (Ger) 4-6 6-4 6-1, Feliciano Lopez (Esp) bt Chris Guccione (Aus) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (8-6), Danai Udomchoke (Tha) bt Robert Kendrick (USA) 6-4 7-6 (9-7), Paul Capdeville (Chi) bt Lu Yen-hsun (Twn) 6-3 6-3.

WTA Qatar Open, 1st rd: Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) bt Catalina Castano (Col) 6-1 6-0, Sania Mirza (Ind) bt Romina Oprandi (Ita) 6-4 6-3, Mara Santangelo (Ita) bt Sandra Kloesel (Ger) 6-3 7-6(4), Francesca Schiavone (Ita) bt Tsvetana Pironkova (Bul) 6-2 6-4.

News Today

Ticket details
SINGAPORE fans travelling to Bangkok for the second leg can buy grandstand tickets for $14 at the FAS office in Jalan Besar Stadium today from 1-7pm.... [Read more]

ST Engg finance chief to join SingTel
THE chief financial officer (CFO) of Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engg), Mr Francis Heng, is resigning and moving to SingTel to become its group CFO.Mr Heng, 47, will serve notice at ST Engg until March 8. He will start work at... [Read more]

Winner of top culinary contest accused of cheating
LONDON - THE culinary world is in an uproar, with allegations of cheating levelled against the winner of an annual contest among top chefs. Mr Fabrice Desvignes, 33, one of France's most promising young chefs, won this year's Bocuse d'Or, receiving... [Read more]

Flip side of foreign students topping exams
IT IS no surprise that almost half the 25 students who scored nine A1s are foreign students, in particular those from China ('Foreign students post strong O-level showing'; ST, Feb 10). Extrapolating from this trend, we can expect a similar figure... [Read more]

DPP chairman sets sights on presidency
TAIPEI - THE chairman of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said he would seek the party's nomination for next year's presidential race.Mr Yu Shyi-kun, 58, told supporters in the north-eastern city of Ilan that he will register to participate... [Read more]

SMEs with profits around $300,000 benefit most from tax cuts
WHEN all the business tax permutations are totted up, one specific group scores best - smaller firms with profits around $300,000 - although all firms benefit to various degrees. Cuts and exemptions listed in the Budget will deliver small and medium-sized... [Read more]

Sports World
SLINGERS TO TAKE ON CROCODILESSYDNEY: The Singapore Slingers will face the Townsville Crocodiles in the quarter-finals of the Australian National Basketball League play-offs.Singapore lost 76-102 to the Kings in their final regular-season game in Sydney yesterday.They finished eighth, with a 13-20... [Read more]

Clinic charged $42 for consultation over CNY
DURING the long weekend to celebrate Chinese New Year, an incident occurred which I feel I have to clear my doubts about.It happened that my grandmother had gastric flu and had to consult a doctor. As it was a public holiday,... [Read more]

Were you among the late-night shoppers?
THE year's first late-night shopping session took off yesterday, with four times more retailers joining in to get consumers spending until midnight.A dry run last year by 58 retailers was a success, with retailers reporting sales going up by as much... [Read more]

When chickens and rabbits fail to produce results, it may be left to the Year of the Pig
THEY resisted counting unhatched chickens. Then they tried to pull a rabbit from a hat before the Year of the Pig trots in. But so far, to no avail.But as negotiators of the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions entered... [Read more]

Najib slams bullying of air force recruit
PUTRAJAYA - MALAYSIAN Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak yesterday condemned as 'unforgivable' the actions of senior air force trainees who allegedly tortured a recruit, including forcing him to swallow his own vomit. Datuk Seri Najib, who is also the Defence... [Read more]

News Today

By George, the US finally talks about going green
AMERICAN presidents in the second half of their second term are usually lame ducks: They represent a quickly fading past, rather than the future. Yet, even by such traditional standards, President George W. Bush may be more 'lame' than most of... [Read more]

Singaporean jailed in JB for illegal entry returns home
SHE'S back. The Singaporean woman jailed for entering Malaysia with her passport unstamped has been released and deported. Malaysian immigration officers told The Straits Times they released Miss Cai Hui Si late on Tuesday night. Earlier, it had seemed that an... [Read more]

Rise of sea levels 'will hit big nations too'
NEW DELHI - SMALL island states are most vulnerable, but even Indonesia, Thailand and China will feel the backlash as global warming causes sea levels to rise. That is the warning from the scientist who chaired the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate... [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]

Companies in brief
SALES HEAD FOR MEDIACORPMEDIACORP has appointed Mr James Yip as head of all its advertising sales across television, radio and print.The appointment, which is effective from April 1, will put Mr Yip in charge of airtime sales across all of MediaCorp's... [Read more]

Dangerous to play nationalist card, Bangkok Post warns
IN A commentary headlined 'Playing the nationalist card', Thailand's English-language daily Bangkok Post yesterday said the nationalist card could end up being a dangerous one to play.The column, by Editorial Pages Editor Atiya Achakulwisut, said: 'It's likely the National Stadium will... [Read more]

Bye to paper files - nursing students get PDAs
STUDENTS of nursing at Ngee Ann Polytechnic will be the first in Asia to have instant information at their fingertips.About 200 of them will be toting personal digital assistants (PDAs), which will enable them to access huge databases on drugs, diseases... [Read more]

Media watchdog's chairman makes coveted list
FOR A man whose job involves developing the Singapore media industry, Dr Tan Chin Nam is getting something of a media profile of his own.Dr Tan, chairman of the Media Development Authority (MDA), has been named by British-based trade publication Television... [Read more]

Virtual makeover
Trying on make-up need no longer be messy. Waving an item with a radio frequency identification tag before a virtual make-up system, a sales clerk at Tokyo's Mitsukoshi department store yesterday demonstrated how she would look with the make-up - without... [Read more]

It will be hot, dry days ahead for Singapore
AFTER the severe storms and floods in recent weeks, Singaporeans should prepare for unusually hot and dry weather in the next two months.Bring on the sunshades and sunscreen, say the weathermen and climate experts.The reason: Singapore is now in the second... [Read more]

Environmentalists in India cry foul
THE new report on climate change, with its dire warnings, has shifted the onus onto governments to halt activities that trigger climate change. In China and India - the two Asian nations that face the challenge of how to develop economically... [Read more]

Lille blame United for crowd trouble and accuse ref of bias

LONDON - LILLE want Manchester United thrown out of the Champions League, after crowd trouble marred the English club's 1-0 win on Tuesday.

The French side have also accused the referee of bias against them.

With seven minutes left in Tuesday's game, United won a free kick. As Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva organised the position of a defensive wall, Ryan Giggs curled the ball into goal.

That sort of quick free kick has become common in England. Referees are weary of the time defences take to argue decisions and set up their wall.

But it is unheard of in France.

Lille have made an official complaint to Uefa, claiming that Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar encouraged Giggs to take the free kick quickly.

Lille director general Xavier Thuilot said: 'His behaviour showed that he was not being impartial.'

Striker Nicolas Fauvergue added: 'Manchester United were given preferential treatment.

'We feel that we have been betrayed and we are absolutely furious.'

The Daily Mail reported that Uefa guidelines state the kick should not have been taken without the referee's whistle.

In the laws of football, a referee does not have to blow his whistle for a free kick to be taken.

But Uefa believe it is unfair for the defensive side to not be fully prepared when the kick is around the penalty area.

European football's governing body gave these guidelines to its match officials at various refereeing seminars over the past year.

A check with Uefa confirmed this view.

Its statement to The Straits Times read: 'The Uefa Referee Development Programme 2006 says: If the attacking team have decided not to immediately have a quick free kick, then clearly advise them that they must wait for a signal.'

Thuilot also blamed United for the crush scare along the perimeter fences involving their supporters early in the game.

He said: 'We sent Manchester their quota of tickets several weeks ago, which is usual practice.

'However, the English club distributed the tickets a month ago, instead of giving them to their supporters as they came off the coaches at the stadium.'

United rejected Lille's claims about the tickets.

A club spokesman told PA Sport: 'Tickets were distributed by recorded delivery 11 days before the game or for collection from February 1.'

The disciplinary committee of Uefa will meet on March 22 to discuss the issue.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Becks becomes vital again

MADRID - REAL Madrid and Bayern Munich experienced their worst and best in Tuesday's Champions League clash, which ended 3-2 in the Spaniards' favour.

The Germans appeared dead and buried, but recovered with a goal two minutes from time to take two valuable away goals for the second leg on March 7.

Real looked revitalised before succumbing to what their coach Fabio Capello described as fear.

But, for David Beckham, 31, it was a good day at the office. He played key parts in each of Real's goals and overshadowed new England favourite Owen Hargreaves.

So England manager Steve McClaren's job ahead of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on March 24 has just got harder.

Will he recall Beckham or will he continue to leave him out?

Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn described Beckham's performance as 'world class'.

There were even chants of 'Beckham! Beckham!', which have not been heard since the early days of his stint in Spain.

Even Capello, who only last month insisted that Beckham would never play for Real again, admitted: 'He played very, very well - and has done since he came back into the team. That is a fact - and one I recognise.'

After the game, Beckham, cast aside by McClaren soon after the World Cup last year, again pleaded his England case.

'My ambition has never changed since the age of 13, even younger. I always wanted to play for my country and I will always be available whether I'm in Spain for the next four months, or whether I'm in LA,' he told Sky News.

'I will always want to do well for my country.'

Beckham's influence on Tuesday was felt as early as the 10th minute.

His pass found former Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who set up for Raul to score, reported The Guardian.

Bayern levelled after 23 minutes. Willy Sagnol swung in a free kick from the right, goalkeeper Iker Casillas stayed rooted to his line and Lucio headed home.

It was a temporary reprieve. Beckham's corner reached Ivan Helguera, whose header dropped in just below the crossbar as Raul rushed in. Helguera celebrated but Raul claimed the goal.

Five minutes later, another dead-ball, another Beckham delivery, another Helguera header and another goal. This time van Nistelrooy fired home to bring the score to 3-1.

Beckham even had a free kick tipped over the bar in the opening moments of the second half.

Then fear took hold of Real.

Said Capello: 'Maybe there was a psychological issue there. We tied up, like a tennis player whose arm goes. Teams have scored a lot of goals at the Bernabeu and we suffered a kind of fear.'

Bayern's Mark van Bommel rifled in a fierce half-volley in the 88th minute for their second goal.

'We realised too late that Real were there for the taking,' said captain Kahn, whose side, like Real, are on a dreadful run of form in their domestic league. 'We need to set the Allianz Arena ablaze for the second game. Our second goal could be vital.'

Real Madrid sports director Predrag Mijatovic had said before Tuesday's game that the club were working on 'Plan B' should Capello's team fail.

But, thanks to Beckham, Capello's head remains intact.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Thigh strain rules Vieira out of Valencia match

MILAN - INTER Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira will not play in today's Champions League first-leg match against Valencia after aggravating a thigh strain in training.

The French international, who missed Inter's 1-0 win over Cagliari at the weekend because of the injury, pulled up 20 minutes into the team's training session yesterday.

'He was fine this morning. In training, however, he made an odd movement and aggravated the injury,' Inter coach Roberto Mancini said.

'It was pointless to risk making it worse, so I decided not to select him.'

Defender Ivan Cordoba has also warned his teammates that Inter's excellent record against Valencia will count for nothing.

Inter knocked the Spaniards out of the 2001-02 Uefa Cup quarter-finals, and then the last eight of the 2002-03 Champions League.

They also won 5-1 in Spain in the group stages of the 2004-05 Champions League.

But Cordoba is aware of the dangers of revelling in past results.

'The past meetings might be in our favour, but they don't count for much because each match has its own story,' said the Colombian.

The Italian league leaders have not lost for 29 matches in all competitions.

And they have lost just once at home to Spanish clubs in 15 European games.

Valencia, 2-1 winners over holders Barcelona in the Spanish Primera Liga on Sunday, have struggled in Italy - with just one win in nine matches.

About 1,800 seats - out of the permitted 36,000 capacity - will be reserved for visiting fans at the San Siro, which can seat over 80,000.

This is because the stadium has yet to comply fully with security measures introduced by the government, after rioting fans killed a policeman in Sicily earlier this month.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Companies in brief

NIDEC'S BID FOR BRILLIANT GETS NOD

JAPANESE hard disk component maker Nidec looks set to take up an 87 per cent stake in Brilliant Manufacturing.

Nidec is buying the stake from existing Brilliant shareholders, including the local company's founding family, who are selling a combined stake of 53 per cent.

The offer by the Japanese firm was made last November and closed yesterday at 3.30pm.

UOL'S GAINS TREBLE TO $339M

PROFIT at UOL Group more than trebled to $339.4 million on one-off gains from the sale of two subsidiaries.

The sale of UOL's 50 per cent interest in Clifford Development and the sale of Hotel Grand Plaza boosted the bottom line by $232.8 million.

Revenue for the year ended Dec 31 rose 20 per cent to $605.1 million.

Earnings per share were 42.75 cents, up from 12.62 cents. Net asset value per share was $3.97, up from $2.98 as at Dec 31, 2005.

A final dividend of 7.5 cents per share and a special dividend of 7.5 cents per share have been declared.

IPC SLIPS INTO RED WITH $3M LOSS

IPC said yesterday that it incurred a full-year net loss of $3.3 million, reversing a net profit of $8.6 million previously.

In the year ended Dec 31, the education and information technology specialist in Asia saw revenue slipping 20.1 per cent to $32.2 million.

Loss per share was 0.62 cent, compared to earnings per share of 1.62 cents previously, while net asset value per share fell to 27.07 cents from 28.34 cents.

A first and final dividend of 0.25 cent per share was proposed, unchanged from previously.

ACE DYNAMICS PLANS WARRANTS ISSUE

INDUSTRIAL equipment and hardware distributor Ace Dynamics announced yesterday that it is issuing up to 28.2 million bonus warrants.

One warrant is being issued for every five existing shares held by shareholders.

The exercise prices of 20 cents and 25 cents apiece - depending on when they are exercised - represent a discount of about 42 per cent and 28 per cent respectively, to yesterday's closing price of 34.5 cents.

The gross proceeds from the exercise are estimated to range from $5.6 million to $7 million.

The money will be used for capital expenditure and business expansion plans.

Today's Headlines

All's fair game in the blogosphere - or is it?
KUALA LUMPUR - WHEN a manager of an Islamic insurance company sent an e-mail asking Muslim staff not to offer Deepavali greetings to Hindus last October, it quickly became the talk in this city.The diktat, a show of religious insensitivity, resulted... [Read more]

Two women slipped on VivoCity stairs and fell
ON JAN 6, my friend and I visited VivoCity for the first time. She was on vacation in Singapore.It was 9pm when we went up to the rooftop sky garden where children were still playing in the pools. It was surprising... [Read more]

Sports is not just about winning medals. It's about developing oneself
It has been reported that a multi-million dollar war chest will be set up to help four sports achieve its first Olympic medal. What has sports in Singapore become? Has too much focus been put on the pursuit of medals? Sports... [Read more]

Ethics concern raised about CNBC anchor, Citigroup exec
NEW YORK - THE friendship between TV news anchor Maria Bartiromo and former Citigroup executive Todd Thomson raises questions about ethical boundaries between reporters and their sources, experts said. Mr Thomson found himself out of a job recently after spending US$5... [Read more]

Corporate tax hike overplayed as the reason behind stock market gain
The way our local media reported on the recent 2.3 per cent stocks market gain of Jan 22 - with the ST Index reaching a record high of 3,145 - had created the impression that the impending corporate tax cut was... [Read more]

N. Korea claims deal with US after talks
SEOUL - NORTH Korea said yesterday that it had reached a 'certain agreement' with the US in talks earlier this week in Berlin, and praised the rare direct dialogue between the two bitter foes.US envoy Christopher Hill and the North's Mr... [Read more]

Widow excluded from Safra insurance scheme
I HAD a rude surprise when my husband died late last year.He served his national service and was a captain in the army. He became a Safra member and applied for me to join when we got married.As members of Safra,... [Read more]

Two-tier pricing system at golf course unfair to Employment Pass holders
While the new Marina Bay Golf Course (MBGC) is a welcome addition to the list of courses in Singapore, I feel the management should justify their pricing system. Unfortunately I have not been able to get a satisfactory response from officials... [Read more]

Asian central bankers call for curbs against massive inflows
TOKYO - ASIAN nations need better protection to prevent 'massive' capital inflows from damaging their economies, according to central bank governors from the region. 'In order to increase the ability to absorb external shocks from massive capital flows, the priority seems... [Read more]

Seoul court rejects tobacco lawsuits
SEOUL - A COURT yesterday rejected South Korea's first lawsuits filed seven years ago by lung cancer patients and their families against a tobacco firm.The court said there was no evidence that the disease was caused by smoking cigarettes produced by... [Read more]

Call to permit sale of organs pragmatic
I AGREE with Dr Lee Wei Ling's argument on organ trading ('Ban on organ trading entirely irrational'; ST, Jan 16).As a renal patient myself, I cannot describe adequately the pain and inconvenience that end-stage kidney failure has caused, not only to... [Read more]