News Today

I feared for my family, says Mikel
LONDON - CHELSEA midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed why he defied manager Jose Mourinho and played for his country last Tuesday. It was because the Nigerian feared for his family's safety back home. Mourinho wanted Mikel to pull out of... [Read more]

China state TV bans pig images in ads to avoid offending Muslims
BEIJING - CHINA'S top television station has banned all images of pigs from advertisements to avoid offending its Muslim minorities, said an official of the broadcaster. The coming Chinese New Year starting on Feb 18 will usher in the year of... [Read more]

Crowd attacks accused in rape-murder case
NEW DELHI - AN ANGRY crowd outside a courthouse severely beat a wealthy man and his servant yesterday after they attended a hearing on charges of raping, killing and dismembering over 20 women and children. Television footage showed the crowd, including... [Read more]

Chirac to US: Sign key climate accords
PRESIDENT Jacques Chirac has demanded that the United States sign two key climate-change agreements, warning that a carbon tax would be imposed across Europe on imports from nations who fail to comply. Speaking at a high-profile climate-change conference in Paris this... [Read more]

URA puts up site near Dhoby Ghaut station for sale
A SLIVER of land at Handy Road not much bigger than half a football pitch will further test the strength of the recovery of properties in the Orchard Road area. The 3,584 sq m site is next to Frasers Centrepoint's 8... [Read more]

Manufacturing attracts record $9b investments
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA drew a record RM20.2 billion (S$9 billion) in foreign investments in its manufacturing sector last year, but is facing more competition for funds. All in, 1,077 manufacturing projects worth RM46 billion were approved last year, far exceeding... [Read more]

Expect congestion when cars avoid left-most lane
I READ with amusement about the proposed closing of bus bays by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a bid to cut travelling time ('Bus bays may be axed to help cut travel time'; ST, Feb 13).The LTA has taken aggressive... [Read more]

What's cooking? Help for the needy
EIGHT hundred dollars may be a pittance to some, but to widow Madam Lijah Ahamed, 47, this modest salary she gets each month from baking pastries means food on the table for her five children, aged 14 to 21, and being... [Read more]

Don't put going green on catwalk
WE USE more paper than plastic - but more paper than ever before. We wear brands that are eco-friendly, then drink out of styrofoam cups. With ethical consumerism gaining as much clout with youth as designer labels, eco-friendly products are getting... [Read more]

US-Viet ties get boost with end to ban on arms sales
HANOI - WARMING ties between Vietnam and the United States, its former enemy, have been boosted by Washington's decision to lift an embargo on arms sales to the communist state.The important but little publicised move was made by US President George... [Read more]

Bachelor Boy rock 'n' rolls back the years
SINGER Cliff Richard does not rest on his laurels. The super-trouper that he is, the 66-year-old Briton sees no need to rest on a Sunday, especially not when there is a full house to serenade to. That was the case last... [Read more]