News Today

Group pays $884m for rest of Marina plot
THE consortium that is developing the prime Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) has disclosed the sum - $883.8 million - that it is paying for the second phase of the site, on nearby land. And for the first time, the consortium,... [Read more]

US seeks Pakistan's help against Taleban
RAWALPINDI (PAKISTAN) - US DEFENCE Secretary Robert Gates sought Pakistan's support yesterday to prevent an expected Taleban spring offensive in neighbouring Afghanistan.The allies had the chance to deal a 'strategic setback' to the militants, said Mr Gates on his first visit... [Read more]

Researchers create teeth in lab dish from single cells
PARIS - IN A world first, Japanese researchers have reported success in replacing natural teeth in mice with teeth created in a lab dish from single cells.Writing in the journal Nature Methods, a team led by Mr Takashi Tsuji of the... [Read more]

7 years, 10 strokes for man who raped girl, 12
A MAN who mediated in a dispute between two parties ended up raping one of the girls in the tiff, a district court heard yesterday.Former cargo worker Ler Kok Keong, 27, was sentenced to seven years' jail and 10 strokes of... [Read more]

NKF witness questioned
EXAMPLES of the cut-and-thrust exchanges between Mr Bobby Nair and defence lawyers: When Mr Nair was asked about the mistake former NKF chairman Richard Yong made about the charity having more medical than non-medical staff. Mr Chia Boon Teck: Why not... [Read more]

STI breaks 3, 200 mark with few signs of bull run ending
A POTENT mix of New Year fever and pre-Budget expectations propelled the share market on to a dizzying bull run yesterday that ended with another record high close.The Straits Times Index (STI) rocketed 49.58 points to 3,217.68, bringing the gains over... [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]

Carbon offsetting becoming good business
PARIS - HUNTING for a present for a pair of environmentally-sensitive newlyweds? Try this: a 'just married' voucher worth a few hundred dollars in carbon offsets. Smaller than a toaster but more meaningful, this piece of paper will compensate for about... [Read more]

Lack of play shows in Baihakki's performance
IT WAS a chance for him to distinguish himself, but it seemed Baihakki Khaizan found Aide Iskandar's boots too large to fill. The 22-year-old stood in for the suspended Singapore captain in the Asean Championship semi-final second-leg victory over Malaysia.But, instead... [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]

World Quickly
NEGROPONTE TO VISIT EAST ASIA WASHINGTON: US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte plans to visit Japan, China and South Korea soon, but will not go to North Korea, the US State Department said on Wednesday. State Department spokesman Tom Casey... [Read more]