News Today

Name changes 'could bring disaster'
TAIPEI - FORMER Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui has warned that the island's drive to remove references of rival China from the names of state-run companies could bring disaster. Under the campaign pushed by the current president, Mr Chen Shui-bian, four state-run... [Read more]

Sports world
FANDI OFF TO WINNING STARTPURWAKARTA (Indonesia): Former Singapore soccer star Fandi Ahmad started his coaching career here on a high note. His Pelita Jaya Purwakarta side defeated Persikabo Bogor 1-0 on Sunday. A delighted Fandi told PA Sport: 'With this opportunity,... [Read more]

A treat for destitute
PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SIMThe destitute from the Angsana Home at Pelangi Village, run by the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, were treated to a 10-course Chinese New Year lunch at the Yangqing Shanghai Kitchen at Chijmes on Tuesday.The event was organised by... [Read more]

Pregnant China women fill up HK quota
HONG KONG - SOME Hong Kong hospitals have exhausted their 2007 quota for admission of expectant mothers from China as new measures to stem an influx of mainland women giving birth here loom.The new policy, effective from Feb 1, will bar... [Read more]

Yes, give to needy but 0.5% is way too little
I SUPPORT wholeheartedly Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's call to the wealthy to give 0.5 per cent of their annual pay to the needy (ST, Feb 3).In fact, I think 0.5 per cent is way too little. After all, what is... [Read more]

President Nathan: Build cultural, social ties
MANILA - SINGAPOREANS should not only seize investment opportunities in the Philippines, but also embrace social projects and cultural exchanges here, President SR Nathan said yesterday. In an assessment of his four-day state visit, he said his meeting with Philippine President... [Read more]

'Hard to say goodbye to Harry Potter'
BRITISH author J.K. Rowling has said she is both heartbroken and euphoric about wrapping up the final book in the Harry Potter series. But she gave no clues about the boy wizard's fate. On her website, she sidestepped speculation that he... [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]

Companies in brief
COURTS SUFFERS $2.4M LOSS RETAILER Courts (Singapore) incurred a $2.4 million loss in the third quarter ended Dec 31, bringing its loss for the year to date to $5.6 million. Courts issued a profit warning last month, saying it expected losses... [Read more]

Where on earth are you? Ask your shoe
MIAMI - MR ISAAC Daniel calls the tiny Global Positioning System chip he has embedded into a line of athletic shoes 'peace of mind'. He wishes his eight-year-old son had been wearing them when he got a call from his school... [Read more]

Industry snapshot
ENVIRONMENT ENGINEERING SERVICES INDUSTRYEmployment: About 43,000 people in 2003Sectors: Industry covers environmental services, process control and instrumentation, and engineering services.Value-add: This industry's value-add contribution is high at $2.5 billion. Value-add is the value created by a company through its production process... [Read more]