News Today

CapitaLand earnings exceed $1b level
ANOTHER year, another record profit for property giant CapitaLand, which reported yesterday that full-year net earnings had jumped 35.6 per cent to $1.02 billion. The booming high-end residential market here helped power the company to its third record result in as... [Read more]

Wear chastity belts to prevent rape, says cleric
KUALA LUMPUR - WOMEN should wear chastity belts to prevent rape, incest and other sex crimes, a prominent Islamic cleric in northern Malaysia has been quoted as saying.Datuk Abu Hassan Din Al-Hafiz, speaking in the northern state of Terengganu on Thursday,... [Read more]

If you want to 'advertise' yourself in Friendster, be prepared to be scrutinised publicly
I wonder how many parents in Singapore are aware that their young children with friendster.com accounts are 'married' as claimed in their 'friendster' profiles.However, these are not real marriages. They declare themselves 'married' simply to mean they are 'in a relationship'... [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]

Why jail terms in Penal Code being amended
IN THE report, 'WP asks Govt to explain Penal Code amendments' (The Sunday Times, Feb 4), Ms Sylvia Lim asked why it was necessary to increase the maximum imprisonment terms by three or four times, citing the examples of the offences... [Read more]

Banking in money for charity
UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB) held a Chinese New Year gala dinner last night for its small and medium enterprise clients, and money was raised for charity.Mr Sim Kok Hwee, 29, a corporate development manager at industrial equipment maker Zicom Group was... [Read more]

Asia Quickly
RECOUNT FOR KAOHSIUNG BALLOTSTAIPEI: All the ballots cast in December's closely-fought mayoral election in the city of Kaohsiung will have to be recounted, a court spokesman said yesterday. In the Dec 9 election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Chu defeated... [Read more]

Datacraft profits soar 47% to $9.5m
DATACRAFT Asia yesterday posted a 47 per cent jump in first-quarter gains to US$6.22 million (S$9.54 million), as its burgeoning services business boosted profit margins. The firm, which builds and maintains computer networks for banks, telecoms companies and technology firms, said... [Read more]

BA cabin crew call off strike after last-minute deal
LONDON - BRITISH Airways said yesterday it had reached agreement with a union representing cabin crew to call off a strike, but the deal came too late to avoid travel disruptions today and tomorrow.The Transport & General Workers (T&G) Union had... [Read more]

Money is not everything, Chelsea
HERE'S the bizarre thing about money. It brings hope, comfort and luxury. It also brings acrimony, jealousy and trouble.That came into sharp focus on Sunday, when Chelsea played Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup. Chelsea are the new money. Forest, European... [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]