News Today

Saving the planet, one degree at a time
ACCORDING to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Singapore was ranked 15th in the world in electricity consumption in 2004, but jumped to 11th in the Economist Pocket World In Figures 2007.I wonder how many of us complain that the temperature in offices,... [Read more]

Nasdaq fails in bid for London Stock Exchange
LONDON - NASDAQ Stock Market suffered a resounding defeat in its £2.7 billion (S$8.1 billion) bid for the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on Saturday, winning just 0.41 per cent of acceptances. Added to the 28.75 per cent shareholding it already owns,... [Read more]

Add another criterion to formula for GST rebate
I UNDERSTAND the formula to arrive at the final amount an individual gets in goods and services tax (GST) rebate is determined by two factors: His income; and The type of housing he lives in.I would like to address the second... [Read more]

Quick-thinking pilot, passengers foil hijack
LAS PALMAS (SPAIN) - PLUCKY passengers of a Mauritanian plane overpowered a suspected armed hijacker with help from a quick-thinking pilot. The Air Mauritania Boeing 737 was on an internal flight in the north-western African country on Thursday when the hijacker,... [Read more]

Israeli police clash with protesters at mosque
JERUSALEM - ISRAELI police stormed the compound of Islam's third-holiest shrine yesterday, firing stun grenades and tear gas to disperse hundreds of Muslim worshippers who hurled stones, bottles and trash. The worshippers were in an uproar over Israeli renovation work near... [Read more]

Oilfield gear supplier wins $68m in deals
OILFIELD equipment supplier Aqua-Terra Supply has won $68 million worth of contracts from Chinese state-owned oil giant China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC).The mainboard-listed company will be involved in providing services such as project management for the building of oil tankers,... [Read more]

Wing Tai's mid-year gains more than double to $85m
STRONG home sales helped property and retail group Wing Tai Holdings double its first-half net profit. Earnings jumped 103 per cent to $84.6 million for the six months ended Dec 31 last year, the mainboard- listed group said yesterday. This was... [Read more]

SM's call to wealthy: Give 0.5% of annual pay to needy
THIS is a call from Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong: If you are wealthy, donate at least 0.5 per cent of your annual income to help the needy. Mr Goh made it yesterday, saying he hoped Singapore will one day become... [Read more]

In the 50s, it was a passion
Mr Wong Ming Yan, 62, has been selling wonton noodles in Jalan Bukit Merah with his wife for more than 20 years. He told The Straits Times in Mandarin that he started lion dancing at 16. A member of the Singapore... [Read more]

Why the deal with N. Korea is unique
IGNORING criticism from neo-conservatives at home, US President George Bush hailed this week's deal over North Korea as 'unique', bringing the world closer 'to a Korea peninsula that is free of nuclear weapons'.The term 'unique' in this context can have two... [Read more]

Foreign investors wary despite asset growth
LONDON - FOREIGN investors are looking at Japan with a mixture of craving and consternation. Those with Japanese assets are seeing them forge ahead as the economy shows signs of real recovery, earning returns that had been promised for so long... [Read more]