News Today

Boy runs away after stealing $2 for mum's birthday gift
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy donned his school uniform, picked up his schoolbag and set out from his Woodlands home one Friday morning - but school was furthest from his mind. In that bag were a few changes of clothing, his passport and... [Read more]

Africa, not Mid-East, is top source of oil for US
NEW YORK - WHEN it comes to supplying the United States with oil, Africa is quietly trumping the Middle East. US crude oil imports from Africa last year topped supplies from the Middle East for the first time in 21 years.Government... [Read more]

Probe to find out if news of flat selection had been leaked
I REFER to the letter, 'Did news on walk-in selection of new flats leak out?' (ST, Feb 7), by Mr Ang Kin Leong. We are aware of the time-sensitivity of WIS launches, and have reminded our staff regularly about the confidentiality... [Read more]

Further curbs on investment and loans needed: Hu
BEIJING - CHINESE President Hu Jintao said the country should improve its economic controls while continuing to implement sound fiscal and monetary policy, state media reported yesterday evening.Stronger economic controls are needed to control fixed-asset investment and curb lending, he said... [Read more]

Operators may lose $200m if IRs are not built on time
THE Government is keeping a close eye on the development of the two integrated resorts (IRs), Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang assured the House yesterday. Both operators - Las Vegas Sands in Marina Bay and Genting International in Sentosa... [Read more]

Tycoon Black defends wife's shopping
DISGRACED newspaper tycoon Lord Conrad Black has defended his wife's shopping habits in court documents filed by his lawyers, who claimed that involving her in the case would create 'a circus-like sideshow'.Prosecutors have argued that Black, who faces fraud charges, treated... [Read more]

World Quickly
HIGH-TECH EXPORTS TO CHINA 'OK'WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush has certified a private-sector sale to China of high-tech products linked to its railway system and its testing of parts for Boeing aircraft.In a legally required ruling, Mr Bush certified that... [Read more]

Philippines' anti-terror plan: 'Clear, hold and develop' Jolo
JOLO - A SMALL group of islands in the southernmost Philippines is providing the ideal conditions for testing a counter-terrorist strategy known as 'clear, hold and develop'. Around 5,000 Philippine marines and soldiers, supported by the US Special Forces, are clearing... [Read more]

Ongoing legal battle
THE Beijing Zhonghongji Construction company successfully sued two developers for unpaid wages after building two workers' dormitories. But by then, both developers, including one owned by a central government agency, had gone bankrupt. The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (Sasac)... [Read more]

Woman sues club that suspended her over marital status
A WOMAN is suing her country club for suspending her membership because of a dispute over her marital status.Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) insisted its former vice-captain of the ladies' golfing sub-committee, Madam Kay Swee Pin, 53, was not legally married... [Read more]

Liable for interest accumulated during National Service stint
National service is every able-bodied male Singaporean obligation to serve and contribute to the nation's security. Likewise for education, a learning journey, where one can contribute to the nation's economy. I laud the Government's initiative to help post-secondary school leavers to... [Read more]