News Today

Jakarta outlines plans to fight yearly haze
JAKARTA - INDONESIA yesterday spelled out its plans to fight the forest fires that shroud the region in haze each year, in hopes of convincing potential donor countries and agencies to help pay for the battle. Experts have estimated that Jakarta... [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]

So cool, so calm, so perfect
SINGAPORE'S passage into the Asean Championship final may have been confirmed only after Saturday's penalty shoot-out victory over Malaysia. But the win was actually the result of more than a year of diligence, during which the Lions devoted extra time after... [Read more]

Media tycoon opens up on merger
KUALA LUMPUR - THE Sarawakian tycoon who rarely talks to the media has spoken about his decision to merge three newspaper publishing firms.In an e-mail interview with the New Sunday Times, Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King said the 'bold decision' to... [Read more]

US trade deficit hit record high of $1.17 trillion last year
WASHINGTON - THE United States trade deficit surged to a record US$763.6 billion (S$1.172 trillion) last year owing to new highs for oil prices and the commercial shortfall with China, a report said yesterday.The US Commerce Department report said that the... [Read more]

Billionaire, 26, probed for illegal fund-raising
A YOUNG Chinese billionaire nicknamed 'Wealthy Miss Dongyang' has been detained in eastern China on suspicion of illegally raising funds to build her fortune, official media said yesterday. Wu Ying, 26, head of the Bense Group in Zhejiang province, was being... [Read more]

Roma hopes may end at Inter
ROME - A ROMA win at leaders Inter Milan tomorrow could revive a Italian SerieA title race that is slowly turning into a procession. While the top-of-the-table clash at the San Siro takes centre stage, Ronaldo will steal much of the... [Read more]

3 managers cleared of all blame over cave-in
AFTER a 48-day trial and the testimony of 37 witnesses, three men taken to court over a worksite accident at the Fusionopolis were yesterday cleared of all charges - even without their lawyers putting forward their case.Project manager Chan Heng Chye,... [Read more]

French naval vessel sails in
The French navy's oldest helicopter carrier, FS Jeanne d'Arc, sailed into Changi Naval Base yesterday. On board the 12,000-tonne carrier was a French Army Gazelle chopper. A team of French officers and airmen are here to share their experiences operating naval... [Read more]

Martial law lifted in parts of Thailand
BANGKOK - MARTIAL law was lifted in more than half of Thailand yesterday, nearly two months after the move was approved by its post-coup Cabinet.In an interview with CNN aired yesterday, army chief Sonthi Boonyarataglin revealed that the royal decree endorsing... [Read more]

Asean rocks on to reach out to youth
ASEAN turns 40 this year, and it is celebrating by reaching out to youth.The 10-member group of South-east Asian nations kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations with a five-day music festival at the Hard Rock Cafe here yesterday, and more youth-oriented... [Read more]