News Today

Bad boy Bellamy
2000: Sent off against Belarus. First Wales player to be sent off in five years. 2001: Angered former club Coventry after calling them 'rubbish'. Claimed he took a backward step by moving there from Norwich.Feb 2002: Cautioned for assault after hitting... [Read more]

Grouping feels force of emerging economies
ESSEN (GERMANY) - CHINA joined the Group of Seven (G-7) nations for talks on the global economy on Saturday, marking an effective expansion of the club which may also admit other emerging economic powerhouses to almost double its size. German Finance... [Read more]

Companies in brief
COURTS SOUNDS PROFIT WARNING DUE TO THAI LOSSESTHE furniture and electronics retailer Courts (Singapore) issued a profit warning yesterday, flagging losses incurred by its operations in Thailand.The group said it expects to be in the red for the third quarter ended... [Read more]

Russian and Qatar groups join Hinduja's bid for Essar
MUMBAI - INDIA'S Hinduja Group has teamed with Qatar Telecom and Russia's Altimo in its bid for control of fourth-biggest Indian mobile operator Hutchison Essar, newspapers said yesterday. Hinduja, with Qatar Telecom and Altimo, have submitted a 'binding bid' for the... [Read more]

KL proposes strategic alliance with New Delhi
NEW DELHI - MALAYSIAN Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar has suggested that a 'strategic alliance' be set up between his country and India. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid, who was to have arrived in India last night on an official visit, told... [Read more]

Award-winning acts at River Hongbao
THE stage is set, the performers are here and the costumes - in auspicious red and gold - are pressed and ready. The Singapore River Hongbao 2007 starts today, with song and dance performances and fireworks at 8pm at the Esplanade... [Read more]

Thailand may reopen old airport for domestic flights
BANGKOK - THAILAND'S Transport Ministry wants the country's old airport at Don Muang reopened for domestic flights while repairs are carried out at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The move will be recommended to the Cabinet on Feb 6, Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen... [Read more]

Els betters Woods
BRITAIN'S Graeme McDowell and Ross Fisher upstaged the elite of world golf yesterday.They shared the lead on seven-under-par 65, after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic. They eclipsed three-time champion Ernie Els, who fired a 66 earlier in the... [Read more]

Sirens to be sounded today
SIRENS will sound islandwide today at 12.05pm, as part of Total Defence Day.The exercise also serves to familiarise people with the Public Warning System (PWS) and the three emergency signals.When the sound is heard, people can tune in immediately to any... [Read more]

Man who made ITE world class calls it a day
THE first time he was asked to head the Vocational and Industrial Training Board, Dr Law Song Seng said 'No'. That was 1981, and the board's premises in Ayer Rajah were nothing to shout about. When it rained, the ceiling leaked.... [Read more]

Four new lifestyle groups for members
'AKAN datang'' (Malay for coming soon) will be more affordable and fun activities for workers.That was what the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) new secretary-general Lim Swee Say promised as part of the organisation's workplan this year to care for its... [Read more]