News Today

'Amazing race' to raise funds for special school
YESTERDAY afternoon, 48 tertiary students started a three-day, two-night challenge styled after the Amazing Race reality show. The youths, just like the TV programme's participants, are aiming for money - but to raise them for charity. The eight teams in the... [Read more]

Winner of top culinary contest accused of cheating
LONDON - THE culinary world is in an uproar, with allegations of cheating levelled against the winner of an annual contest among top chefs. Mr Fabrice Desvignes, 33, one of France's most promising young chefs, won this year's Bocuse d'Or, receiving... [Read more]

Malay barber?s laudable example of fostering spirit of racial harmony
Four days before Lunar New Year, I had a haircut at a Malay barber shop in Bukit Batok.Typical Chinese New Year decorations, such as lanterns, greeting cards and mandarin oranges, adorned the shop. There was an air of festivity reminding patrons... [Read more]

MBA students turn class projects into 'real' business
THREE postgraduate business students saw the 'real' in their real estate class projects for what it could mean - real opportunity.The trio identified the demand for short-term housing rentals of under a year, and the clientele - mature, executive-type students who... [Read more]

Bouquets
NTUC CHILDCARE CARED FOR EMPLOYEE MY SISTER-IN-LAW, a working mother in her early 40s with two school-going children, was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. However, she was able to overcome all difficulties and remain positive mainly because of the care her... [Read more]

Calling all lawyers: Legal aid scheme needs help
ODD-JOB worker Ong Eng Char, a 53-year-old schizophrenic, was nabbed last May for starting fires in two rubbish bins. He had already been jailed once for flinging litter out of his flat, so things were not looking good for him -... [Read more]

Qantas and Orangestar tie-up clears another hurdle
ANOTHER obstacle to a proposed tie-up between Singapore-based Orangestar and Australia's Qantas, has been removed.Singapore's competition watchdog said yesterday it does not object to Qantas and its budget offshoot Jetstar continuing to fix fares and coordinate schedules with Orangestar, which owns... [Read more]

CitySpring listing to raise up to $315m
CITYSPRING Infrastructure Trust, Singapore's biggest initial public offering (IPO) so far this year, could raise up to $315 million. The Temasek-backed entity launched its IPO yesterday with a projected tax-free distribution yield of between 6.7 per cent and 7.7 per cent,... [Read more]

90% of pregnant workers' claims against bosses valid
PREGNANT employees are more aware of their rights in the workplace, said Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen. He made the point yesterday when he said that the Manpower Ministry (MOM) received 71 complaints last year from mothers-to-be facing the threat of... [Read more]

London police calm fears after third teen shot dead
LONDON - POLICE chiefs sought to reassure Londoners yesterday after a third fatal shooting in less than two weeks in the south of the city, fuelling fears of an escalating gun culture. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair and senior detectives held... [Read more]

Case File
JAILED FOR STEALING GOODS FROM OWN WORKPLACEAN ELECTRICAL fitter was jailed for two years yesterday for breaking into and stealing $32,624 worth of goods from his company's office. On Sept 28 last year, Lim Se Hing, had hidden himself on a... [Read more]

Needling rivals is an art form

BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS) - HE IS a trained lawyer, so Kumar Sangakkara should know when it is appropriate to talk.

But put him, as well as the cream of the world's wicket-keepers and close-catchers, out on the pitch and the mind games begin.

Like it or not, sledging in cricket has become an art form.

Some jibes are witty, others obscure or vulgar. But, with so much at stake in the World Cup, captains and players will use any means to get an edge.

And Sri Lanka's colourful Sangakkara is sharper than most.

He has become an Internet star, thanks to his taunting of former South African skipper Shaun Pollock at the last World Cup.

His baiting of Pollock is now a mainstay of YouTube. 'How's the pressure, skipper?' a smiling Sangakkara asked Pollock.

'He is going to let his whole country down, lads. Oh, the weight of expectations - 42 million people depending on Shaun.'

Although Pollock made 25 before being run out, Sri Lanka won the rain-affected match.

South Africa were eliminated from the tournament and he quit as skipper.

'There have been different experiences in the middle with a bit of a chat-up, but nothing special comes to the mind,' said Sangakkara later.

'My honest opinion is sledging doesn't belong on the cricket field. It is not the way the game should be played.

'But there are instances when you are faced with verbal challenges, there are times when you have to put your foot down.

'When the challenge is taken up, things can get ugly. But I would never practise that or use it as a tactic.'

Sledging has always been part of the game. The difference now is that the highly sensitive stump microphones pick up every word.

Mark Boucher, the South African wicket-keeper, is also not averse to the odd psychological ploy.

He famously goaded former Zimbabwe wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu, who had played and missed a succession of balls.

'What's your average Tatenda? Nine or 10, maybe 9.5. So we'll go for 10,' said Boucher.

'You might want to get out now. I'll even walk you to the pavilion.'

Despite the Australians' reputation for being the sledging kings, their famous bowler Shane Warne pleads 'not guilty'. He reckons it is the Kiwis.

'Whether they reserve it for us because of the geographical rivalry I don't know, but sometimes it feels like being in an aviary full of twittering birds,' he said in his autobiography.

He also singled out former South Africa all-rounder Brian McMillan, who once warned Warne that he intended to take him fishing and 'use you as bait for the sharks'.

Warne said sledging from the England fielders helped fire him up to make a rapid 71 in his last Test in Sydney earlier this year.

'A few of them decided to have a bit of a say,' he said. 'That's fair enough.

'It just made me concentrate a bit more. Some days it works, some days it doesn't.'

Ian Maynard, an English sports psychology professor, told The Guardian that sledging can be countered.

'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but saying that you have made love to my wife is only your way of putting me off.

'So I am going to smile at you, acknowledge it and carry on doing what I am really good at.

'Breathe, talk, play. A couple of breaths to take the focus away from the thought, a key phrase to take you back to the here and now and then get on with it.'

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

News Today

Is service charge for waiters and waitresses or for the establishment?
I refer to Mr Patrick Tan Siong Kuan's letter, 'Want good service? Bring back tipping' (ST, Jan 25), and Mr Alvin Gho Weijie's letter, 'Service charge is a misnomer' (ST, Feb 1). The unspoken understanding is that the mandatory 10 per... [Read more]

Sports World
DELAY IN LANDIS PROBE SLAMMEDMADRID: The Tour de France's director-general expressed frustration on Tuesday over the slow progress of Floyd Landis' doping case. 'The anti-doping commission in the United States won't meet until the first days of March to study the... [Read more]

Cabby returns 31 diamond rings
A TAXI driver in New York returned a black bag carrying 31 diamond rings to a passenger who had earlier given him a tip of 30 US cents (46 Singapore cents) on a US$11 ride. Hours after Mr Osman Chowdhury, a... [Read more]

Taking off
ST Engg's strong results were led by its aerospace division, whose pre-tax gains rose 21 per cent to $305.3 million. Turnover jumped 35 per cent to $1.67 billion, helped in part by the rise of low-cost carriers which outsource maintenance services,... [Read more]

Japan to send disaster alerts via satellite
TOKYO - JAPAN, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, launched a satellite-based alert system yesterday that will instantly send warnings on natural disasters to help local residents evacuate quickly, an official said. Japan experiences about 10 per cent of the... [Read more]

Union warns of strike if old Thai airport reopens
BANGKOK - A MAJOR union of airline workers has threatened to go on strike if the Thai government goes ahead with the reopening of Bangkok's old international airport. The warning came yesterday as a government-appointed safety panel said the new Suvarnabhumi... [Read more]

Bank refused to change $50
I WENT to the OCBC branch in Jurong Point recently. An elderly woman in front of me was trying to change a $50 note into five new $10 notes. However, the officer told her the minimum amount is $100.The woman told... [Read more]

What the deal is about
YESTERDAY, North Korea committed itself to a two-stage denuclearisation process under an agreement with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. In the first stage - which must be completed within 60 days - Pyongyang will shut down its... [Read more]

Ideas sought for crafting national art gallery
THE search is on for the best architectural and design team to transform the City Hall and former Supreme Court buildings into the National Art Gallery. Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica), said last night... [Read more]

Pompey and Man City row over Barton
LONDON - MANCHESTER City's relationship with Portsmouth is in danger of descending into total hostility, after another day of mudslinging over Joey Barton. Pompey's manager Harry Redknapp infuriated his opposite number Stuart Pearce by claiming on Tuesday that the midfielder had... [Read more]

Jail term cut on appeal for 'Stone Age man'
A COURT case that had all the trappings of a Korean television drama closed with a slightly happier ending for its male protagonist yesterday, when his sentence was reduced on appeal. South Korean student Lim Young Rak was originally given an... [Read more]

Reds' new owners get a taste of Anfield fervour

FOR Liverpool's new American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, their first match at Anfield was a special experience.

Gillett had stood dumb-struck during the bellowed pre-match rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, and again when it rang out in stoppage time after Liverpool had thrown Barcelona out of the Champions League.

'That was like nothing I've ever seen or heard,' said Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team.

The deafening noise from the more than 40,000 supporters also had his co-owner beaming in disbelief.

'My first time at Anfield and everything I'd heard is true,' said Hicks, owner of NHL's Dallas Stars and Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers.

'I've seen a lot of sporting events all around the world, but nothing comes close to that.'

Until Tuesday, Hicks had followed Liverpool's games on satellite television.

He said: 'So it's good to be at a game in person. Tonight's very special. There couldn't be a better match.'

Hicks and Gillett are close to buying up 75 per cent of Liverpool's shares, which would pave the way for a full takeover of the 18-time English champions, reported The Guardian.

David Moores, who will step down after 16 years as Liverpool chairman, said: 'The only regret is that we never won the Premiership under my chairmanship. But, with the new owners, I'm sure the club can win No 19 soon.'

News Today

Wunderful idea for women with disabilities wins top prize
A TASK as mundane as putting on or taking off one's underwear is a challenge for the wheelchair-bound or those with sports injuries. But now - at least for women with disabilities - a panty has been designed so it does... [Read more]

Jakarta in dilemma over retrieving black box
MAKASSAR (INDONESIA) - INDONESIA yesterday debated the costs and complications involved in retrieving the black box of a jetliner that plunged into the sea with 102 people, as experts warned that its 30-day battery life was close to expiring.The Adam Air... [Read more]

Bangalore crippled by strike over access to river water
BANGALORE - INDIA'S technology hub Bangalore was crippled yesterday by a general strike that shut businesses and emptied streets as activists protested against a court verdict over access to river water. The general strike in the southern state of Karnataka, of... [Read more]

Stall assistant's jail term for bomb hoax quadrupled
A STALL assistant who triggered a massive police search after falsely claiming to have overheard a plot to bomb Clementi MRT station, yesterday had his sentence quadrupled by the High Court. Ariff Mohamed, 25, will now have to serve two years... [Read more]

India, Pakistan vow joint anti-terror effort
NEW DELHI - INDIA and Pakistan vowed yesterday to fight terrorism together, days after a terrorist strike on a train killed 68 people, mostly Pakistanis heading home. The pledge was a clear message to terrorist groups that sought to sully the... [Read more]

Sub-tenants told of big mall opening. What they got: empty stalls and legal woes
A SERIES of legal spats are brewing over a suburban shopping mall in Commonwealth that failed to open last year, leaving disgruntled sub-tenants filing police reports and landing main tenant Pagar Park in trouble with the law. Sub-tenants were promised by... [Read more]

Restructuring deadline for Shin Corp poses dilemmas
A LOOMING deadline for Shin Corp to restructure its shareholding organisation is set to pose separate dilemmas for Thailand's military-installed government and a Temasek Holdings-led consortium that controls the conglomerate.Here's why.Shin Corp, the publicly listed telecommunications group previously controlled by 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]

Splitting the bill
ITV asked Thailand's administrative court to separate a 2.2 billion baht (S$94.4 million) back-fee payment and a 97.8 billion baht fine that it has been ordered to pay by early next month, company spokesman Ramida Prutkumut said by telephone in Bangkok... [Read more]

What the fuck's happening in the world today
Jazz spoil Webber's homecoming gameAUBURN HILLS (MICHIGAN) - THE Detroit Pistons fans cheered for Chris Webber's debut and Chauncey Billups' return from injury. But they could not cheer for a victory over opponents the Pistons cannot seem to beat. Deron Williams... [Read more]

Age-group six are reunited
THEY were an inseparable bunch, playing football together since they were 12, hanging out at arcades, and even spending the night at each other's homes. But, since graduating from the National Football Academy in 2002, Hassan Sunny, Muhammad Ridhuan, Shahril Ishak,... [Read more]

News Today

Knocking out crime
PHOTO: REUTERS The police in Tokyo want these boxers to join their ranks. This job seminar held last week attracted 80 retired or active prize-fighters who want a job that allows them to stay active.... [Read more]

Health items Bill 'flexible' to meet future needs
THE main purpose of the Health Products Bill is to protect the public, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday.The Bill gives the Health Minister extensive powers to control almost anything to do with a person's well-being - from shampoos to... [Read more]

Bolton just hold off plucky Fulham
BOLTON (ENGLAND) - KEVIN Nolan boosted Bolton's bid for European football yesterday. His goal gave his team a 2-1 Premiership win over Fulham. He struck early in the second half to put the hosts in control, after Gary Speed had opened... [Read more]

World Quickly
NO MORE ANTI-SATELLITE TEST VOWTOKYO: China has no further plans to carry out anti-satellite tests, its defence chief reportedly told Japan's former head of defence. 'We do not plan further tests,' ex-Japanese defence chief Fukushiro Nukaga quoted Chinese National Defence Minister... [Read more]

Infrastructure trust debuts at sizzling $1.48 apiece
EXCITEMENT over Asia's massive demand for new infrastructure such as roads, airports and water plants gripped local investors yesterday. The unit price of Singapore's first infrastructure trust soared as much as 70 per cent as it made its debut yesterday afternoon.... [Read more]

Volvo to acquire Nissan Diesel for $1.6b
TOKYO - VOLVO, the world's second-largest truckmaker, agreed to buy Nissan Diesel Motor for 7.5 billion Swedish kronor (S$1.63 billion) to add production in Asia, the world's fastest-growing economic region. Shareholders of Nissan Diesel, Japan's fourth-largest truckmaker, will receive 540 yen... [Read more]

Cole's injury blights Chelsea win
LONDON - CHELSEA may yet pay the ultimate price for Jose Mourinho's paring down his squad and Roman Abramovich's refusal to let his manager buy in the transfer window. With John Terry, Khalid Boulahrouz, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole already sidelined,... [Read more]

Tang yuan twist wins food design prize
A TWIST to the recipe for conventional glutinous rice balls has won four boys the top prize of $500 in a food design competition. Known to the Chinese as tang yuan, these appear no different from the original version at first... [Read more]

S'pore missed point over Thaksin visit: Thailand
BANGKOK - THAILAND again accused Singapore yesterday of ignoring its concerns over deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra's meeting with a Singapore leader during a visit last month. At the same time, Bangkok also insisted it was eager to move past the... [Read more]

No headway in Iran's nuke stand-off
DEFYING innumerable United Nations Security Council resolutions, Iran let on earlier this week that it has set up more than 300 centrifuges in two uranium enrichment units at its underground Natanz complex. The country's nuclear programme is therefore set to go... [Read more]

Sign of Mars life?
New evidence has surfaced that water may be present on Mars. This image from Nasa spacecraft Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows alternating layers of dark- and light-toned rock in Becquerel Crater on the planet. Within those deposits are a series of linear... [Read more]

News Today

Armed man nabbed at Sonia rally
NEW DELHI - POLICE arrested a man carrying a home-made pistol as he tried to attend an election rally on Sunday that was to be addressed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who heads India's ruling Congress Party. The 42-year-old, identified as Kedar... [Read more]

Cash, candidates aplenty in presidential race
WASHINGTON - HISTORY is in the making in the race for the White House in 2008. It is a campaign of many firsts, underscored by one predominant theme: The war in Iraq. It will be the first time in 80 years... [Read more]

NTUC Income-Yeo's S-League
THE S-League begins on March 4, and The Straits Times looks at the interesting faces in the league. Today, we feature how one of the league's top defenders proposed to his actress girlfriend. Format: 12 clubs, 33 matches each. Teams and... [Read more]

11 killed in car bomb attack on Iran elite force
TEHERAN - ELEVEN people were killed yesterday when a booby-trapped car exploded next to a bus carrying members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. An attack of this size and nature - a bomb strike on an elite Iranian force in broad... [Read more]

Thailand cancels TV drama after Laos' protest
BANGKOK - A TOP Thai television network has cancelled a planned soap opera about a star-crossed Thai-Laotian couple after Vientiane complained that the show was offensive. The show, called Love Song On Both Sides Of The Mekong, was already being promoted... [Read more]

Indian firms finding match with Western partners
NEW DELHI - A FLURRY of big-ticket cross-border acquisitions involving Indian companies over the past fortnight may amount to more than the US$29 billion (S$44 billion) that the deals were worth. Britain's Vodafone said on Sunday that it had offered US$11... [Read more]

Eng Hen in NZ to boost defence ties
SECOND Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen left last night for New Zealand to strengthen ties between the two countries' armed forces.The Ministry of Defence noted in a statement yesterday that the two forces already enjoy regular and extensive interaction through... [Read more]

Malay barber?s laudable example of fostering spirit of racial harmony
Four days before Lunar New Year, I had a haircut at a Malay barber shop in Bukit Batok.Typical Chinese New Year decorations, such as lanterns, greeting cards and mandarin oranges, adorned the shop. There was an air of festivity reminding patrons... [Read more]

Govt shows its capitalist head, socialist heart
A CAN-DO Budget with buzz. And one that positions Singapore to run the next lap of the global economy, even as it beefs up social-security spending to take care of those who can't run as fast. That's what Second Finance Minister... [Read more]

Shanghai index issue in demand as bourse recovers
WHILE Hang Seng Index contracts have dominated trading here, covered warrants giving exposure to other stellar performing markets such as Shanghai have also begun to steal the hearts of local investors. One such contract is the covered warrant on the China... [Read more]

HK group calls for total ban on fa cai
HONG KONG - A GROUP of Hong Kong researchers has called for a total ban on the sale of fa cai - a hair-like sea moss that is widely consumed during Chinese New Year. The team from the Chinese University's department... [Read more]