News Today

He takes university-level subject to earn credits
TWICE a week, Shaun Nathan finds himself on the hilly campus of the National University of Singapore (NUS). The 17-year-old is only in the second year of junior college, but is taking university-level maths as an advanced module, equivalent in standard... [Read more]

Beijing's democracy drive at a standstill, analysts say
CHINA'S democratic development has come to a standstill and is even taking a step backwards, analysts said yesterday.However, in the long term, pressure from the ground will lead to progress, at a pace that is likely to be 'two steps forward... [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]

Results
BASKETBALLNBA: Washington 104 Detroit 99, Cleveland 124 Golden State 97, Indiana 103 Boston 96, NY Knicks 99 LA Lakers 94, Miami 110 Milwaukee 80, Dallas 122 Seattle 102.CRICKETTri-series one-day international in Perth: New Zealand 318-7 in 50 overs (L.Vincent 76, R.Taylor... [Read more]

Disease leaves flood victim with brain damage
JAKARTA - AN INDONESIAN man has suffered brain damage and is unable to speak after being infected by a water-borne disease. Mr Sarnata, 61, and another person were diagnosed with leptospirosis or Weil's disease, a bacterial illness usually caught from contact... [Read more]

River hongbao high-light
More than 5,000 people turned up at the Esplanade Park last night to witness the start of this year's River Hongbao, the annual event celebrating Chinese New Year.Among the highlights are performances by Chinese and Taiwanese dance troupes, fireworks and a... [Read more]

A swift journey home for the new year
WITH great fanfare, China's Railways Ministry put 15 bullet trains into service this month for the Chinese New Year holiday season. The rail network is stretched to the limit, as 70 million people will travel back home by rail during the... [Read more]

Jobless rate in America climbs to 4-month high
WASHINGTON - THE unemployment rate in the United States climbed to a four-month high of 4.6 per cent as somewhat wary employers added fewer new jobs last month.Wage gains were even more modest.The latest report on the economy, released yesterday by... [Read more]

Officials to look into Thai walkout before final
THE Asean Football Federation (AFF) will look into Thailand's walkout incident before Sunday's Asean Championship second-leg final. This was confirmed by Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad, AFF's head of delegation for the Singapore-Thailand first-leg final at the National Stadium on Wednesday.... [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]

Quarantine rule lifted for more pets
THE cat's out of the bag - pets coming in from a larger number of rabies-free countries will not have to undergo quarantine here. The list of countries is being finalised and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will make it... [Read more]