News in Brief

Shortlist of 8 agencies will slug it out for SIA account
SOME of the biggest names in the global advertising industry were named on a shortlist yesterday to fight it out for the coveted Singapore Airlines (SIA) account. The chance to snag the Singapore Girl campaign - up for grabs for the... [Read more]

Mystery over 'beads' from woman's toe
MALACCA - THE case of a 23-year-old woman whose toe supposedly discharged crystal beads continues to stump doctors carrying out tests on her.After Ms Siti Suhana Saadon was admitted to the Putra Specialist Centre here last Thursday, doctors bandaged her toe... [Read more]

Wall Street titan to throw giant birthday party
NOT every Wall Street titan can celebrate his birthday at a venue that holds 1,500 people. Unless, of course, that titan is Mr Stephen Schwarzman, who is on the verge of clinching the biggest buyout deal ever. On Feb 13, hundreds... [Read more]

I feel like a WHORE
Daring bus stop shoot brings Fann close to 'emotional breakdown' - it's the price of taking on more risky roles CLAD in a short skirt, Fann Wong is sitting at a bus stop, her legs wide apart.She then props one foot... [Read more]

Floods cripple much of Jakarta
JAKARTA - MUCH of Jakarta was crippled yesterday as the worst deluge in five years cut road, rail and telecommunications links to the Indonesian capital. Three-quarters of the sprawling city of 12 million people was under water, and officials now face... [Read more]

Cash for tribal women who bear over 12 children
GAUHATI (INDIA) - TRIBAL leaders in India's remote north-east are offering cash rewards to women who bear more than a dozen children in a bid to keep from being outnumbered by settlers from elsewhere.In the past two months, Khasi tribal chieftains... [Read more]

Pakistan 'used as base' for Iran blast
TEHERAN - IRAN has charged that home-grown Sunni insurgents have used Pakistan as a base to plan a bombing that killed 11 people and wounded more than 30 in the south-eastern border city of Zahedan last week. Iranian newspapers also published... [Read more]

Three advisers appointed for divestments
JTC Corp has appointed three banks to advise it on its planned property sales, which include a billion-dollar industrial property trust.Singapore's largest industrial landlord yesterday named DBS Bank as well as global investment banks UBS and Goldman Sachs as advisers on... [Read more]

Sports World
AUSTRALIA SUFFER KIWI WHITEWASH HAMILTON: One-day cricket world champions Australia suffered their fifth straight loss yesterday - just weeks before the World Cup kicks off on March 11. New Zealand, from a seemingly hopeless 41-4, scored 350-9 to win with three... [Read more]

New Workfare scheme to spell better income, savings: Eng Hen
THE new Workfare scheme will boost both the earnings and savings of low-wage workers, said Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen yesterday as he spelt out its details.The scheme gives low-wage workers additional income paid for by the Government, but most of... [Read more]

Will Lions and fans incur Thai wrath?
I READ with concern the news that Thais burned an effigy of a Singapore leader outside the Republic's Embassy, in yet another protest following the diplomatic spat between the two countries. As our national soccer players are travelling to Bangkok this... [Read more]