News Today

US economy grows at robust 3.5% in 4th quarter
WASHINGTON - THE United States economy grew at a stronger-than-expected pace during the final quarter of last year, a government report showed yesterday.The growth was boosted by robust spending and slowing inflation that more than offset the biggest decline in residential... [Read more]

Directors' trades
2 AZTECH DIRECTORS EXERCISE OPTIONS TWO independent directors at Aztech Systems exercised stock options recently after a resurgence in the company's stock market fortunes. Mr Colin Ng, a lawyer, exercised 500,000 share options on Monday. The exercise price was 11 cents.... [Read more]

Illegal assembly: 6 sect members get maximum fine
SIX Falungong practitioners, who were jailed for two days recently for contempt of court, have each been fined the maximum of $1,000 for taking part in an illegal assembly.The six women - Pang Su Chin, 56, You Xin, 38, Wang Yuyi,... [Read more]

Bid for a place on Chingay float with Lions
THE Singapore Lions, who dramatically retained their Asean Cup football title in Bangkok on Sunday, will be riding high at this year's Chingay Parade. Led by skipper Aide Iskandar, the team will be perched on what has been described as a... [Read more]

Some fans cancel trip for second leg in Bangkok
TO GO or not to go? Singapore fans are split over travelling to Bangkok for the Lions' Asean Football Championship second-leg, final clash with Thailand on Sunday. Their concern comes after Wednesday's controversial first leg at the National Stadium. Singapore pipped... [Read more]

Singapore women cut it as film-makers
TWO years ago film-maker Grace Phan found herself racing full tilt towards a crowd of demonstrators camped out in front of the Palace of Ashes in Dili. She had just landed in the East Timor capital to begin shooting a documentary... [Read more]

Kiatisuk out for 1st leg, doubtful for 2nd
GOOD news for the Lions: Thai skipper Kiatisuk Senamuang is not in town. The talismanic striker is recovering from an injury in Bangkok, and did not arrive with the rest of the team yesterday. Right knee ligament damage has ruled him... [Read more]

SMU law course: A case for higher fees?
STUDENTS who sign up for the new law course at Singapore Management University (SMU), with its corporate and commercial law emphasis, will have to pay $9,000 a year.SMU will enrol a pioneer batch of 90 law students.Their fee is $1,500 more... [Read more]

Struggling Real, Bayern face off
WHEN Real Madrid face Bayern Munich in the Champions League today, few would have imagined that both clubs are desperate to break out of slumps.They have won 13 European Cups between them - nine for Real - but this year's competition... [Read more]

Tiger makes his move, trims deficit to 2 strokes
LA JOLLA (CALIFORNIA) - AFTER two rounds of watching a rookie play the big room at the Buick Invitational, Tiger Woods finally cleared his throat on the South Course at Torrey Pines.For more than four hours on Saturday, Woods elbowed his... [Read more]

Citibank's reputation best among banks here
CITIBANK has leapfrogged its local rivals to become the bank with the best corporate reputation among Singaporeans, according to a new survey. The American giant scored 2.97 out of a possible 5 to edge out last year's chart-topper, DBS Bank, at... [Read more]