From: admin@newstoday.com.sg
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 6:59 AM
To: todayonline.com@gmail.com
Subject: TODAYonline News Alert for June 2, 2005

Greetings Kingfot,

Stories for publication date: June 2, 2005


HOT NEWS
========

CITY HOSTEL FOR SMU
-------------------
Students may get to stay in HDB blocks near Bras Basah

Lee U-Wen
u-wen@newstoday.com.sg

THEY are already preparing to study at a campus in the heart of the city.
Now students of the Singapore Management University (SMU) may be able to
live there as well.

SMU's provost, Professor Tan Chin Tiong, told Today that the Government
will allocate several old Housing Development Board (HDB) blocks to SMU -
"in the vicinity" of its new campus - to convert into residential
facilities.

Later this month, SMU will start the move from its current location in
Bukit Timah, where it has been operating since 2000, to a new $430-million
facility in Bras Basah.

While these dormitories are most likely to appeal to SMU's international
students, they will also be made available to Singaporeans who want to
live near the campus.

Said Prof Tan, 56: "The Government is giving us different blocks of old
HDB flats to renovate into residential and dormitory space. We are going
to get quite a few of those to refurbish."

He harked back to how SMU had received negative feedback in 2003 when it
had announced plans to build a 300-bed hostel in Jurong West, a 10-minute
walk from the Lakeside MRT station. The main complaint was the distance
between that location and the city campus.

At that time, SMU ruled out the possibility of a hostel near the city
campus because land there was expensive and the high rental costs would be
a concern for students.

"We had negative remarks (in the media) so we decided to kill that
project," said Prof Tan. "Instead, the Government is giving us a few plots
of HDB flats in the city. It will be interesting - for one of the plots
(in particular), it will be very interesting."

While Prof Tan did not wish elaborate on the exact locations of the flats
and the HDB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority could not comment at
press time, players in the real estate business were willing to hazard
educated guesses on the possible locations for the new dormitories.

Said Mr Wallace Chu, research manager for property adviser FPDSavills: "It
won't be very far from the campus, that's for sure. Some locations I can
think of are the old flats at Middle Road; Prinsep Street; and the Bugis
and Selegie Road areas. There are also some old blocks behind Sim Lim
Square - it could be any of these."

Property research consultant Nicholas Mak, however, is willing to put his
money on the blocks of flats at Bras Basah Complex along North Bridge
Road. "It's within walking distance, and it will appeal to the majority of
students. I don't think rental costs will be high, because, after all, the
leasing will be restricted to students," he said.

"The key consideration (for SMU) is to make the hostels accessible and
affordable."



AUSTON CUT ADRIFT BY AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY
------------------------------------------
Val Chua
val@newstoday.com.sg

ABOUT 350 Singapore students taking long-distance courses offered by the
Auston International Group have been hit after its Australian university
partner abruptly called off its joint teaching programme.

The University of Western Sydney (UWS) called off the seven-year-old deal
over "increasing concerns" over Auston's financial situation, with the
school being investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department for
accounting irregularities. The university had placed an advertisement in
newspapers yesterday requesting for "an urgent meeting" with UWS students
on Saturday.

When contacted by Today, a UWS spokes-person confirmed that it had
terminated the Auston deal on May 30 - a day after its students had
completed their examinations.

Noting that Auston had reported "significant financial issues", UWS said
it has decided to take quick steps to ensure "minimal disruption" for its
students here.

UWS also said that it has suspended teaching for the next semester, due to
start on June 13, and is currently looking for another partner in
Singapore.

Most of the affected students are taking degree courses in business and IT
at Auston's Middle Road premises.

UWS added that its deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Tong Wu, had flown to
Singapore to meet with Ministry of Education officials.

"The University regrets the inconvenience caused to students here and will
do everything within its capacity to minimise this," said Prof Wu, without
elaborating on how the relationship fell apart.

The termination is the latest blow to Auston, which shocked the market
last year when it revealed that it had overstated its profits for the
previous two financial years.

The company - which is being divested by parent company Sun Business
Network (SunBiz) - reported a revised net loss of $2.9 million for FY2004,
from a net loss of $591,000 the year before.

But Auston CEO Ricky Ang is not too worried about the UWS pullout,
although the programme used to account for 25 per cent of the group's
revenue.

"It's no great loss. We have not been able to make money selling their
courses in Singapore. It's not a viable business for us because of the
exchange rate," he told Today.

Auston had stopped marketing UWS courses "some months ago", he said,
adding that he has also told UWS that Auston would be "more than happy" to
terminate the deal.

There are no other pullouts by its three other overseas partners in the
US, UK and Australia, added Mr Ang.

But he admitted that Auston is in a "state of flux" following the recent
scandals. "The company is trying to stay afloat. We are trying to get in
new investors and we don't want them to be saddled with historical
baggage," said Mr Ang, who is also the managing director of parent company
SunBiz.

Sunbiz - formerly known as Panpac Media - is trying to shed its stake in
Auston from 65 per cent to 41.7 per cent by roping in a new investor from
China.

"Overall, the education business in Singapore is struggling. It has become
very commoditised. It's a dog-eat-dog business," he said.

"We are trying to reduce costs to the barest minimum. Currently, we are
still saddled with very high rent and under-capitalisation. We only have
one building, but it's killing us," he added.

A rights issue, which may bring proceeds of $2.4 million, is still being
considered, as well as other options, including a merger with local or
overseas players, he said.

"We are open to any good offer. We have people knocking on our doors. But
it's not a fire sale situation. There's still value in our business," he
said, adding that a concrete plan will be announced "quite soon".

Auston shares - which have been suspended - remained flat at 8 cents
during trading yesterday.



T-FACTOR CLOUDS CHING'S ARREST
------------------------------
China may suspect he spied for Taiwan as Tiananmen link looms

Clement Mesenas
Foreign Editor
clement@newstoday.com.sg

THE mystery surrounding the detention of Hong Kong-based journalist Ching
Cheong took another twist yesterday when his wife said that Beijing
probably suspected he had been spying for Taiwan.

Ms Mary Lau told Hong Kong radio station RTHK that she believed China was
referring to the self-ruled island of Taiwan when it accused her husband,
the chief China correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times (ST)
newspaper, of gathering information for an intelligence agency "outside of
our jurisdiction".

Mr Ching, 55, a China-born Hong Kong resident and Singapore permanent
resident who worked for the ST in Taiwan in 1998 and 1999, was detained on
April 22 in the southern city of Guangzhou.

The two sides are believed to spy actively on each other and in the 1950s
executed those caught and found guilty of espionage activities.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence declined to comment on Ms Lau's
allegation.

"We do not confirm or deny cases involving spying," said ministry
spokesman Liu Chih-chien.

In Beijing, China's secretive state security police have stepped up
surveillance of political dissidents and ordered some out of Beijing ahead
of anniversary of the Tiananmen democracy protests which falls on
Saturday.

China wants to prevent any spontaneous outpouring of public anger over the
1989 Tiananmen crackdown, one of the bleakest days in recent Chinese
history.

China's leaders are particularly sensitive to criticism of its role in
quelling the Tiananmen uprising.

Hence, Mr Ching's alleged efforts to get hold of a secret biography of Mr
Zhao Ziyang, a former premier and secretary-general of the Communist
Party, was viewed with extreme alarm, the Wall Street Journal said
yesterday.

Mr Zhao was purged in 1989 after opposing the decision to use force to put
down the protests.

The document written on the basis of extensive interviews with Mr Zhao
during his 15 years of house arrest, by a close associate, Mr Zong
Fengming, is believed to include denunciations of former Chinese leaders
Jiang Zemin and Li Peng.

With China's meteoric rise as a world economic superpower, its leaders are
anxious that the Zhao manuscript stays buried, say observers.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters
that the United States would ask the Chinese authorities for information
on Mr Ching's case.

"We view any attempt to stifle the free flow of information with great
concern," Mr Boucher said, adding that "arrests of journalists in China
have a chilling effect on press freedoms and elsewhere in society."

Hong Kong's Security Secretary Ambrose Lee said yesterday the government
would do its best to help Ms Lau, but that it can't interfere with law
enforcement in China.

China says Mr Ching was paid "large amounts" for his alleged espionage,
but Ms Lau has maintained her husband's innocence, saying he was paid well
by ST - earning a comfortable annual salary of more than a million Hong
Kong dollars ($215,000) - and didn't need extra income.

Media groups yesterday condemned Mr Ching's arrest.

"His outrageous arrest constitutes a clear breach of his rights to
practice his profession," the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers
said in a statement.



SUMMER CAMP SCOOP REVEALED DEEP THROAT
--------------------------------------
The world learns what two boys knew all along

LONDON - As it turns out, the greatest secret in American political
history was blown a long time ago by an eight-year-old boy at a summer
camp on Long Island.

Deep Throat, the boy boasted to his friend, was Mr Mark Felt, the No 2 at
the FBI at the time of the Watergate scandal.

That boy had some reason to know.

He was Jacob Bernstein, the son of Mr Carl Bernstein, who with  Mr Bob
Woodward broke the Watergate story for the Washington Post.

Deep Throat, named after a famous pornographic movie of that generation,
was Mr Woodward's secret source - and the man who helped bring down
President Richard Nixon.

Eleven years later, the other boy at that summer camp, Chase Culeman
Beckman, went public with the claim.

The story brought a brief revival in the Deep Throat industry, only to be
smothered by a wave of denials.

"My son, Jacob, has no more idea of who Deep Throat is than the man in the
moon," Mr Carl Bernstein said, insisting that his son had simply been
repeating his mother's speculation.

But behind the scenes, Jacob Bernstein's claim had triggered a chain of
events that ultimately led to the confession published yesterday in Vanity
Fair.

Mr Felt's daughter, Joan, confronted him after the summer camp story
emerged, but it took seven more years of cajoling by his family before Mr
Felt agreed to allow his story to be published.

Deep Throat first appeared in  Mr Woodward and Mr Bernstein's book on
Watergate - All the President's Men - and he was brought to life in the
film of the book, by the actor Hal Holbrook, as a chain-smoking and
irritable presence in the shadows in the summer of 1972.

Mr Felt was an early suspect, as he was the top official at the FBI
responsible for the investigation into the burglary at the Democratic
National Committee headquarters in the Watergate apartment complex in June
1972.

The botched break-in brought to light a campaign of illegal espionage and
sabotage by the Nixon White House against its opponents, and a subsequent,
even more disastrous cover-up. The Nixon White House had been at
loggerheads with Mr Edgar Hoover's FBI since the fabled lawman refused to
carry out some of the political espionage duties later assigned to the
burglary team known as "the plumbers" who broke into the Watergate
offices.

When Mr Hoover died in May 1972,  Mr Felt expected to take over, but a
Nixon loyalist, Pat Gray, was sent in over his head, and blocked many of
the Watergate investigations Mr Felt's department was pursuing.

When the Deep Throat leaks began to appear in the Washington Post,
President Nixon began to wonder about Mr Felt's loyalty.

"Is he a Catholic," he asked his aide, H.R. Haldeman, according to the
account in Vanity Fair.

Mr Haldeman replied wrongly that  Mr Felt was Jewish, setting the
President off on one of his characteristic anti-Semitic rants.

"Christ," Nixon said, "(The bureau) put a Jew in there? ... It could be
the Jewish thing. I don't know. It's always a possibility." - The Guardian



DUTCH SET TO DELIVER FRESH BLOW TO EU TREATY
--------------------------------------------
THE HAGUE - Dutch voters headed to the polls for a crucial referendum on
the EU constitution as Europe braced itself for a second and potentially
fatal blow to its leaders' cherished treaty.

Three days after it was rejected by French voters, people in the
Netherlands were also expected to deliver a resounding no vote, that will
further expose a searing division over the future of Europe.

Latest opinion polls predict a large turnout for the first referendum here
in more than 200 years, and an even greater win for the "no" camp than was
the case in France, where opponents took 54.87 per cent of the vote.

With 11.6 million people eligible to vote, polling stations opened at
7.30am (1.30pm) and were to close at 9.00pm (3.00am,  June 2). First
estimates of the result were expected immediately after polls close.

Majority of those polled by AFP said that they voted "no".

A Dutch "no" vote would be the nightmare "domino effect" feared by
European leaders: A second founding member rejecting a treaty that must be
ratified by all  25 EU states to become effective.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende made a last-ditch appeal to
voters late on Tuesday to support the constitution.

The Dutch referendum is not binding but Parliament, has promised to follow
the will of the people. - AFP

How French Crisis led to 'Non': Page 16



*************************************************


BUSINESS
========

SIA MAY SEEK COMPENSATION FOR A380 DELAY
----------------------------------------
AIRBUS, the world's biggest maker of commercial aircraft, faces demands
from Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Qantas Airways because of a six-month
delay in delivering its new A380 aircraft.

SIA, scheduled to be the first carrier to fly the A380, may seek penalty
payments after the first delivery was pushed back to the fourth quarter of
next year, chief executive Chew Choon Seng said yesterday in Kyoto, Japan.

Qantas, Australia's biggest airline, said that it would seek compensation,
with delivery postponed to April 2007.

SIA said it was disappointed at the delay, but added that it still hopes
to begin flying the giant aircraft, notably on its Sydney-London route, in
the second half of next year.

"While we are disappointed that we will experience a delay in taking
carriage of the new A380 aircraft, we are working with Airbus to minimise
the length of that delay," said spokeswoman Samantha Stewart.

"It will not affect Singapore Airlines' 'First to Fly' position."

The airline will fly the A380 on either its Singapore-London or
Singapore-Sydney service, keeping its options open as it does not have a
firm date for receiving the first aircraft, Mr Chew said earlier this
month.

The delays, blamed on complications in fitting out the world's largest
commercial plane, are a blow for Airbus, which is counting on the
555-seater to maintain its sales lead over Boeing Co.

Airbus has 144 firm orders for the A380, worth US$40.3 billion ($67.52
billion) at list prices of US$280 million each.

"It could be more of an issue at Airbus" than at SIA, said Mr Chris Sanda,
an analyst at DBS Vickers Securities. "The dynamics of the airline
business won't be drastically changed because of the delay in the A380."

Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy told SIA, which has 10 firm
orders for the A380 and options for 15 more, that delivery would be late
as it had underestimated the aircraft's engineering complexities.

Mr Leahy said airlines scheduled to get the A380 after Singapore might
also receive planes late. He declined to give specifics about the amounts
that might be paid, adding that contracts varied from one airline to the
next. - Bloomberg



PHILIP ENG EMERGES AS NEW ACCS CHAIRMAN
---------------------------------------
He aims to put firm on solid footing in 9 months

Chow Penn Nee
pennnee@newstoday.com.sg

IN an apparent move to rebuild investor confidence, embattled Accord
Customer Care Solutions (ACCS) has appointed a prominent corporate figure
as its chairman.

The company announced yesterday that Mr Philip Eng - best known as the
former Group managing director of Jardine Cycle & Carriage (Jardine C&C) -
would take over the top post from ACCS founder Henry Tan.

Mr Tan will remain as a non-executive director of the company.

The move comes almost a week after ACCS replaced its chief executive
officer Victor Tan and unveiled a shocking profit overstatement of $73
million over the past two financial years.

Mr Eng, who retired from Jardine C&C in February after 23 years at the car
distributor, is deputy chairman of listed property group MCL Land and also
Singapore's High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr Eng said in a statement yesterday that he aimed to put ACCS on a solid
footing in nine months by helping to restore confidence in the company
with both its staff and suppliers.

"Once we are able to put our troubles behind us, my every intention is to
keep our shareholders abreast of any significant development going
forward," he said.

ACCS suffered a blow in April when Singapore Post cancelled plans to take
a strategic 29.9-per-cent stake in it for $123 million. The mobile phone
after-sales service provider is also facing an ongoing Commercial Affairs
Department investigation that began in February.

In light of the recent events, Mr Eng said that he saw the "the need to
tighten internal controls and improve corporate governance practices".

He added that he had joined ACCS because he believed that the company "has
a sound business model with a strong regional network and solid client
base".

Meanwhile ACCS' new CEO Tong Choo Cherng said that the day-to-day
operations have been running "fairly normally" and the regional network
and customer base "remain intact".

ACCS shares fell another 4 per cent yesterday to close at 11.5 cents. The
counter has fallen  44 per cent since news of the overstatements broke
last Thursday.



CARDHOLDERS PAYING ON TIME
--------------------------
Members managing payments better

Chow Penn Nee
pennnee@newstoday.com.sg

More Singaporeans are paying their credit card bills on time, and managing
their card repayments better, if statistics by the Credit Bureau Singapore
(CBS) is anything to go by.

Statistics for first quarter of this year showed a decrease in unpaid
overdue accounts and a decrease in applications for new credit card
accounts.

The percentage of consumers with a credit card account showing more than
30 days overdue, was 1.8 per cent in the first quarter compared to 2.6 per
cent over the same period last year.

New credit card accounts opened also dropped by  27.2 per cent.

The percentage of consumers who do not pay their bills in full, also
decreased  1.2 per cent.

As at March this year, there were 835,000 credit card holders on the CBS'
database with an average credit card balance of $3,697.

"It would seem that consumers are displaying more responsible credit card
usage patterns", said Mr Seah Seng Choon, director of the Consumers
Association of Singapore (Case), on the trend.

"I believe the messages in the educational programmes put up by Case and
the Association of Banks in Singapore through the MoneySense projects on
more responsible credit usage are gradually getting through to credit card
holders", he added.

MoneySense is a national financial education programme,which brings
together industry and public sector initiatives to enhance the basic
financial literacy of consumers.

CBS provides information to credit providers in the finance industry to
enable them to make better lending decisions quickly and more objectively.



MANUFACTURING SECTOR EXPANDED IN MAY: PMI
-----------------------------------------
THE manufacturing sector expanded last month, driven by higher new orders
from the domestic market.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) - which factors in inventory, new
orders and exports - posted a reading of 51 last month, an increase of 1.3
points from the previous month.

A reading below 50 denotes a contraction in manufacturing, while anything
above indicates expansion. The index had shown a contraction in April.

The PMI reading for the electronics sector - which has seen  22
consecutive months of expansion - rose slightly to 52, or  0.2 point from
April.

This was due to growth in new orders in both domestic and overseas
markets, higher production output, and higher order backlogs.

"The turnaround is not unexpected and it is reassuring to note that the
manufacturing economy is back on the expansion track, indicating the
continuing positive business environment," said  Ms Janice Ong, registrar
of the Singapore Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management, which
compiles the index.

"I expect that the June PMI reading will continue to remain in the
expansion track," she added. - Chow Penn Nee



MEANWHILE, BANKRUPTCIES RISE
----------------------------
THE number of new bankruptcies in Singapore hit an  11-month high in
April,  according to latest Government data.

Figures from the Ministry of Law showed that the number of bankruptcy
orders for both individuals and companies rose to 378 last month - its
highest level since April last year.

The total number of undischarged bankrupts as of  April 30 stood at
22,079, the ministry's website showed.

The economy contracted at an annualised 5.5-per-cent rate in the first
quarter and prompted the Government to revise its growth forecast for this
year to 2.5 to 4.5 per cent from 3 to 5 per cent.

Under Singapore law, a person can be made a bankrupt by the High Court for
debts of $10,000.



SUNTEC REIT, CITY DEVELOPMENTS COY ABOUT PROPERTY SALE TALKS
------------------------------------------------------------
SUNTEC Real Estate Investment Trust (Suntec Reit) and City Developments
said in separate statements yesterday that they were in discussions about
Reit-related transactions but neither identified their potential partner
or partners, or gave details of the talks.

Their comments follow a Business Times report, quoting unnamed sources,
that City Developments was discussing the sale of several office buildings
to Suntec Reit. The deal may be worth more than $500 million, the BT
reported yesterday.

ARA Trust Management, the manager of Suntec Reit, said it "constantly
assesses and engages in discussions with parties on a range of strategic
opportunities and options in accordance with the principal investment
policies of Suntec Reit."

"No conclusive decision has been reached to date ... There is no assurance
whatsoever that the discussions will result in any definitive agreement,"
ARA said.

City Developments repeated an earlier statement that it was in discussions
on utilising Reits for a selection of its  properties to maximise
shareholder value.

"However, as such review and discussions are still ongoing and no
conclusive decision has been reached ... it will not be prudent to make
any announcements on the details at this stage," it said.

According to the BT report, the  properties that could be sold by City
Developments include City House, Fuji Xerox Tower, The Arcade and Commerce
Point, all of which are in the central  business district. - Dow Jones



MARKET WATCH
------------
SHARES ended mixed yesterday as interest in select blue chips boosted a
lacklustre market, dealers said.

The ST Index rose 15.16 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 2,176.93. But in the
broad market,  losers led gainers  234 to 177 on volume of 533 million
shares worth $614 million.

NOL shares rose  4 cents to $3.38 after Goldman Sachs raised the shipper's
net profit forecasts in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 by  25 per cent and 41
per cent to US$875 million ($1.44 billion) and US$740 million
respectively. - AFP



COMPENSATE THE  IPO INVESTOR: SIAS
----------------------------------
Securities watchdog urges Longcheer to distribute settlement from issue
manager

Christie Loh
christie@newstoday.com.sg

The Securities Investors Association of Singapore (Sias) is urging
Longcheer Holdings to distribute the $696,000 it got last week from DBS
Bank to the  subscribers of the company's initial  public offering (IPO).

"It should be noted that the  subscribers suffer most from the sell-off at
the listing debut, partly on concern of share overhang due to the
insufficient float of shareholders in public hands," Sias president David
Gerald wrote in an e-mail to Longcheer.

DBS Bank, the manager of Longcheer's IPO, had decided to pay the money as
a "settlement" for failing to ensure that the size of Longcheer's  public
float met the Singapore Exchange's (SGX) listing rules.

The bank's managing director and joint head of global financial markets,
Mr Eric Ang, had said earlier that it "deeply regrets" its oversight that
resulted in the breach of listing rules.

The $696,000 settlement was derived from multiplying the number of
additional shares to be issued by the  difference between the
volume-weighted average price of 40 cents on the day of the announcement
of DBS' decision and the IPO price of 46 cents.

In addition to the payout, DBS also subscribed to the 11.6 million new
Longcheer shares that should have been issued as part of the China-based
handset designer's IPO last month. The bank has  voluntarily set itself a
six-month  moratorium on the sale of these shares.

The SGX had discovered the shortfall before the listing but waved the IPO
through on the condition that DBS place out the additional shares within
four months.

But the go-ahead hurt market  sentiment, causing Longcheer shares to
plunge 27 per cent from its issue price of  46 cents a share to 33.5 cents
on their first trading day on May 13.

Having received the cash from DBS last week, Longcheer management has yet
to say how it plans to use the money. Concerned retail investors asked
Sias to intervene on their behalf, Mr Gerald told Today.

"Subscribers to the IPO have been calling for compensation as it is not
fair for them to assume the unusual risk resulting from a failure to meet
with  regulatory requirement," said Mr Gerald.

Longcheer's chief executive Du  Junhong, based in Shanghai, was not
available for comment.

Longcheer shares closed down  1.5 cents, or 4.1 per cent, at 35.5 cents
yesterday.



FORTUNE REIT'S NEW UNITS TO RAISE $428M
---------------------------------------
SINGAPORE-listed Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust (Fortune Reit) will
be issuing new units worth as much as  $428 million, partly to finance its
planned acquisition of six properties in Hong Kong.

These are City One Shatin, Waldorf  Garden, Tsing Yi Square, Centre De
Laguna, Lido Garden and Rhine Garden.

The approval for the new issue was given at its extraordinary general
meeting yesterday. About 48 million new units will be issued in the
preferential offering, working out to one new unit for every 10 existing
units. Fortune Reit said the exact number of units to be issued would be
decided after the transfer books and register of unit-holders are closed
on June 13.

The firm is already setting its sights on more acquisitions in the coming
months.

Mr Justin Chiu, chairman of ARA Asset Management, which manages Fortune
Reit, said: "We are now already in  discussions with second-tier
developers in Hong Kong for acquisitions. We think we stand a very good
chance, because with the increase in capital value of the malls in Hong
Kong over the past two years, some of the developers or the owners will
feel that it is now a good price to sell.

"We have also developed a strategy to partner with them in the sense they
take part cash, part units for future  acquisitions." - Channel NewsAsia



AIG SLASHES INCOME BY $6.5B
---------------------------
American International Group (AIG), the insurer accused by New York
Attorney- General Eliot Spitzer of duping investors, lowered its net
income for the past five years by US$3.9 billion ($6.5 billion), or 10 per
cent, to correct improper accounting practices and increase reserves for
asbestos claims.

The restatement, the result of a 14-week internal review triggered by Mr
Spitzer's probe, stems from re-insurance contracts and other transactions
that understated liabilities for claims and inflated underwriting profit,
the  company said.

The earnings correction expanded on AIG's earlier  disclosure that
accounting flaws inflated its book value.

The reduction stings AIG, whose stock price surged throughout the 1990s
because of its steady earnings growth.

 Even after the restatement, New York-based AIG earned US$9.7 billion last
year, more than any other of its  competitors.

AIG, the world's largest insurer, reduced the company's book value by
US$2.26 billion, or 2.7 per cent, to  US$80.6 billion. The restatement
concludes the internal review and is a prerequisite to settling Mr
Spitzer's lawsuit, which also named ousted chief executive Maurice
Greenberg. - Bloomberg



CITIGROUP TO PAY $344M TO SEC TO SETTLE FEE-POCKETING CLAIMS
------------------------------------------------------------
Citigroup, the world's biggest financial services  company, agreed to pay
US$208 million ($344 million) to settle regulators' claims it pocketed
fees that should have been passed on to its mutual funds.

The settlement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) wraps up part of a probe that began in 2003. Citigroup Global
Markets and Smith  Barney Fund Management were accused of misrepresenting
and omitting facts when recommending to the mutual funds' boards that they
change to a transfer agent that was a Citigroup affiliate, the SEC said.

Citigroup made US$100 million in profit at the expense of its mutual
funds' shareholders during a five-year period, the agency said on Tuesday.

"The first rule for mutual fund advisers is that they must act in the best
interest of their shareholders," said Mr Mark Schonfeld, the head of the
SEC's New York office.

"Here, the adviser put its interest in making a profit above its duty to
get the best deal possible for its mutual funds." -  Bloomberg



ANDERSEN GETS CLEAN CHIT, 3 YEARS TOO LATE
------------------------------------------
US Supreme Court says instructions to jury flawed

WASHINGTON - The United States Supreme Court has dealt a blow to the
government's corporate fraud crackdown, overturning the criminal
conviction of Arthur Andersen, the accounting giant that was put out of
business for its role in the Enron scandal.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist on wrote on Tuesday for a unanimous
Supreme Court decision that the case against the former Big Five
accounting firm was "flawed" because of the  instructions given to the
jury telling them what was needed for a conviction.

Chief Justice Rehnquist said the instructions to the jury "simply failed
to convey the requisite consciousness of wrongdoing. Indeed, it is
striking how  little culpability the instructions required".

The Chicago-based accounting firm was shut down after its 2002 conviction
on criminal obstruction of justice charges for the destruction of
documents for its client, Enron, as a regulatory probe was under way.

While the court ruling appeared to be based on technical factors, the
opinion suggested the government would have to show a stronger finding of
criminal intent for a similar conviction.

Arthur Andersen was convicted in  June 2002 in a Texas court after a jury
found that lawyers for the company  "corruptly" persuaded employees to
destroy documents that could have been relevant to an investigation by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

Enron was Arthur Andersen's largest client and relied on the firm for
auditing, accounting and consulting advice. Arthur Andersen also
overlooked some of the accounting schemes that hid the energy firm's
massive debts.

But Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote that the interpretation given to the
jury for a guilty verdict was too broad and vague.

Prosecutors said they would review the ruling before deciding on whether
to seek a new trial. But some experts doubted the government would retry
the case, with Arthur Andersen out of business.

"It is unfortunate for Arthur Andersen, because they are out of business,"
said Texas lawyer Tom Ajamie, who represents  investors who lost money in
Enron.

"But let's not forget that Arthur  Andersen was the auditor for WorldCom,
which collapsed, and for Sunbeam, which was found to be fraudulent, and
for many of the telecom companies that collapsed. And of course they were
the auditors for Enron before its collapse ... The auditors are supposed
to be the front line of  protection" against fraud. - AFP



*************************************************


WORLD NEWS
==========

SEVEN DETAINED IN SULAWESI PROBE
--------------------------------
JAKARTA - Indonesian police have detained seven people as part of a probe
into last weekend's bombing in a Christian market town on Sulawesi island,
which killed 21 people.

Under Indonesia's anti-terror laws, the seven will be interrogated for a
week before police decide whether to charge them as suspects in Saturday's
attack in the town of Tentena, said national police spokesman Sunarko Danu
Ardanto.

Among those being held were Hasman, the head of a prison in the nearby
town of Poso, and three of the inmates, all murder convicts. Two of the
three, identified as Jufri and Supratman, were arrested along with Hasman
and a woman after police stopped a car they were travelling in during a
security check in Poso on Sunday night.

Mr Ardanto said: "The problem now faced by investigators is how to shed
light on the Tentena case so as to reveal the perpetrators and their
networks."



EMBASSY STAFF LOCKED IN AFTER ANTHRAX FIND
------------------------------------------
Indonesian mission targeted in Australia's first biological attack

SYDNEY - Australian police locked Indonesian embassy staff in their
Canberra mission yesterday after discovering an envelope filled with
bacteria spores containing anthrax.

Condemning the acts, a grave Prime Minister John Howard said that it was
the country's first biological attack as preliminary lab results revealed
that the bacteria was from the bacillus family, which contains the anthrax
bacteria.

Officials believe that the attack is a retaliation to the 20-year drug
smuggling conviction of Australian Schapelle Corby in Bali last week. The
incident set off alarm bells nationwide, with Australian leaders warning
that the attack could damage bilateral relations.

Yesterday, Australian police locked some 22 Indonesian embassy staff in
their Canberra mission after the the envelope was discovered around
10.30am.

Prime Minister John Howard warned: "This is a very serious development ...
I can't overstate the sense of concern I feel that such a recklessly
criminal act should have been committed." He added it was too early to
label the attack a terrorist act.

 He said: "It would be the first time ... such a biological agent has been
sent in Australia. It will do great damage in the eyes of many Indonesian
people to the relationship between our countries, and it certainly won't
help Schapelle Corby."

The 22 embassy staff are likely to remain in isolation for 48 hours while
further tests are being carried out. Unconfirmed reports said up to 50
staff may be quarantined in the building.

The attack follows a series of threats against Indonesian diplomatic
missions in Australia, prompted by the Corby case, including an anonymous
threat to kill staff at the Canberra embassy.

Meanwhile, Indonesia condemned the attack as cowardly. Foreign Ministry
spokesman Marty Natalagewa said: "We strongly condemn what happened and
clearly, this is in contrast with the fact that there has been closeness
between Indonesia and Australia. We will not be intimidated by this act of
cowardice."

Since Corby's sentencing, many Australians have threatened to boycott
Bali, where they form a large part of the tourist population. Her
supporters regard the sentence as unjustly harsh, although Corby could
have faced the death penalty under Indonesia's strict drugs laws.

Yesterday, Corby backers distanced themselves from the attack. "I can't
believe people will go to those lengths to support somebody," said Corby's
close friend, Ms Jodie Power. - Agencies

 Corby to write memoirs    Schapelle Corby is writing a book in prison
about her ordeal, which she hopes might one day be a best-seller and an
inspiration to others who find themselves in trouble, her Indonesian
doctor said yesterday.

The doctor said that she suggested to Corby that she write a book as part
of her therapy, to cope with her ordeal.

"Maybe one day it will be a best-seller and if it becomes a book, we hope
it will help others," the doctor said.



THAI COURT ACQUITS FOUR JI SUSPECTS
-----------------------------------
BANGKOK - Thailand's criminal court yesterday cited a lack of evidence in
acquitting four Thai Muslims accused of belonging to the regional
extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and plotting to bomb foreign
embassies.

The accuser was Singaporean national Arifin bin Ali, who was arrested in
May 2003 in Thailand and extradited to Singapore, where he testified
against the Thai men. The court ruled that there was not enough evidence
to support his allegations.

The four were also accused of planning to bomb the embassies of Australia,
Britain, Israel, Singapore and the United States, plus tourism spots in
Thailand including the Phuket and Pattaya resorts.

One of the suspects' lawyers expressed optimism that their acquittal would
ease tensions in Thailand's violence-wracked south: "It's likely that
things could improve in the south, as the ruling could create public
confidence that the court system can safeguard them." - AFP



GLOBAL ROUNDUP
--------------
Indonesia to unveil  tsunami warning system Indonesia will unveil a
national tsunami warning system in August as part of a regional network
aimed at preventing a repeat of the destruction caused by the Dec 26
disaster, which killed at least 176,000. - AP

Third patient dies after  receiving the wrong medicine A third Hong Kong
person, a 69-year-old woman, died after being handed the wrong medicine by
a private clinic. She had been given a diabetes drug instead of stomach
ache medicine.

Two others died earlier this week after getting the wrong drugs from  the
same clinic, which had wrongly  dispensed the diabetic drug to  152
people. Health authorities are  still trying to track these patients
own.  - AFP

Almost 60% want full democracy in Hong Kong soon: Survey Almost six in
every 10 Hong Kong  residents want a swift transition to full democracy in
the Chinese territory, a government survey revealed. - AFP



HILLARY GEARING UP FOR PRESIDENCY?
----------------------------------
WASHINGTON - Senator Hillary Clinton will remove a key obstacle to a run
at the presidency, further fuelling fevered speculation about her hopes
for America's top job.

Mrs Clinton is understood to be ready to drop a pledge to serve a full
six-year term when she seeks re-election as senator for New York next
year, said the Telegraph.

This will be the clearest sign of her intention to run for the White
House, since she pointedly told New York voters in 2000 that she would not
curtail her term in order to try for the presidency.

The official line from her advisers is that Mrs Clinton is keeping her
options open. But The Washington Post reported: "In 2000, she repeatedly
pledged that she would finish her term without seeking the presidency.
Aides say she will not issue such a pledge this time."

The American political clock is already running. Most candidates for the
presidency will declare their intention to run in the first half of 2007,
after the senate elections in November 2006. This allows them to start
raising funds for the lengthy American campaign season.

 The news on Mrs Clinton's plans came days after a poll indicated for the
first time that Mrs Clinton - until recently thought of as too divisive a
figure for the White House - is now viewed as "electable" by a majority of
Americans.

The Gallup survey showed that  53 per cent of voters would back her.

The Nation, a left-leaning magazine said: "She projects pragmatism on
economic issues and signals ideological flexibility on social issues. This
latter tactic is not, as is often argued, about appeasing the Right. It's
about appealing to moderates in both parties."

Republicans are openly wondering how to deal with another Clinton.

With Mr George W Bush forced to retire in 2008, and Vice-President Dick
Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ruling themselves out,
several names are being mentioned.

Perhaps the least likely is Mrs Laura Bush, who was recommended by the
Vice-President's wife Lynne Cheney in an interview. - Agencies



SADDAM'S TRIAL SOON
-------------------
BAGHDAD - The trial of Saddam Hussein could begin within two months, said
Iraq's President's Jalal Talabani.

He added that most Iraqis wanted the former dictator executed if found
guilty of crimes against humanity. Asked when the trial would begin, he
told CNN: "I hope within two months."

Since his arrest in December 2003, Saddam has been held by the US at a
detention centre near Baghdad's airport.

Iraqi and US legal advisers have hinted that other leaders such as Ali
Hassan al Majid would be tried first, to test the Iraqi Special Tribunal's
efficacy and to help build the case against Saddam. A source said that one
problem with an earlier trial date was that there was as yet a lack of
reliable evidence from some of the mass graves.



KOIZUMI ADVISED NOT TO VISIT WAR SHRINE
---------------------------------------
5 former Premiers ask him to reconsider

TOKYO - Five former Premiers and other Japanese political heavyweights
called on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to reconsider his visits to a
war shrine that have soured ties with China.

"We cannot overlook the rapid deterioration in relations with neighbouring
countries," Mr Yohei Kono, speaker of the House of Representatives, said
yesterday after inviting the political leaders to his residence.

"One of the major causes is Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to
Yasukuni Shrine," Mr Kono was quoted as saying by Jiji Press. He is known
as a dove in Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Former Premiers Toshiki Kaifu, Kiichi Miyazawa, Tomiichi Murayama, Ryutaro
Hashimoto and Yoshiro Mori agreed with Mr Kono and called for Mr Koizumi
to restrain himself, Jiji said.

"I am worried that direct dialogue between Japanese and Chinese leaders
has been suspended," said  Mr Miyazawa, who was Premier from 1991 to 1993.

Mr Koizumi has visited the Yasukuni shrine every year since taking office
in 2001, with his last visit on Jan 1, last year.

The shrine honours 2.5 million Japanese war dead including 14 top war
criminals. Despite growing criticism, he has hinted at continuing his
pilgrimage.

Mr Kono said he spoke to two other former Premiers - Mr Morihiro Hosokawa
and Mr Yasuhiro Nakasone - on Tuesday, and they agreed that Mr Koizumi
should exercise caution.

Mr Nakasone, who was in office from 1982 to 1987, is seen as influential
among LDP conservatives.

When Mr Murayama was Premier, he issued a landmark apology in 1995, which
was the 50th anniversary of World War II.

China and South Korea, which suffered brutal occupations by Japan, accuse
Mr Koizumi of condoning militarism by visiting the shrine.  - AFP



INDIA TAKES WAR AGAINST TOBACCO TO TV AND BOLLYWOOD
---------------------------------------------------
NEW DELHI - India has banned all scenes showing smoking, cigarette packs
or tobacco advertisements in movies and TV programmes, stepping up its war
against tobacco use, a government official said yesterday.

"The new rules will take effect as law from August. We decided to give
them a little time to modify their films and soap operas," a senior health
ministry official told AFP.

According to the newly issued ministry directives, each time an actor
lights up onscreen, television channels must blur the scene. Films already
shot containing smoking scenes must run a scroll at the bottom of the
screen, warning of the dangers of smoking.

The law will apply to domestic and foreign films, as well as old films
that are released in cinema halls.

"Film actors have a lasting impact on the minds of children and young
adults," Health minister Anbumani Ramadoss said. "More and more youngsters
and women are taking up tobacco."

India, a country of more than one billion people, accounts for one-sixth
of tobacco illnesses worldwide. It was an early ratifier of a global
anti-smoking treaty, which took effect in March. Some 2,200 people die
daily in India from tobacco-related diseases.

Meanwhile, Sweden has introduced a smoking ban in all bars and
restaurants. Patrons will now have to go outside to light up, which can
mean a chilly puff for eight months of the year.

Establishments will only be allowed to permit smoking indoors if they
build a separate, closed-off section with specially-designed ventilation,
though no food or drinks can be served or consumed in this special area. -
AFP



WHIFF THAT MAKES YOU GO FOR BROKE
---------------------------------
This hormone will cause you to gamble for love - or money

PARIS - Imagine someone who has a social phobia or is autistic. With a
whiff of a wonder drug, he can build the trusting relationships that have
eluded him all his life.

Now imagine a casino or a romantic restaurant where the same molecule is
discreetly sprayed as you walk in - and it transforms you into a carefree
poker player or convinces you that your blind date is The One You Have
Been Looking For.

New research by a Swiss team, which looks set to spark controversy, has
discovered that a natural hormone that helps new mothers breast-feed -
oxytocin - is also a "trust drug" that dramatically lowers the threshold
of suspicion.

Investigators from the University of Zurich were intrigued by previous
findings that lab mammals which had been given oxytocin became far less
cautious about striking up affiliations with each other.

To test it out on humans, the researchers gave the pharmaceutical version
of the hormone to 178 students and got them to play games that involved
money, trust and risk in a casino-simulated atmosphere. Half were given
the drug and the other half, a placebo.

The study found that oxytocin boosted levels of trust. The research also
highlighted that those who had personal contact with a "dealer" increased
their bets, unlike those who bet against a computerised slot machine.
Oxytocin therefore only boosted trust in contact between humans, not
between man and machine.

In animal research, oxytocin has previously been associated with pair
bonding. Levels of this hormone are also said to be higher among people
who say they are in love. This latest research, though, provides some
striking clinical evidence as to how the hormone may work in the creation
of trust.

The study appears today in Nature. The British science weekly says that
the findings could one day help unlock pharmaceutical cures for people who
have a genetic illness which cripples their social interaction.

But the researchers warned that the findings could be exploited or
misused.

University of Iowa expert Antonio Damasio would agree. He sketched a
scenario where future politicians could  "generously spray" an election
rally with oxytocin to get the adoring crowd response they wanted.  - AFP



HOW THE FRENCH CRISIS LED TO 'NON'
----------------------------------
William Pfaff
news@newstoday.com.sg

PARIS - The French have been in crisis for 30 years. It has become a way
of life - the Crisis - even a rather comforting one, in that it permits
shifting the blame to others, or to economic forces beyond the power of
France to alter.

The very big vote repudiating the European Constitution last Sunday had
several causes, but nearly all of them were aspects of a generalised fear
of change, coupled with resentment of the economic stalemate inside
France.

The Crisis began with the Arab oil boycott of 1973, following Egypt's Yom
Kippur invasion of Israel. Neither the war nor the boycott by the
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) managed to force
the Israelis out of the Palestinian territories they had occupied
following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. However, Opec's rise in oil prices
delivered a severe blow to the Western industrial economies.

One result was unemployment, which in France has never fallen much below
10 per cent since that time. This is perfectly survivable in economic
terms. (Concealed unemployment in the United States, including the very
high number of able-bodied young African-American men locked up for drug
offences, may be even higher.) But it is sociologically and politically
unacceptable in a European social-welfare economy.

France's treatment - high unemployment benefits and many schemes involving
state subsidies, either of the unemployed or the employers - has never
succeeded. A psychological result has been to turn the notion of a still
bigger dose of "Europe" - via the European Constitution - into a threat
rather than an opportunity.

Unemployment means high social charges and high taxes on employers - both
barriers to job creation - as well as inhibitions to business start-ups.
France shows the lowest rate of entrepreneurial ambition among its young
of any country in Western Europe.

The congenital bloody-mindedness of the French - rationalised as
revolutionary tradition - is a second factor that, since the
demonstrations and strikes of 1968, has kept governments of both the left
and the right intimidated. The problem is not the unions, although some of
them do display nihilistic traits. It's the tradition of perverse
behaviour by the public at large. There was a fine example of it three
weeks ago.

In reaction to the high death rate among isolated old people during a heat
wave two summers ago, the  government voted to turn one of France's many
holidays into a working day whose social charges would go to strengthen
geriatric and emergency medical services and networks of "solidarity with
the old". The public at first liked the idea.

When the day finally came - a religious holiday, Pentecost Monday - there
was a quasi-revolt of unofficial strikes, protests, closed businesses and
plain refusals to go to work. The whole thing ended in fiasco, of which
even the French were ashamed.

There are solutions. Other countries have managed to combine high social
standards and low unemployment. Some of the solutions to France's problems
are apparent, but require from the political class the courage to tell
voters other than what they want to hear.

As for Europe, there are in fact two European Unions. The first is an
amazing accomplishment of reconciliation - shared sovereignty, generosity
and willingness to spend money on others in order to be rewarded with new
markets, growth and peace. This EU has been vitally important to Ireland,
Greece, Spain and Portugal, and now to its new Central and East European
members. It will be more important yet to the Baltic and Balkan states
that are now candidates, and to others in the wings.

The other EU is composed of a restricted number of mostly original or
early members, and wants to be a serious political actor in world affairs.
This is a role most of its members were accustomed to play in the past,
and which, in a new cooperative mode, they are eminently qualified to play
again.

The second EU obviously has to be separated from the first without
destroying their essential interdependence. The operation will be delicate
but necessary. The challenge might even inspire the French to forget the
Crisis.



*************************************************


VOICES
======

THE TABLOID ARGUMENT
--------------------
I REFER to Today's report on the growing popularity of tabloid papers
("Tabloid Fever Sweeping Across Newspaper World", June 1).

Today was started as a tabloid, a wise move indeed. The Times of London
went tabloid last November. So did The New Straits Times a few months ago.
But it seems that the two local English broadsheet newspapers are holding
out. Why?

There is no shame in publishing in tabloid format. In fact, tabloids have
all the convenience and advantages that broadsheets lack.

To understand why the broadsheet newspapers are reluctant to change to the
tabloid format, it's necessary to know a little bit of background.

Broadsheets were developed when, in the early 1700s, a tax was placed on
British newspapers based on the number of their pages. To reduce taxes,
publishers printed bigger - and thus fewer - pages, helping to create the
broadsheet format that is now considered standard.

In the old days, newspapers were usually read in the morning, at dining
tables or in the living room. However, that habit has changed. People no
longer have the time to have breakfast at home, and it's always a mad rush
to catch the MRT to work.

Hence, many people read their papers in the confined space of a crowded
train; I believe that's partly the reason why Today is popular with
commuters and is growing in readership.

Publishers and editors tend to believe that their broadsheet newspapers
are "quality" papers and carry more intellectual content than their
tabloid counterparts, examining stories in greater depth, seldom resorting
to sensationalism and carrying less celebrity gossip.

They often publish supplements in tabloid format for matters such as
health and leisure. These editors do not consider these topics serious
stuff for serious readers - or that's what readers are made to believe.

Perhaps all this is true for the broadsheet publisher's other afternoon
paper, a tabloid. But Today, the morning English tabloid that is free to
all readers, has editorial policies and news coverage similar to a
broadsheet paper.

Standing still is not an option. I believe broadsheets will continue to
lose readers to the tabloids if they do not change.

Commuters prefer papers they can read and hold easily on public transport
without disturbing other commuters. Most people would also find it more
convenient to read a smaller format paper in the food courts.

No longer does a good tabloid only offer junk news, or emphasise
sensational news. Just look at The Times, The New Straits Times, The Star
and many other reputable papers.

It's time for the local broadsheet papers to adopt the tabloid format.
Perhaps they can call their new tabloids the "compact" edition.

Letter from

Seah Leong Khai



CLARIFICATION
-------------
In the report, "OUE trading arm suffers fraud of $1.3m" (May 31), it was
stated that an employee of Overseas Union Enterprise (OUE)'s trading arm
had allegedly cheated the company. OUE has clarified that OUE Trading Pte
Ltd has a laundry division and a trading division. The finance manager
under investigation is from the laundry division.



THE SKINNY ON BEING BEAUTIFUL
-----------------------------
Kate Smith

TWO related stories in Today have inspired me to comment this week:
Constance Singam's "Mirror, mirror on the wall  " (May 30) and Lim Kuan
Chiang's "Of 'Glamazons' and Blonde Barbie dolls" (June 1).

My husband first moved to Singapore two years ago, leaving me in the
United Kingdom with our son, who was at a crucial stage in his education.

Being apart from my husband was emotionally hard. I became depressed and
put on some weight.

I visited him that first Christmas.

Walking around Singapore became an ordeal for me. My self-esteem was low
due to my weight gain.

Not only was I surrounded by gorgeous, thin Asian beauties, every time I
reached the bottom of an escalator, I was targeted by women with flyers
which inevitably had the word "FAT?" in bold type and helpfully told me
where I could be "cured".

One particularly depressing day, I had three flyers and a sales assistant
at one pharmacy chase me round the shop, insisting I needed cellulite
cream. I burst into tears in the middle of the store.

Last April, I moved here to be with my husband. The ordeal of leaving
friends and family created an anxiety problem that led to me not eating. I
lost a lot of weight in a short space of time. While I wasn't able to
swallow more than a mouthful of food or water, I was ecstatic: I was THIN!
No more flyers!

Unfortunately, my joy was short-lived. Not eating and losing the weight so
quickly led to my hair falling out and my thyroid becoming under-active.

Now, at the bottom of escalators, I was targeted by the "HAIRLOSS?"
flyers. I actually sat down and worked out which I wanted to be: Thin, ill
and bald, or healthy with hair.

It was a close call, but my hair is now growing again.

Young girls today have an impossible task living up to impossible and
unrealistic body ideals. However, it's not just the young: It seems, it
has now become a sin to age.

In medieval times, women were burned as witches if they appeared not to be
ageing. Now it seems the reverse is true: A woman is supposed to be able
to defy time and gravity by some magical means to be of any worth. The
anti-ageing industry - like the slimming industry - is a huge money-maker.

I watched a beauty contest on TV when I was about 11. I remember feeling
sorry for the girls walking around in bikinis being leered at by men old
enough to be their grandfathers. I've never watched one since.

What message does this sort of competition send to young girls?

Yes, they disguise what is just an excuse to look at "girls" in next to
nothing, as a humanitarian exercise: "I love puppies, children and want
world peace."

And yes, Miss Universe probably goes around the world doing good deeds,
but what does that teach young girls? Only beautiful girls can be
humanitarians? Only a beautiful girl in a bikini can achieve world peace?

I'm not surprised that none of the beautiful Asian girls won. The world
media has only a narrow, unhealthy and superficial idea of what beauty
should be, or of who or what is deemed worthy.

Our children are going to pay a heavy price for our collective obsession
with this "ideal".

This was contributed by a reader.  To comment on her views, email
news@newstoday.com.sg



CONCERNS OVER  USE OF CLING-WRAP
--------------------------------
I REFER to your article "Chemicals in plastics 'harming unborn boys'" (May
28).

I have observed that food operators use cling-wrap that is meant for
industrial use. It is my understanding that such cling-wrap has been
pre-coated with some powder that is not fit for human consumption. I
learned this from a vendor of such products.

She specifically said that it must not be used for wrapping food meant for
consumption once the cling-wrap is removed - in other words, the food and
the cling-wrap must not be in contact.

Despite this, I have observed food vendors do indeed use this type of
cling-wrap. I wonder if the authorities have a view on this matter.

Letter from

Christie Loh



MORE PATIENCE FOR PATIENTS?
---------------------------
See waiting at hospitals in perspective

Of late, there have been many letters from readers on the time one has to
wait at hospitals.

Still, I would like to record my appreciation to our doctors and hospital
staff who are doing a better job than in most other countries, as is
evident in the fewer reports of negligence here.

I, too, have been a victim of delays during my visits.

During a visit to a nose specialist, I had to wait an hour for my turn.
But, before he could attend to me, he was called away on an emergency and
I did not get to see him that day.

 On another occasion, the doctor concerned was two hours late because he
was called to do an operation on the morning that he was treating
outpatients.

Although doctors have separate days for operations and for seeing
outpatients, this cannot always be rigidly adhered to.

Two of my favourite doctors are a cardiologist and a respiratory
consultant at the Singapore General Hospital.

To see both of them on a normal day takes me two hours after the time
fixed for the appointment.

I don't mind because they are so polite, caring and thorough. I want my
problem treated well.

However, facilities have to be improved and increased for conducting
tests. Perhaps the hospitals could look into this.

I am afraid waiting is part of life. We wait for the children to get ready
for school, for the spouse to powder her nose, for the overdue bus, to be
served by the waiter who has forgotten our order and so on.

But none of these situations seems to put one's back up the way waiting at
the hospital does.

This is understandable. Some patients have taken half a day's leave to go
there, while others who are ill find waiting a chore.

One of the dangers of insisting that doctors keep to schedule is that
their consultation and examination may become cursory.

This can only work against the interests of the patient who, in Singapore,
is offered some of the best treatment and care on earth.

Murali Kumara Sharma



NO REIT APPLICATION RECEIVED
----------------------------
I refer to the letter, "CPF too slow in evaluating Reit" by  Ms Jessica
Tee Puay Koon  (May 28).

Ms Tee commented that the CPF Board should speed up the inclusion of a
Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit), Macquarie International
Infrastructure Fund Limited, under the CPF Investment Scheme - Ordinary
Account (CPFIS-OA).

The lead manager of the Reit needs to apply to the CPF Board for it to be
included under the CPFIS-OA.

Among other conditions, the Reit has to be offered by a company that is
incorporated in Singapore, be listed on the Singapore Exchange and be
traded in Singapore dollars.

The CPF Board has not received any application to include this Reit under
the CPFIS-OA.

Soh Chin Heng

Director (Retirement & Investment)

Central Provident Fund Board



EXTEND LEARNING MALAY SCHEME
----------------------------
The Ministry of Education's plans for 10 secondary schools to offer Malay
as a third language are a welcome sign.

It took the tragedy of the tsunami and our valiant efforts to assist in
the rescue efforts to understand the importance of this elegant language,
which is the lingua franca of our region.

I was disappointed that there are only a couple of neighbourhood schools
in the MOE's list of schools.

The list contains more schools where the majority of students will have
almost no interaction with Malay students throughout their school career.

If this is the case, then learning Malay will just be an academic exercise
for these students.

I urge the ministry to extend the scheme to more neighbourhood schools
sooner rather than later.

Gopinath Menon



KEEP CLOSER EYE ON PET SHOPS
----------------------------
Enlighten buyers before a sale

I refer to Goh Boon Choo's News Comment "Anti-animal abuse rules lack
bite" (June 1).

I am so glad you raised this issue in your paper.

It is time the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) realised the
degree to which lax regulation of pet shops and pet farms is contributing
to the problem of animal abandonment.

 There have to be rules disallowing temperate-region dogs and small
animals from living in tropical climates.

There also have to be rules about responsible selling - after all,
pharmacies are not allowed to sell over-the-counter drugs without
explaining the conditions of their use.

Pet shops too should operate in like manner.

They must explain to potential buyers how large an animal will grow up to
be, how much it will cost in terms of time and money through its lifespan
and how to look after it properly, before making the sale.

Just as there is a restriction on the number of cars for a small country,
so there should be a limit to the number of pet shops and animals they
sell.

And yes, once AVA has registered a shop to sell pets, it must be strict
with enforcing the rules governing the animal husbandry practices in those
shops.

I agree that there is a lack of animal welfare-related legislation and
enforcement.

The problems of animal abuse, abandonment and over-breeding are
increasing, as evidenced by the huge number of animals being put down by
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and AVA.

By not nipping the problems in the bud - by restricting breeding and
importation -  AVA will continue to have to expend significant resources
to continue drastic measures such as culling, which unfortunately, is
short-sighted and doesn't address the problem at its  root.

Mass sterilisation, implemented on an island-wide basis with the support
of AVA and the town councils, is the key to solving the problem of strays,
together with restrictions on animal breeding, importation and number of
licensed pet shops.

Also needed are tougher rules on animal abuse and abandonment, enforcement
and more effective public education.



POLICE WERE MINDFUL OF THE PROBLEMS ACCUSED HAD WITH EYESIGHT
-------------------------------------------------------------
I refer to the letter by Ms Jessica Chan ("Questions arise in Tony's
arrest", May 27).

Acting on several complaints of outrage of modesty which had occurred on
board public buses, the police managed to arrest the accused at about
6.15am on March 31, last year.

The accused was then charged in court on the day after his arrest and he
was then remanded at Clementi Police Station for the purposes of
facilitating further investigations.

During the period of his remand, arrangements were made for his family to
visit him.

In all cases, the police ensure that an accused would have access to legal
counsel at the earliest possible opportunity.

The accused did not ask for legal counsel at any point in time during his
custody in police.

The officers handling the case of the accused were aware of the problems
he had with his eyesight.

As the accused had with him a card which certified that he was visually
handicapped, they conducted their investigations mindful of this fact.

After completing investigations and having consulted the
Attorney-General's Chambers, the police eventually preferred a total of
seven charges of outraging a woman's modesty against the accused.

These charges all involved victims who were minors.

After a four-day hearing for three of the charges, the court found the
accused to be guilty of the offences beyond any reasonable doubt.

The accused consented to have the remaining four charges to be taken into
consideration for the purposes of sentencing.

VICTOR KEONG ASP

ASST DIR (COVERING)

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT



*************************************************


PLUS
====

THE WOMEN DON'T 'GET IT'
------------------------
The guys on Project Superstar may lack the X chromosome - but not the
X-factor


Jeanine Tan and Elisa Chia
jeanine@newstoday.com.sg

THANK goodness that the "Battle of the Sexes" for the latest Mandopop
talent show in town, MediaCorp TV Channel U's Project Superstar, won't
take place until the finals. Because so far, it seems that the men are the
clear winners.

At a meet-the-media session yesterday for the top 24 contestants - who
beat out about 4,000 hopefuls in three rounds of auditions - one could
already pick out the male contestants who would shine.

It was a lot harder when it came to the women.

The men will battle it out among themselves, as will the women, until a
winner from each gender emerges for the grand final at the Singapore
Indoor Stadium on Sept 1. The male and the female winner will each get a
professional recording contract, with Universal Music or Play Music.

Asked about the competition, most female contestants chose to be
diplomatic. They opted for stock replies, such as: "Everybody stands a
good chance"; "We get along well. There won't be catfights, I assure you".

To be fair, some of them were feeling under the weather. One girl was
obviously nursing a bad cold, while another's voice trailed off after a
few questions.

But there's no doubt these girls can sing. Based on the clips shown to the
media, some stand out with their unique vocal styling, others with their
powerful lungs. It's just that, thrown into the media limelight, none
managed to come across as anything beyond mildly interesting.

Soft-spoken Chen Sin Huey probably summed up the female contestants best
when she said: "I think I'm a very different person on and off-stage.

"Off the stage, I'm just a normal, working-class girl. But onstage, I come
alive. I can be wild, sexy, sentimental ... "

In contrast, the men seemed ready to handle the media. Some were highly
articulate, others were eager to divulge endless nuggets of information
about themselves.

Said Indonesian-Chinese Sugianto Pan, the youngest of seven children: "In
a way, I'm the black sheep of the family. One of my sisters is an
accountant, while the other is studying to be a doctor. My brothers are
all engineers.

"But music is my passion."

Fellow Indonesian-Chinese Tan William Tanoto, an Australian Permanent
Resident, said: "Perhaps because of my background I'm more able to laugh
at myself. Chinese people in general have a paiseh (Hokkien for easily
embarrassed) attitude."

And it wasn't just what they said, but how good some of them looked.

Darryl Yong stood out with his tanned skin and single-eyelids, while
Raymond Chua bears a slight resemblance to Taiwanese singer Van Fan.

The youngest among the men, 18-year-old Sebastian Leong, looked like he
had stepped right out of a J-pop music video.

There were also those with previous experience in the music industry, such
as Hagen Tan - incidentally also a trained hairstylist and interior
designer - who has penned songs for overseas artistes including Wilbur Pan
and Harlem Yu.

And with the men sweeping a series of awards voted on by members of the
media yesterday - in the Super Cutest, Super Sunshine, Super Friendly,
Super Cool and Super Photogenic categories - it's clear that the men just
do it better.

what: Project SuperStar

when: Wednesdays and Thursdays  from June 8, at 8.30pm

where: MediaCorp TV Channel U



JUDGING THE JUDGES
------------------
Who will be the Simon Cowell of this panel?  Mervin Tay

mervin@newstoday.com.sg

TOGETHER, they have more than a century's worth of experience and exposure
in the local music industry.

And over the next three months, the five Project SuperStar judges will
play a significant role in uncovering and then nurturing Singapore's next
big (pop) thing.

Unveiled yesterday, the choice of judges came as no surprise: veteran
singer Dawn Yip, producer-composers Billy Koh and Lee Wei Song, local
singer Roy Loi and vocal coach Fang Zhong Hua.

Last month, Koh told Today he had signed up as a judge for the show, while
Lee expressed keen interest.

Yip, Fang and Loi were already on the judging panel for the initial
audition rounds.

However, they said there was no agreement on what roles each judge would
play, and revealed nary a hint of who would be the Randy Jackson, Paula
Abdul or Simon Cowell of Project SuperStar.

The judges' votes will account for 30 per cent of the total score during
the quarter-finals and semi-finals, with the remaining 70 per cent going
to viewers' SMS votes.

Having seen contestants through the initial rounds of competition, Yip,
who is also group operations director of beauty chain Jean Yip, saw some
positive change in the quarter finalists in terms of outlook compared to
the initial rounds, but said there was "always room for improvement", a
sign that she may be the encouraging judge.

"I've been through this before, so I don't see the need to criticise too
much," said the ex-Talentime winner. "It's a process I can identify with,
but I will comment if anyone becomes too proud."

Lee, who had his first glimpse of the top 24 yesterday, was "pleasantly
surprised" at the quality of contestants, and four quarter finalists are
the former students of his music school. He, too, said he would be an
encouraging judge.

"I feel the judges' roles is to push the contestants forward and point out
things they are unaware of so they can improve," he said.

Fang has eight former students among the top 24. Teased by hosts Jeff Wang
and Quan Yifeng for his trademark laughter, he may very well be the quirky
one.

"If I can combine objectivity and entertainment, why not?" he quipped.

"I believe my comments will be incisive, perhaps with some punchlines, and
hopefully contestants will remember them."

His "partner" may very well be local singer and xinyao (local ballads)
pioneer Roy Loi.

During the third round of auditions, he was the judge with witty comments.

"I just say whatever comes to my mind, I guess," he laughed when asked
about it.

"But it's because I care for this competition, because once upon a time I
was also a young man with ideals, dreaming of entering the music
industry."

And he gamely recommends his long-time friend, Billy Koh, as the one who
will assume the role of Simon Cowell, saying he was "strict" and had "high
expectations".

When asked about it, Koh, who is also repertoire director of local label
Ocean Butterflies, laughed it off by saying it depends on how the first
performance goes.

"I'll have to see how they perform before I can get a feel of how to
respond," he said.

But he is well prepared should he turn out to be the judge with stern
comments.

"I'll wear a wig when I go out next time," he quipped. "But don't worry,
I'm basically a very humorous person."



OPERA TAKES CUE FROM BAZ
------------------------
Spirits premieres tonight, hoping to make Chinese opera hip

David Chew
david.chew@newstoday.com.sg

FILM director Baz Luhrmann made Shakespeare hip enough for kids with his
Romeo + Juliet in 1996.

Now, Toy Factory Theatre artistic director Goh Boon Teck wants to do the
same for Chinese opera.

"I go to Chinese opera performances in Singapore and I don't see any young
people attending them," Goh told Today.

"As a young practitioner, I want to open a door for young people to have
fun, to create a modern aesthetic with the medium and make opera hip so
that they'd want to go!"

Spirits, which opens at the Singapore Arts Festival tonight, is the result
of that desire.

Working with his collaborator, playwright Koh Teng Liang, Goh hopes that
Spirits' "alternative format" will kindle some interest in Chinese opera
amongst the young.

Consisting of five "playlets", Spirits will see the five Chinese dynasties
being explored in chronological order.

Each episode is about how a woman brought down these empires, directly or
otherwise.

"There's this Chinese belief that some spirits and ghosts are incarnated
into women, and Chinese historians record them as bringing down the
different empires," noted Goh.

"But sometimes, it's a matter of shifting the blame to the women only."

For example, the court of an incompetent Zhou dynasty emperor held a
woman, named Bao Si, responsible for his weaknesses.

Together with Malaysian composer Saidah Rastam, Goh will be adding modern
touches to the Chinese opera production by fusing a jazz structure into
the music, changing the pacing and the delivery, for example.

Admittedly, it is difficult to stage or even practise the art of Chinese
opera in Singapore, Goh conceded.

He said: "Unlike Hong Kong or Taipei, we have no support here to do it,
from the lack of funding to the lack of schools where such artistes are
trained. And of course there is a lack of an audience too."

Add to that the fact that Chinese opera lacks someone with a "grand
vision" to save it from extinction, he added.

So, would that exponent be Goh himself then? Has Toy Factory Theatre found
a new focus?

"Well I want to do something on the scale of Robert Wilson's I La Galigo
and I've talked to the Esplanade about doing this," he said.

"But Benson Puah hasn't replied to me yet!

"Could you remind him for me?" he laughed.

The cost of Goh's vision certainly is somewhat prohibitive, one must add:
Toy Factory took three years to stage Spirits at a production cost of more
than $100,000, according to Goh.

what: Spirits

when: Until Sunday

where: Victoria Theatre;  tickets from Sistic



WHO'S READING WHAT
------------------
Model and actress Desiree Siahaan currently appears in  MediaCorp TV
Channel 5's Heartlanders and the MTV Asia series Rouge.

"I LOVE reading Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. I think I can read it
over and over again.

"It's very well-written because I could actually see the story's setting
and all the intricate details. It is the protagonist's strength and her
ability to move on in situations that intrigue me.

"The way it was described, it just felt like I could feel everything that
was going on.

"I don't read any particular genre; I read whatever calls out to me at the
moment.

"For example, if it's a biography of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly, I'd
pick it up."



LOST KIDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
-------------------------------
Sara Banerji's meeting with Britain's 'exported' children made such an
impact she wrote a novel based on their lives

David Chew
david.chew@newstoday.com.sg

IN ONE of the most misguided social interventions in recent history, Great
Britain exported 130,000 of its children between the early 1880s and 1967.

It all started as a scheme to help homeless, needy and abandoned children.

But when it became clear that the plan to care for and train these
children was getting too costly, the man behind the scheme, Thomas John
Barnardo (1845-1905), decided to ship them off to various British
colonies - from Canada to Australia - to be adopted by families there.

Barnardo - hailed as a hero then - is still recognised today as the most
influential person in child migration then.

In 1882, the first group of boys were shipped off, while the first group
of girls, a year later.

This scenario became the backdrop of British author Sara Banerji's latest
book, The Waiting Time, in which one such exported child, Julia, searches
for her lost brother and her own lost identity.

In a telephone interview with Today, Banerji revealed that as a child, she
met some of these children while they were en route to their new homes.

"When my parents decided to move to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), there were
these other children on board our ship who were being sent away from their
families, to new families," said Banerji, speaking from her home in
Oxford, England.

"I was 12 then."

The idea of children being taken from their families, to be shipped to new
ones in a different country was so horrific to her that she never forgot
that encounter.

That is why, six decades later at the age of 72, she wrote a book about
their lives and experiences - many of which turned out to be less than
happy.

"The book is really about the lost children of the empire, which they were
called then," continued Banerji, who has written seven other novels and
also teaches creative writing at Oxford University's Department for
Further Education.

"It worries me that weaker creatures are under the power of stronger ones.
Having your own parents is very important, more important than having
perfect homes.

"These children were held hostage and it was just horrible."

A succession of murders and suicides of such children in Canada that was
later documented kept this bizarre British policy in the headlines back
then.

"These children had no choice in this and were just exported like that to
various parts of the world. They had their very identity denied to them -
this lost identity and autonomy, that's what The Waiting Time is about,"
added Banerji, whose husband is Indian.

Banerji will be in town to give a talk and a reading of The Waiting Time.

The session will be chaired by Associate Professor Kirpal Singh at the
British Council (Room 306) on 14 June.

Her latest book is out in the stores.



BOOK REVIEW
-----------
Nonprofits: A comprehensive and practical guide by Art Feinglass

THERE'S never enough money to go round - especially in the charity sector.
So can one go about getting a slice of the pie?

While the Government may be advocating greater financial transparency as
the way for non-profit organisations to get more donations, this guidebook
holds up public relations as they key to their survival.

Filled with anecdotes, case studies and sample media releases, one of the
ideas put across is: "What is the sound of a tree falling in the forest if
no one is there to hear it? What is the impact of getting the organisation
in the media if no one knows about it?"

It's not a textbook with standard procedures, but it aims to stretch your
organisation's PR dollar through effective publicity campaigns.  - Tor
Ching Li



ROCK THE WORLD
--------------
Activist Bob Geldof wants to reach out to more with Live 8

LONDON - On Tuesday, Bob Geldof announced plans for a sequel to his 1985
Live Aid benefit concert and march on Edinburgh, on the eve of the G8
summit in Gleneagles.

The five-country Live 8 concerts - which will take place at a series of
historic locations in Berlin, London, Paris, Philadelphia and Rome on July
2 - will be free, with millions of people expected to apply for the
150,000 Hyde Park tickets from 8am on Monday.

Headlining in London will be Robbie Williams, REM, Sir Paul McCartney,
Keane, Scissor Sisters, Dido, Mariah Carey and the Stereophonics, while
Will Smith, the Dave Matthews Band, Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Puff Daddy
and Jay-Z will appear at the Philadelphia event.

Among the artists scheduled for Berlin are A-Ha, Crosby, Stills and Nash,
Lauryn Hill and Brian Wilson, and musicians including Faith Hill and Duran
Duran will perform at the Circus Maximus, in Rome.

Jamiroquai, Craig David,  Youssou N'Dour and Yannick Noah will take part
in the Paris concert.

Launching his plans on Tuesday, 20 years after exhorting a global audience
of 1.5 billion to "feed the world" at Live Aid, Geldof said the reprise
would give a new generation an historic opportunity to "tilt the world a
little bit on its axis in favour of the poor".

He told the billions who will watch the event globally on television and
the Internet: "You don't just get to watch, you've got to do it. The G7
leaders have promised for 30 years to double aid, but when are they going
to do it?"

He claimed Africa was now equipped for aid, had thrown off its corrupt
tyrants and insisted a deal on debt was achievable at the G8. Geldof and
fellow organiser Midge Ure called on demonstrators to travel to Scotland
after the concerts and put pressure on the G8 leaders, who meet at
Gleneagles between July 6 and 8.

Geldof promised a "massive fleets of trains, trucks, planes and private
boats" would move towards Edinburgh on July 6. He also called for the Pope
to travel to Scotland.

Live 8 is likely to dwarf its predecessor, with global viewing figures set
to double the 1.5 billion people previously. Live Aid took place at
Wembley Stadium with bands such as the Style Council, Queen, Status Quo
and Spandau Ballet, with another simultaneous show in Philadelphia. The
two events raised around 40 million ($1.2 billion) for Ethiopian famine
victims.

Geldof has continued to campaign against poverty in Africa, while British
Prime Minister Tony  Blair has made aid to the continent one of the key
themes of Britain's leadership of the G8 this year.

On Tuesday, Downing Street released news of Mr Blair's visit to Washington
DC next Tuesday. He will urge US President George Bush not to risk the
wrath of Europe by holding out on a deal to lift the debt burdens on
Africa. - Agencies



STUFFED ON  SHROOMS
-------------------
These petite stuffed mushrooms will make a popular canap at your party

Amy Van
food@newstoday.com.sg

Mushrooms are popular because they impart a lovely, earthy flavour to
dishes and they are so easy to prepare.

Rich in protein, fibre and Vitamin B, low in fat and calories, and free of
sodium and cholesterol, mushrooms are especially great for dieters and
vegetarians.

White button mushrooms, although less flavourful than other types of
fungi, are commonly used because they are so versatile and readily
available all year round.

When cooked, they have a pleasingly mild and woodsy taste. They can be
sliced and tossed with sauces, pasta or risotto; blended to make soups;
stir-fried with vegetables or used as a topping for pizzas, among other
things.

This recipe I've come up with is great as a starter or canap for parties.

You can rustle up these fuss-free bites half an hour before your guests
arrive and pop them under the grill to melt the cheese.

The button mushrooms are stuffed with a mixture of light sour cream and
breadcrumbs, and then topped with bacon bits and grated parmesan cheese.

Though more sinful, you may want to substitute sour cream with cream
cheese if you've a soft spot for cheese.

This recipe calls for just the caps of the mushrooms, so twist and detach
the stems and discard them.

Button mushrooms do not need much cooking - lightly brush the caps with
olive oil to keep them moist, stuff them, and then grill them for five to
10 minutes, and they are ready to be served.

USEFUL TIPS

On selection: Choose mushrooms that are blemish-free. They should have a
smooth and dry surface.

On storage: Always refrigerate mushrooms. Although they can keep for about
five to seven days, it's ideal to use them within several days.

Do not place them in air-tight containers as condensation will cause
premature spoilage.

If possible, keep them loose in a paper bag. Do not rinse mushrooms or
open ready-packed mushrooms until ready to use.

On preparation: To clean mushrooms, first remove the stems, then gently
wipe the caps with a damp cloth or rinse under cold water and pat dry with
paper towels. Do not soak mushrooms as they absorb water and turn mushy
when heated.

Serves 10

Ingredients

150ml light sour cream

2 to 3 tbsp breadcrumbs

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp Herbs de Provence

2 slices streaky bacon

2 tbsp olive oil, for brushing

250g The Pasar white button  mushrooms, rinsed and stemmed

2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

1 tbsp chopped spring onions

Method

1. Mix sour cream with breadcrumbs in a bowl. Season with  garlic powder
and herbs. Set aside.

2. Fry streaky bacon in a pan over medium-high heat until browned and
crispy. Drain on paper towels and cut into tiny pieces.

3. Brush oil over the mushrooms and stuff them with the sour cream and
breadcrumbs mixture. Place stuffed mushrooms on a roasting tray.

4. Sprinkle each with parmesan cheese and top with bacon bits. Place under
the grill (medium heat) for five to 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts
and turns golden brown.

5. Remove from heat, top with spring onions and serve.



AUSTRALIA: THE LURE OF ROMANCE
------------------------------
With its diverse sights and sounds, the perfect romantic getaway awaits
you Down Under ...

Ming Pang
traveller@newstoday.com.sg

CALL me biased if you want. But as someone who still calls Australia home,
I find the land Down Under the perfect place for a romantic getaway, no
matter what your inclination.

Whether you are looking for a setting that is intimate, far away from the
maddening crowd or something simply breathtaking - Australia has them all.

One of my favourite spots is the Karri Valley Resort, nestled in a region
where the Karri trees meet Lake Beedelup in Western Australia.

Try standing among these giants. Karri trees are among the tallest in the
world and you and your partner will feel like you have been transported to
a mystical land. Pack a picnic basket and take off on a spectacular forest
bush walk.

The trees tower over dense undergrowth, so you can go for a walk even when
the mercury is rising in the summer.

Couples who prefer something more sedentary can opt to just sit back,
savour the world-famous local wine and absorb the views of Lake Beedelup
from the comfort of their private balcony.

The relationship between romance and wine continues in the Barossa Valley
near Adelaide.

Unlike the convict colonies of New South Wales and Victoria, South
Australia was a planned free settlement from the beginning.

Populated by German farmers and middle-class English gentlemen, it's not
surprising that Barossa's rolling hills bristle with European influence.

It goes without saying that wine here is a way of life. To sample a little
of all of this gentility, I suggest a wine-tasting tour by bus since
driving is not a very good idea!

If buses are not for you, then I have another suggestion: Hide away in the
hills.

The Blue Mountains - not far from Sydney - are named as such because of
the way droplets of eucalyptus oil from trees mix with the atmosphere to
affect the light.

The resultant blue tinge is quite magical. No surprise that the area is
dotted with quaint bed and breakfasts, spas, retreats and cottages.

Up the romance factor and plan for a white getaway around July when winter
kicks in.

A traveller's tip: Do monitor the weather as there are only around five
snow days every year. Then again, when you are snuggled in a comfy couch
in front of a log fire in a cosy chalet, it might not matter so much what
is going on outside.

For something warmer, head over to Hayman Island Resort in the Whitsundays
off Queensland in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Asia isn't short of
island paradises, but Australia hasn't been left empty-handed either.

The respected travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, (in the United States
and the United Kingdom) has bestowed several awards on Hayman, including
"Top 3 Hotels and Resorts Worldwide".

Not only is the resort world-renowned, its surroundings have an
over-the-top feel to it.

Charter a manned yacht for a day or do it yourself (bareboating) to
discover the Great Barrier Reef. Its amazing array of coral reefs,
mollusc, fish and other colourful marine life make it the world's largest
natural wonder.

The romance meter goes off the chart at sunset. If you ask me, there is no
better way to end the day than sitting on the deck of a yacht with your
loved one, sailing on crystal clear waters and watching the sun sink into
the sea.

If you are in Sydney and have plenty of energy left after sunset, try
climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge at night.

The climb becomes much more intimate after dark. Traverse the metal
structure enclosed in a blanket of darkness with only the bridge lights
illuminating your path.

Once you complete your hike, a  360-degree view of the Sydney metropolitan
area unfolds.

Grey overalls aren't anyone's idea of a sexy outfit for a date, but the
view will undoubtedly make your heart skip a beat. What's more is that
your harness provides you enough room for top-of-the-world smooches.

Careful you don't get light-headed coming down, though.

Australia harbours dangerous critters and inhospitable bushes. But it has
a very soft side too.

All over the island continent, there are romantic escapades waiting to
take your breath away.

I love the fact that I will never finish discovering Australia's beauty.
And that's enough to make me go weak in the knees.



NZ, ADVENTURE WONDERLAND
------------------------
All manner of thrills beckon in New Zealand - you'll be back for more

Wong Fei Wan
feiwan@newstoday.com.sg

IN the fifth season of The Amazing Race, contestants had to complete the
challenge of rolling downhill in a zorb, one of the many outrageous
adventure sports invented in New Zealand.

During a trip to Rotorua, the world's first zorbing site, the opportunity
to slide in a giant inflated plastic ball proved irresistible.

As I changed, I wondered aloud whether my limbs would get tangled up with
my companion's, or if we would bang our heads silly.

None of that happened. Instead, we laughed, screamed and cheered as the
80kg zorb, which was filled with a bucket of cold water, rolled down the
mountain.

It felt as if I was in a very gentle spin cycle of a washing machine. In
fact, with the cold water splashing and sloshing in the zorb, it was
exhilarating.

If you are looking for something dry, hop on the Skyline skyrides, located
at Fairy Springs Road in Rotorua, which is in the North Island.

As the gondola moves higher and finally reaches the terminal, you will be
rewarded with a stunning view of Lake Rotorua, Mokoia Island, the city
centre and Mount Tarawera in the distance.

At the top, I tried the luge, a three-wheel cart with its own braking and
steering system.

For first-timers, the scenic 2km-long luge track is a good way to start,
with  redwood trees lining both sides of the track.

But keep a lookout for the occasional speed devil zipping past. Once you
have mastered the basic track, the intermediate or advanced luge track
will come easier.

But nothing beats the adrenalin that surged through me as I leapt 40m off
Auckland Harbour Bridge.

I began to feel nervous as the  operator strapped my feet to the cord and
guided me to the edge of the jump pod. As I looked down at the waves below
me, I froze and thought: "Hmmm, maybe not."

It took a nice lad from AJ Hackett Bungy to change my mind. He said:
"Don't look down, look straight ahead. I know you are frightened but
that's why you have to do it!"

As I leapt and plunged head down, the feeling was amazing - I felt as if I
was flying and having upside-down views of the city's skyline.

If you're really brave, tell the nice chap that you want a "teabag" -
where you are dipped into the sea for the briefest moment.

AJ Hackett Bungy also has a jump site above Kuwarau River near Queenstown
in the South Island. Established in November 1988, it is the world's first
bridge bungy.

I tried white-water rafting at this same river.

On the day I was there, the volume of water in the river was slightly low;
hence the rapids were not as rough as I'd hoped for.

But the crystal-clear water at the calmer stretches of the river, the lush
vegetation and the swim in the icy cold water made the trip unforgettable.

Jet boating is another water sport that combines fantastic views, high
speed and scream-inducing 360-degree jet spins.

At Longridge Fun Park in Te Puke, I cruised down Kaituna River. According
to our jetboat driver Geoff, the river is great for fishing eel.

Renting a car and driving in New Zealand is, as my husband and I
discovered, a fun and adventurous way to explore the country.

Speed limits on the roads vary and on certain highways - from Queenstown
to Franz Josef - the sharp bends, tight  corners and sloping roads took a
while to get used to.

The highlight of our road trip was coming face to face with over a
thousand sheep on a highway, who were on their way to breakfast.

It was amazing to see how the two sheepdogs guided the flock - I had never
seen such amazing crowd control skills.

Anyway, 30 minutes before we had to return our car on our last day in New
Zealand, we were driving down a straight road and decided to go faster to
compensate for our overly cautious  driving. We got a speeding ticket!

As he wrote out the summons, the  amiable traffic police officer asked:
"Are you enjoying New Zealand, apart from this ticket?"

You bet, and I am coming back again.

Zespri International paid for the  writer's zorbing, Skyline rides, luge
in Rotorua and bungy jumping in  Auckland as part of a media tour to  New
Zealand.



CALL OF THE WILD
----------------
As in Madagascar the movie, the island is a draw for wildlife lovers

Brenda Chew
brenda@newstoday.com.sg

IN Madagascar the movie, Marty the zebra found his animal paradise in,
well, Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean.

In real life, the island, some 400km away from the east coast of Africa,
is also a draw for those who love what Marty calls "the wildlife".

Madagascar, whose capital Antananarivo is known as "Tana" to locals, is
the fourth-largest island in the world and is about 2.5 times the size of
Great Britain.

It is divided into two regions, the "Red" and "Green" islands. The Red
Island, in the western part of the country, is semi-arid and consists of
large rivers, while the Green Island, as its name suggests, consists of
lush tropical rainforests.

Some 85 per cent of the flora and fauna - birds, mammals, reptiles,
insects, plants and trees - are unique to Madagascar. And yes, the
lemurs - whose song-and-dance routine I like to move it in the animated
film is a riot - also populate real-life Madagascar.

In fact, some 35 varieties of the furry animals can be found on this
island of  15 million people.

Many of the country's exotic floral and fauna can be found in the more
than  50 national parks and wildlife reserves.

Among them, the Montagne d'Ambre National Park, which covers almost 20,000
hectares of prominent volcano massif, is a big favourite with both locals
and tourists.

Apart from being a haven for bird-watchers - there are 73 species of birds
for visitors to spy on - the park is also home to a host of wildlife
creatures, such as frogs, geckos, snakes and blue-nosed chameleons.

Those who are more adventurous may want to check out the lesser-visited
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park.

The park was at one time almost neglected on most tourist brochures but
these days, thanks to its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is
being featured on more tour itineraries.

The vast reserve, which was opened to the public in 1998, offers visitors
a grand spectacle of eroded limestone pinnacles that shelter many species
of wildlife.

Apart from the national parks, Madagascar, with its 5,000km-long coast
makes for a great playground for sun-worshippers.

Diego Suarez, described by many as the "finest bay in the world", lies in
Madagascar's north. Here, the pristine beaches and turquoise blue waters
offer visitors a perfect place to unwind.

Then, there is the Nosy Be archipelago, a chain of tropical islands in the
country's north-west.

Many of the beaches here are dotted with hotels, restaurants and
nightspots - just the place for those looking for a beach holiday.

The island's abundant wildlife is not limited to dry land only.
Madagascar's coral reefs offer some of the most beautiful diving sites in
the world.

Divers can expect to get up close with marine turtles, manta rays and
multi-coloured fishes when they head into the island's underwater world.

If you are looking for souvenirs, check out the specialised shops and
markets selling local arts and craft.

Visit Zoma - one of the largest open-air markets in Tana, where locals,
known as the Malagasy, peddle their handicrafts.

Here, you can buy handbags, mats and carpets made of raffia, exquisite
hand-crafted statues from ebony wood, leather goods and silver jewels.



For visa and travel enquiries, contact  The Consulate of the Republic of
Madagascar in Singapore at 6223 1316, or email malagasy@consul.com.sg



QUICK TOURS
-----------
2 new flights on Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is adding two new destinations - Alexandria in Egypt and
Mashad in Iran - to its network. Yesterday saw the launch of twice-weekly
flights - on Mondays and Wednesdays - to Mashad from Doha, Qatar. From
June 9, the airline will begin thrice weekly flights to the port city of
Alexandria from Doha every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.



- For more information on the airline, log on to www.qatarairways.com

Fly with Sly on Jetstar Asia

Jetstar Asia is offering Sylvester Sim's fans a chance to fly with the
Singapore Idol runner-up to Bangkok on June 22.

The airline has announced the sale of 160 seats for Flight 3K511, which
will leave for Bangkok at 9.20am. To celebrate the launch of his new
album, Take Flight, Sylvester will hold an autograph signing session for
those joining him on the flight.



- To book, log on to JetstarAsia.com



*************************************************


SPORTS
======

GLOBAL SURVEY PICKS PARIS AS THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE FOR 2012
---------------------------------------------------------
Leong Wee Keat

weekeat@newstoday.com.sg

If the race to host the 2012 Olympics was decided by a click of a mouse,
Paris would win the vote at the International Olympic Committee's (IOC)
117th Session here on July 6.

A global survey by leading market research company firm ACNielsen,
revealed that a poll of 21,261 Internet users in 38 countries suggested
the French capital was the people's choice, ahead of bidding rivals
London, Madrid, Moscow and New York.

"The respondents in 27 out of 38 markets chose Paris as their choice for
the Olympic Games in 2012, and Madrid and London as their joint second,"
said Ashook Charan, managing director of ACNielsen Research Singapore
yesterday.

Paris came out on top in the Asia Pacific region, with 12 out of 13
countries choosing the French city as their first choice.

The Parisians ranked first in Europe and Latin America.

Singapore also backed Paris. From the 500 people polled,  29 per cent
plumped for the city, 19 per cent went for Madrid and London took 15 per
cent.

"Paris has always been an attractive tourist spot. Respondents of the
survey may not know much about sports, the Olympics, or the capability of
the bidding cities to host the Games.

"Their choice is most likely based on their perception that Paris is
probably the place they would most like to visit," said Seraphina Wee,
senior communications executive, ACNielsen Singapore.

The results come less than a week before the IOC release their Evaluation
Committee report on Monday, which is expected to have a major bearing on
the 116 IOC members before the final vote on July 6.

Paris has been favoured to win the 2012 Olympic bid for the past two
years, but IOC insiders claim the momentum generated by London during the
past year has narrowed the gap.



TOP HORSE RACE GETS RICHER
--------------------------
With greater prize money at stake, the Singapore Emirates Derby 2005
promises to be a major highlight on the horse racing calendar this year.
Yesterday, Dubai-based airline Emirates pledged to boost the prize money
by $150,000 to $800,000 for the July 17 race.

Yu Pang Fey, the Singapore Turf Club's president and chief executive,
said: "We are delighted to celebrate a solid decade of partnership with
Emirates. We have seen the Emirates Singapore Derby grow by leaps and
bounds."

Race spectators can also take part in "Pick and Win" contests, lucky draws
and best-dressed competitions throughout Derby day.



PISTONS KEEP PLUGGING AWAY
--------------------------
Focused Detroit ignore the Brown saga to level series

NBA PLAYOFFSDetroit 106 Miami 96

(Series tied 2-2)

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan - Larry Brown's uncertain future as coach was not a
distraction to the Detroit Pistons. On the contrary, it was barely in
their thoughts.

Detroit ensured that the Eastern Conference finals will last at least six
games, getting a big performance from Richard Hamilton on both ends of the
court to defeat the Miami Heat 106-96 on Tuesday (yesterday morning,
Singapore time) in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series.

Bouncing back strongly from a 2-1 deficit just as they did in the second
round against Indiana, the Pistons took the lead for good after Shaquille
O'Neal got into foul trouble midway through the first quarter and tied the
series  2-2 heading into Game 5 tonight (tomorrow morning, Singapore
time).

Game 6 will be on Saturday on Detroit's court in what could be Brown's
last home game as coach of the Pistons.

The 64-year-old Brown has met with the Cleveland Cavaliers about becoming
their president of basketball operations, though he continued to insist
after the game that he would like to continue coaching if his health
allows it.

"We've got bigger things. We're worried about the Miami Heat, not what the
coach is doing or whatever," Detroit guard Chauncey Billups said.

"We don't care about that now, we're trying to win the series, trying to
defend our championship, not worry about what's going on after the
season."

The performance was the Pistons' most dominant of the series after they
lost Games 2 and 3.

Detroit did not have a single turnover in the first-half, never let Dwyane
Wade get into a scoring groove - thanks in large part to Hamilton's
defence - and was never seriously challenged in the fourth quarter.

"We're in much better shape than we were after the other night. We all
felt this would be a great series, and hopefully that's the case," Brown
said.

"We have to find a way to win one game on the road and take care of our
own court."

Hamilton scored 28 points, Rasheed Wallace added 20, Billups had 17 and
the Pistons finished with six turnovers.

The lopsided result even allowed little-used forward Darko Milicic to see
his first playing time of the series - the final 93 seconds.

"For the night, the four main guys who they look to offensively, we didn't
do a good job on any of them," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Just a
great, great game by them. A very complete effort on their part."

O'Neal, limited by foul trouble eight minutes into the first-half, had 12
points and five rebounds.

Wade had 28 points on 10-for-22 shooting as Brown made a switch and used
Hamilton instead of Tayshaun Prince as the primary defender on the Heat's
second-year guard.

"I got every shot I wanted. I hit some and I missed some, so it wasn't a
big thing to me at all," Wade said.

Brown has three years remaining on a five-year contract, but the Pistons
have made it clear they would not stand in Brown's way if he wants to
secure a position with another club in case his health prevents him from
coaching.

"All my players ever ask is how I'm feeling," Brown said. "They know I
want to coach, that's what I do. Could you imagine me not coaching?" - AP



PHUA WANTS TO LEAVE ON A HIGH
-----------------------------
Bowling president hoping for another three-gold feat at 2006 Asiad before
new term ends

Tan Yo-Hinn
yohinn@newstoday.com.sg

Three years ago, Singapore bowling was in turmoil.

After coaching troubles and a couple of lawsuits, the Singapore Tenpin
Bowling Congress (STBC) reached their lowest point, when the Commercial
Affairs Department launched an investigation into their finances.

But now, 36 months on and after $4 million in Core Sport funding from the
Singapore Sports Council was spent to re-build their image, bowling is
ready for another assault on Asia.

This Saturday, at a launch in Orchid Country Club, STBC will officially
become the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) with a new logo.

SBF president Jessie Phua said it is all part of the grand plan to repeat
the 2002 Asian Games three-gold medal performance at next year's event in
Doha.

"Topping my wish list for Singapore bowling is at least equalling our
performance two years ago in Busan at next year's Asian Games," Phua said
yesterday.

"That would be the icing on the cake."

Phua was re-elected for a second two-year term as SBF president during
their annual general meeting on Tuesday.

She confirmed that the Doha Asian Games in December next year will be her
last major event as bowling president, as she will step down when her term
expires in July 2007.

"It would be a gross injustice to the sport if I were to stay on longer,"
said Phua, who became president in August 2002, after former chief T T Ong
abruptly resigned.

"When you come into office, you're full of energy and vigour. But as time
passes, your energy ebbs and creativity dries up. For the sport's future,
new people with new ideas and energy are needed.

"Whatever happens, this will be my last term as president."

The meeting saw the election of a new 12-member council, streamlined from
the original 18 as part of the new-look SBF.

In the past two years, bowling has launched several initiatives and forked
out considerable funds to increase the talent pool in the country,
including the Secondary Schools League and National League.

The Tertiary League will kick off next month, while the Primary Schools
League will be launched next year.

SBF have also appointed Mike Lam to head their youth committee to promote
and develop the sport in schools.

"The past two years or so were spent rebuilding our reputation," said
Phua. "Now is the time to look into promoting the sport more
aggressively."

While the SBF's biggest name remains Remy Ong (2002 Asian Games triple
gold medallist and 2004 Qatar Open champion), the likes of Valerie Teo
(2004 Asian Youth Championship double gold medallist), Tay Hui Yiang (2004
World Youth Championship silver medallist) and 2005 Commonwealth
Championship women's doubles champions Jennifer Tan and Evelyn Chan could
well follow in his footsteps soon.

SBF Council (Jun 2005-May 2007)

Executive committee: Jessie Phua (president), Francis Teo
(vice-president), Wee Hock Ho (honorary secretary), Sam Ho (assistant
honorary secretary), Thomas Koh (treasurer), Belinda Young (assistant
treasurer) Council: Florence Khemlani, Mike Lam, Loke Pai Chuen, Amas Tan,
Sunny Tan, Tang Wai Yih



O'DONELL TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR BIZARRE DEPARTURE
---------------------------------------------------
Jose Raymond
jose@newstoday.com.sg

THERE has never been such a bizarre resignation before.

Just 10 minutes into their  S-League match against Tampines Rovers on
Tuesday, Geylang United released a statement, informing the media that
their coach, Scott O'Donell, had stepped down.

The Eagles went on to suffer their worst S-League defeat since the
competition kicked off in 1996, losing 7-0 to the Stags, which raises the
obvious question: Why announce their coach's resignation during the match?

Yesterday, O'Donell revealed that it was largely his decision, when he
said: "I wanted the players to focus on the game and not get distracted.

"Even though the decision was made 10 days ago, I wanted to be the one to
tell the players."

But the Australian is disappointed to have left after suffering the
heaviest defeat of his professional career.

"I had truly wanted to leave the club on a high note and even though we
were down 2-0 at half time, I honestly felt that there was a way back for
us," said the 38-year-old, who led the Eagles to the semi-finals of the
Asian Football Confederation Cup last year.

"But unfortunately, it didn't happen. This is certainly not the way I
wanted to leave the club."

The Eagles, who are currently third from bottom in the table, went into
the match without regular defenders Mohd Noh Rahman, Fathi Yunus, Syed
Fadhil and Jerry Barthomoleusz.

Even first-choice goalkeeper Shahril Jantan was sidelined after he picked
up an injury a day before the match.

But Shahril refused to blame the humiliating defeat on his departing
coach. "I have no problem with O'Donell leaving," the keeper said.

"Tampines were just too good for us. If we had a full squad to face them,
I am sure the scoreline would have been different."

Rumours are rife that O'Donell was a tough disciplinarian and one or two
players were unhappy with his strict regime, but the 2003 S-League Coach
of the Year said that he had no man-management issues and refused to blame
the players.

 "Honestly, we should not be where we are with the players we have," he
said. "Which is why I felt that perhaps it was time for me to take
responsibility and step aside."

Club sources told Today that O'Donell approached Eagles chairman Patrick
Ang following the 4-1 loss to Albirex Niigata two weeks ago, which came
after a 3-0 drubbing by Home United a week earlier.

Looking ahead, the former Tampines Rovers and Marine Castle defender is
convinced that the Eagles will turn the corner with former technical
director Seak Poh Leong and Geylang Prime League coach Darren Stewart at
the helm.

Said O'Donell: "I am sure they will be able to take the club back to where
they should rightfully be."



18 HOLES IN UNDER  4 MINS SETS RECORD
-------------------------------------
Eighteen Singaporean golfers are set to dash their way into the Guinness
Book of World Records, after they lowered  the mark for the fastest game
of golf  yesterday.

The group, with handicaps between  2 and 10, completed the game at Batam's
Tering Bay Golf and Country Club in  3 minutes and 59 seconds.

They shaved some 4 minutes and 8 seconds off the previous world record.

Each of the 18 golfers played one hole each simultaneously and were timed
individually. The longest time recorded represented the overall time for
the team.

The event was organised by Record Breakers Singapore, who will now submit
the feat to Guinness.

Despite having two professional golfers in the group, the 18 participants
were still nervous before they teed off.

 "The pressure was certainly on once the play began as every stroke
counted towards completing my part of the course. It was a challenge
because I knew that if I stumbled I'd cause the team to slow down," said
golfer Gary Kwek.

"It was a rare opportunity to break a world record and I'm glad to have
been a part of it." - Leong Wee Keat



SWEDE SMELL OF SUCCESS
----------------------
Having faced Santos and United, Stockholm coach Stahre fancies his team's
trophy chances

20TH LION CITY CUP
AIK Stockholm under-18s v Malaysia under-18s
Eric Ding
sports@newstoday.com.sg

SANTOS are famous for taking promising footballers and turning them into
legends.

Pele, Kaka and, most recently, Robinho progressed through the youth ranks
of the Brazilian club, who are famed for their samba football.

But Santos' latest crop of youngsters were defeated 1-0 by AIK Stockholm
in the Blue Stars/Fifa Youth Cup in Switzerland last month.

That's why the Swedish club believe they can triumph at the 20th Lion City
Cup. AIK Stockholm take on Malaysia's under-18s at the Tampines Stadium
today (5pm) in the tournament's opening game.

They will also face Australia's Football West under-18 and Singapore Team
A and Team B in the under-18 category.

And their preparations have been exemplary.

Aside from subduing the samba boys from Santos, they also took on another
club who boast one of the world's finest youth academies.

After beating Santos and PAOK FC of Greece 1-0, they faced Manchester
United in the final. They lost 2-0, but the experience was invaluable.

Head coach Mikael Lennarttage Stahre (picture), 29, said: "We have been
playing regularly at the highest level and we  will take the experience of
playing  some of the world's top teams into this tournament."

Defender Johan Elias Vega Casas, who has been with the club for nine
years, agreed, when he said: "Manchester United are one of the biggest
clubs in Europe and the opportunity to play against their youngsters was a
real treat for us."

"The English side showed their superiority with their fast flowing
football and we gained a lot despite the defeat," added Brwa Hekmat Nouri,
who is also a Swedish under-18 international.

This is the fifth time the Swedish club have entered a side in the Lion
City Cup, which they won back in 1997.

They are the reigning champions in the 2004 Swedish youth championship and
are currently top of the standings.

But they are keen to take time out from the domestic competition to test
themselves against Asia-Pacific sides.

 "We took a three-week break from our league competition to be involved
here," said Ulf Goran Andersson, media officer for AIK Stockholm.

"Competing here gives our team  exposure to different kinds of football
around the world.

"I have been with the team on all four previous occasions and the players
all responded positively."

Three first-team players at the club now - Gabriel Petrovic, Jonas
Porsberg and Mattias Mostrom - were part of the 1999 Lion City Cup squad
that came to Singapore.

"It was in the Lion City Cup tournament where they excelled and earned a
professional contract with the club," added 49-year-old Andersson.

"Many of the players in this current youth team will be determined to
impress or they risk being asked to leave the club at the end of the
season."

Like many European sides who visit Singapore, AIK Stockholm's biggest
opponent could be the weather.

"It will not be easy for the team as they have to acclimate to the drastic
weather change," said coach Stahre.

"But if they were able to compete against the best sides from around the
world last month, they should do well in this tournament."



THE LOWDOWN ON THE LION CITY CUP
--------------------------------
Since the inaugural tournament in 1977, the Lion City Cup has become one
of the premier Asean youth tournaments.

In the 20th edition, which kicks off tonight, 10 teams will compete for
the trophy in two categories - under-16 and under-18. In the under-18
category are AIK Stockholm, Malaysia, Australia's Football West and
Singapore Team A (all under-18), along with Singapore Team B (under-17).
In the under-16 category are Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore Team A
(under-16) and Singapore Team B (under-15)

The teams will play each other in a one-legged round robin format, with
the top two teams meeting in the final on June 20. Singapore's under-18,
coached by V. Sundramoorthy, are the defending champions and the Republic
have won the Cup on four occasions (1977,1978, 1995 and 2004).

Under-18 fixtures

DateTimeMatchStadium

Tonight5pmAIK Stockholm v Malaysia Tampines

7.30pmSingapore Team B v Football West Tampines

Tomorrow5pmSingapore Team A v AIK StockholmBishan

7.30pmMalaysia v Football West  Bishan

Sunday5pmSingapore Team A v Football West Yishun

7.30pmSingapore Team B v Malaysia Yishun

June 65pmFootball West v AIK StockholmHougang

7.30pmSingapore Team A v Singapore Team BHougang

June 85pmSingapore Team B v AIK Stockholm Yishun

7.30pmSingapore Team A v MalaysiaYishun

June 109am3rd Placed Team v 4th Placed TeamQueenstown

7pm1st Placed Team v 2nd Placed TeamTampines

Under-16 fixtures

Tonight5pmSingapore Team A v MalaysiaClementi

7.30pmSingapore Team B v Hong Kong Clementi

Tomorrow5pmBrunei Under-16 v Hong Kong Choa Chu Kang

7.30pmSingapore Team B v Malaysia Choa Chu Kang

Sunday5pmSingapore Team A v Hong KongToa Payoh

7.30pmSingapore Team B v BruneiToa Payoh

June 65pmMalaysia Under-16 v Brunei Clementi

7.30pmSingapore Team B v Singapore Team AClementi

June 85pmHong Kong v Malaysia Clementi

7.30pmSingapore Team A v Brunei Clementi

June 109am3rd Placed Team v 4th Placed TeamClementi

5pm1st Placed Team v 2nd Placed TeamTampines

Admission is free for all matches



ORCHIDS REACH LAST FOUR
-----------------------
IN a one-sided Causeway clash, the Singapore Orchids became the first team
in Division B to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2005 World Women
Floorball Championship after they defeated Malaysia 5-1 in their final
group match last night.

With Denmark beating Hungry 7-1 earlier, the floorballers needed only a
win to reach the last four and they reached the target in some style,
racing to  a 4-0 lead to kill off the contest.

The Orchids will face either the United States or Germany in the Division
B semi-finals on Saturday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

"The semi finals could be very tough. Singapore, the United States and
Germany are pretty even.

"But with home advantage and our fans backing us, hopefully we can go all
the way," said Orchids coach Filip Dahlgren.

Siti Melissa, who scored her first goal of the tournament against
Malaysia, is certainly optimistic.

"I have faith in the team and I believe we can go all the way to the
final," she said.

- Leong Wee Keat



HEADING FOR HALF CENTURY
------------------------
Owen will reach magical 50 mark, says England coach

FOOTBALL FRIENDLY

Colombia 2 England 3

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - Jimmy Greaves was arguably the greatest goal
poacher ever to wear an England jersey, but he never made it.

Another fine penalty box predator, Gary Lineker, also missed out. Bobby
Charlton's goals guided his country towards World Cup glory in 1966, but
even he finished one short of the half century.

No Englishman has ever scored 50 times for his country, but current
manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is convinced that Michael Owen will be the
first to reach the milestone.

The Real Madrid striker scored a hat-trick to spark England past Colombia
3-2 in a football friendly on Tuesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time),
earning them a clean sweep of their two-game US tour.

The 25-year-old forward rose to fourth on the all-time England goal list
with his 30th, 31st and 32nd career goals for his homeland, who have never
lost to Colombia.

It was the first hat-trick for England since Owen's remarkable three-goal
effort in a 5-1 victory at Germany in 2001.

"I'm sure he will do it," his manager said, when asked if his favourite
striker will reach 50. "Michael's one of the best finishers in the world.
I can't think of anyone I have ever worked with who is any better.

"He has shown that again here with three fantastic goals. That's 32 for
him yet he's still a young man at 25. He's been doing it for years."

Owen certainly has plenty of time on his side to overtake Greaves on 44
and Lineker's total of 48 before setting his sights on Charlton's all-time
high.

Not surprisingly, Owen's luggage as he left the stadium included the match
ball, signed by all his team-mates. "It's been a great end of season for
me because I scored for Real Madrid at the weekend as well," he said. "The
important goal was the first one because that put me level with Alan
Shearer on 30.

"I'm delighted that I have finally done it."

Owen also insisted that he has not been swayed by Manchester United's
reported interest in bringing him back to England, saying he wants to stay
at Real Madrid and win a first trophy with the club.

"I'm very happy in Madrid. A lot has been spoken about my future but I
have really enjoyed my time in Spain," he said. "My situation is fine.
I've played a lot of games, I'm getting more used to the language and
living there, and I feel I've had a good season.

"I started the last 10 games, which were important ones as we tried to get
back into the championship, and it's been good." - Agencies



OVERSHADOWED RUSSIAN  DUO FAVOUR GRIT OVER GLAMOUR
--------------------------------------------------
TENNIS

French Open, women's semi-finals

PARIS - Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova may have grabbed the headlines
and the money, but Nadia Petrova and Elena Likhovtseva insist there's grit
as well as glamour in Russian tennis.

The unheralded duo are one match away from setting up a second successive
all-Russian French Open women's final at Roland Garros, but both prefer to
be recognised for their physical abilities on the court and not their
earning capacity off it.

Last year Anastasia Myskina, fresh from a photo-shoot for a men's magazine
saw off blonde compatriot Elena Dementieva for the championship.

However, 22-year-old Petrova, still without a career title to her name,
claims she is not concerned about the mega-money being pocketed by her
fellow Russians.

"I don't care about all that," said Petrova, who faces former champion
Justine Henin-Hardenne today for a place in Saturday's final.

"I am who I am and I'm playing tennis for myself and for my family. I
don't care what people say and I think that looks shouldn't dictate what
you do."

In 2004, Sharapova won Wimbledon, Myskina was champion here while Svetlana
Kuznetsova went on to claim the US Open, pushing the likes of Petrova and
Likhovtseva further into the shadows.

But Petrova, the world No 9, refused to panic.

"I was trying not to let any doubts bother me. I was just saying to
myself, 'Be patient, your time will come'," she said. "It doesn't happen
overnight. It takes time to do it."

Likhovtseva is 29 and preparing for her first Grand Slam semi-final, where
she faces another former champion in France's Mary Pierce.

She's made a comfortable living from the game, picking up three titles
along the way, and is not concerned about being one of the forgotten
Russians.

"I really don't care about that," said Likhovtseva. "The worst thing that
can happen to me is that I lose. It's not the end of the world." - AFP

Yesterday's result - men's quarter-final:  Mariano Puerta (Arg) bt
Guillermo Canas (Arg x9) 6-2, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4



CHELSEA, COLE AND MOURINHO ALL FOUND GUILTY
-------------------------------------------
LONDON - Jose Mourinho, Ashley Cole (picture) and Chelsea are going to pay
the price for their brief meeting.

All three parties have been found guilty of breaching Premier League rules
following allegations of the London club "tapping up" the England
defender.

An independent commission gave their verdict after meeting at the Premier
League's headquarters in London yesterday.

All three are expected to receive unprecedented fines of up to 250,000
($758,000) when their punishments are announced, although they will have
14 days to appeal against those punishments.

Cole, who is under contract at Arsenal until 2007, jetted in from New York
to attend the meeting just hours after playing for England in their 3-2
win over Colombia.

He was found in breach of Premier League rule K5, which prohibited him
from approaching any other club with a view to negotiating a transfer,
without permission from Arsenal. Chelsea and Mourinho were found guilty of
"tapping up" Cole at a hotel meeting in which the player was found to be a
willing participant.

The club were deemed to have broken rule K3, forbidding them approaching
Cole by any means while he is under contract.

Chelsea coach Mourinho was in breach of rule Q, which governs managers'
conduct.

The Premier League acted following reports in January that Cole, Mourinho
and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon met in a London Hotel, launching
a probe seven days after the allegations. - AFP



PURISTS WON'T ADMIT IT, BUT BE HONEST 
---------------------------------------
THE  PENALTY SHOOTOUT  IS COOL

Thursday with Rohit Brijnath
news@newstoday.com.sg

SOME traditionalists shudder and cross themselves furiously when
confronted by modernity, as if it is some outrageous profanity. Men
brought up on Cole Porter turn incredulous grey at the rattle of rap;
those brought up on extra time and the replay turn purple with rage at the
idea of penalty shootouts.

Blasphemers who embrace shootouts are seen as bereft of all aesthetic
sense, dangerous upstarts who are traitors to a moral tradition and who
probably dance to Michael Jackson's music when alone at home.

As Brian Glanville wrote of the 1994 World Cup Final: "Penalties it would
be, a dire, disgraceful and dishonourable conclusion to the game's
greatest competition".

So it is with sheepish tone and shuffling feet that I profess to not being
totally averse to this drama of the damned, which reared its head in the
Champions League Final, where Liverpool triumphed over AC Milan and the FA
Cup Final, where Arsenal prevailed against Manchester United.

Shootouts are not fair apparently, but since when has sport been fair?

Of course, this was not always the case. When a thuggish Harald
Schumacher, a German goalkeeper who clearly worked in an abattoir in his
spare time, used his trickery and (and, alas, yes) skills to break this
youthful heart in 1982 and knock Platini's sophisticated French out of the
World Cup, then Glanville spoke for me when he wrote "abominably,
irrationally and unforgivably, a World Cup semi-final would be decided,
for the first time ever, on penalties".

In time, the heart healed and my view altered. Occasionally, I even listen
to rap.

Of course, traditionalists have sound arguments against shootouts, viewing
them as unfitting conclusions to grand contests, like the pulsating AC
Milan-Liverpool European Final. It was a game alive with ingenuity,
imagination, strength of sinew and of character, advertising keenly so
many of football's fine virtues, not least of them the valour that propels
comebacks. None of this would be found in a description of the shootout.

The shootout is a fast-food end to a five-course meal for them, a
practical invention in a game of the heart. Schedules are overcrowded and
replays are not always possible, though in a World Cup Final, an exception
is probably required. Restrictions on time must not get in the way of
history.

Shootouts are routinely described as lotteries, where success is
determined less by design than chance. It is seen to rebel against the
soul of the game, its free-flowing majesty reduced to a static contest, a
team sport improbably condensed into a duel between individuals. One
hundred and twenty minutes of imagination is finally decided by a
goalkeepers' guesswork.

But the shootout promises a finish, unfitting perhaps, but a conclusion at
least. Sport at its most basic is about winning and losing, and the
shootout, if nothing else, carries with it the guarantee of an outcome.
Spectators come to see beautiful football, but also demand a result. Those
who say "no team deserved to lose today" often miss the very essence of
competition.

Shootouts bring with them a heightened, almost unbearable, tension and
this is sport, too - you want to look away, but you can't. Russian
roulette comes to mind.

Here, too, ritual is everything. Swift prayers sit on lips, fans will link
arms, as will teams, as if their joint spirit will somehow flow into the
man who is taking the next penalty.

Before it starts, goalkeepers will be kissed luck on their dreadful
journeys by team-mates. In truth it should be the opposite way around,
for, oddly enough, the shootout is more generous to goalkeepers than it is
to strikers. Here, the goalkeeper can be hero, but never failure, almost
the reverse of what usually occurs in normal play, and it is a neat
reassigning of roles.

Nerve is everything here, or is it? Most will say practising is pointless,
for the moment cannot be simulated, yet repeated practice at least brings
some level of assurance. Perhaps it is a bit of both, and some coaches
have their players bet on the outcome in practice to recreate the
pressure. Whatever, a seemingly routine act becomes footballing life and
death, and raucous arenas suddenly still like a church.

Men take the long walk to the spot as if approaching a hanging, often
their own. Out here, ask Robert Baggio, reputations count for nothing.

Some kick left, others right, those with chutzpah kick straight. Some run
seven metres and blast, others stand over the ball, feint with their hips
and chip. When players miss, stomachs lurch, tears fall and cries of the
devil's work abound.

Goalkeepers are alive with trickery. Some will walk up and eyeball
strikers, others will place the ball on the spot only for strikers to
replace it. In 1984, when Liverpool last won the European Cup, goalkeeper
Bruce Grobelaar almost did a drunk's impersonation on the line. Last week,
Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek, as if to both distract and make his goal seem
smaller, waved his arms, danced, jinked, and even, illegally, came way off
his line, but it worked.

Penalty shootouts may not be satisfying but they are thrilling, not
footballing justice for some perhaps, but compelling theatre. Neither
golden goal nor silver has really worked and playing on is no guarantee of
anything but limp players with nothing left to give. The absurd suggestion
of pulling off a player from each team after every five minutes of
regulation time is an even greater embrace of gimmickry.

Football's penalty solution may be an aching one, but still the best one.



*************************************************


SUPPLEMENTS
===========

IT'S SHOWTIME!
--------------
GET great deals and promotions on the latest digital hardware and software
at the PC Show 2005.

One of Asia's largest computer shows, the PC Show promises fantastic
prices on your IT buys, including audio-visual equipment, digital cameras,
notebooks, MP3 players, personal digital assistants, printers, monitors
and hard disk drives.

Gaming enthusiasts, too, will be spoilt for choice. Games 2005, which will
be held in conjunction with the PC Show, will feature a slew of gaming,
animation and multimedia products.

More than 400 vendors will showcase their wares at the 10,000-sqm
exhibition hall at Singapore Expo. Choose from big names like Sony, Acer,
HP and Dell, NEC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Brother,
Ranger, Creative Technology and Shiro. In addition, shoppers stand a
chance to win $10,000 at the grand lucky draw.

Today brings you some of the highlights that you can find at the
exhibition, including some of the value-for-money bundles offered and
exciting product debuts.

what: The PC Show 2005

where: Hall 6, Singapore Expo

when: Till Sunday, 11am to 8pm

admission: Free



SURFING IN  THE FAST LANE
-------------------------
You won't like it when a slow Internet connection gets in the way of your
fun and productivity

Increasingly, web users are using the Internet to download and transmit
rich content such as audio and video files.

And there are also the  bandwidth-hungry online games where the difference
between fun and excitement, and annoyance hang on speed.

The Internet also lets users efficiently transfer large files such as
complex spreadsheets, electronic blueprints, legal documents and animated
multimedia clips or presentations.

Even business users use the Internet for important applications such as
videoconferences, peer-to-peer applications, file-sharing and working from
home.

All of these uses require high bandwidth, which comes in the form of
broadband.

In Singapore, fixed line users can choose between an Asymmetric Digital
Subscriber Line (ADSL), and a cable broadband connection.

ADSL - which utilises existing copper wired telephone networks - uses a
wide range of frequencies over an existing telephone line to deliver data
at high speeds.

Although the ADSL broadband connection may run on the same telephone line
at home that is being used for voice calls, the user can carry on a
conversation over the phone while surfing the Internet - simultaneously.

Unlike cable modem-based broadband services, the ADSL connection from the
customer to the nearest network node is not shared with other customers.

"This eliminates one of the  bottlenecks that can cause the service to
slow down when neighbours are consuming megabytes," noted the DSL Forum,
an international industry consortium of more than 200 leading service
providers, equipment manufacturers and other interested parties focused on
developing the full potential of broadband DSL to meet the needs of the
mass market.

"Cable modem services share a neighbourhood pipe, competing with
neighbourhood cable modem, digital TV, cable channel, and voice traffic
for the available bandwidth," it added.

Unlike circuit-switched telephone networks - where a caller is allocated a
dedicated connection - cable modem users do not occupy a fixed amount of
bandwidth during their online session. Instead, they share the network
with other active users.

Cable modems use the television cable network.  A single downstream
television channel supports downstream data throughput from the cable
headend. This upstream and downstream bandwidth is shared by the active
data subscribers connected to a given cable network segment.

Because cable modem systems rely on a shared access platform - much like
an office LAN - there are concerns that cable modem broadband consumers
will see poor performance in terms of latency (the time taken for the data
to reach the user's computer) as the number of subscribers increases on
the network.

Being asymmetric, ADSL uses most of the channel to transmit downstream to
the user and only a small part to receive information from the user.

The always-on ADSL network is generally offered at downstream data rates
from 512 kilobits per second (kbps) to about 3,500kbps.

Upstream rates are between 256kbps to 350kbps - enough to send files
through email or pages to a website.

Specifically, for consumer broadband, the upload speed is 256kbps to 350
kbps, for business broadband upload speed is 256kbps to 512kbps.



*************************************************


SINGAPORE NEWS
==============

BAD PRESS CAUSING DECLINE IN S'POREAN VISITORS: JOHOR OFFICIALS
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOHOR BARU - Singapore's negative media reports on crime in Johor may have
adversely affected tourist arrivals from the republic last year.

 Statistics from the Johor Tourism Action Council showed that the number
of Singaporeans entering the country dropped from 10.8 million in 2003 to
9.8 million last year.

Johor Tourism and Environment Committee chairman Freddie Long said
Singapore's media had played up criminal statistics and crimes in the
state.

"Their media, both print and electronic, seem to have a particular liking
for crime stories in Johor. They have an agenda on their mind, though we
are not exactly sure what it is."

He added: "However, what is clear is the drastic drop in the number of
their citizens visiting our country. We hope the republic's media will be
more  sensitive when reporting on criminal statistics and crimes in Johor,
as about 85 per cent of Singaporeans enter Malaysia via Johor,"

The main entry points for Singaporeans are at the Causeway here and the
Second Link in Tanjung Kupang, which are among 12 entry points in the
state.

The arrivals of Singaporeans peaked in 2002 with 13.7 million, dropping to
11.8 million in 2001. However, their arrivals had dropped to 10.8 million
two years ago due to the Sars pandemic.



CIVIL SERVANTS TO GET BOOST IN SALARIES
---------------------------------------
SINGAPORE'S civil servants will get a mid-year Annual Variable Component
(AVC) of 0.4 month and an additional one-off payment of $200 in next
month.

The Public Service Division (PSD) announcement comes a day after the
Government accepted the National Wages Council's latest guidelines.

A statement from the Public Service Division says the economy grew by 2.5
per cent in the first quarter this year, signalling a moderation in growth
compared with last year. In view of the weaker-than-expected performance
of the economy, the Trade and Industry Ministry has revised this year's
GDP growth forecast downwards, from between 3 per cent and 5 per cent to
between 2.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent.

The $200 payment - which will form a bigger percentage of the salaries of
the lower divisional staff - is intended to narrow the wage differential
between the higher and lower divisions. This is in line with the NWC's
call for employers to give higher increases to low-wage workers as their
wage growth has fallen behind lately.

Responding to the PSD's announcement, the National Trades Union Congress
(NTUC) said it had come after close consultation and negotiations over two
days between unionists and PSD.

"We are glad that PSD has taken our views into consideration and
recognised our workers' contribution. In the context of a weaker economic
outlook and slower employment growth, the settlement is fair," said Madam
Halimah Yacob, NTUC assistant secretary-general.

"We believe that this year's Civil Service Mid-Year Payment would bring
cheer to our civil servants, particularly the lower income ones, who will
benefit more from the additional dollar quantum."



GUESS WHO'S RUNNING SCARED?
---------------------------
Free newspapers get bigger slice of pie, traditional media feel the bite

SEOUL - First, a disclaimer. This newspaper did not commission this
article. But, a conference of newspaper executives heard yesterday that
while the traditional print media grapples with how to make money out of
the digital revolution, a new publishing model - the free paper - is
stealing readers in significant numbers.

Whether seen as the print media's version of fast food which will never
replace solid nutrition or as a bold attempt to answer to changing needs
of a new generation of readers, free newspapers are making a big statement
in the media business.

"Free newspapers have had a major impact in most major commuting cities.
They are not going to go away," leading newspaper designer Mario Garcia
told the conference.

For Florida-based Mr Garcia, there is no downside to the inroads made by
groups like Metro International, which sprang up in Sweden 10 years ago
and has gone global at high speed.

He said that free newspapers inspired the movement to tabloid format,
another major development examined at the three-day World Newspaper
Congress and World Editors Forum, which ended yesterday.

Mr Carlos Oliva-Velez, vice president of Metro, gave an address to media
executives entitled "From 0 to 15 million readers in 10 years" in which he
described the trajectory of the firm.

It is now the third best-selling title in the world after Japan's Yomiuri
Shimbun and Asahi Shibum and is published in 16 languages in local
editions in 78 cities.

Madrid-based Mr Oliva-Velez said the format works because its blend of
unbiased and objective news "attracts young and educated readers".

Pelle Tornberg, Metro International president, is frank about his
intentions towards paid-for rivals.

"Traditional newspapers look at us as thieves and criminals that are there
to steal their readers," he recently told the International Herald
Tribune. "They're right."

In a report on newspaper trends, the World Association of Newspapers,
which ran the conference, said free newspapers had made impressive
advances notably in Europe, taking  40 per cent of the market in Spain, 29
per cent in Italy,  27 per cent in Denmark and  25 per cent for Portugal.

Average weekday distribution of free newspapers stood at more than 21
million with more than half in Europe and 4.5 million in North America.
Next came Asia with 3.7 million free newspapers distributed daily.

A similar pattern has been witnessed with Today newspaper in Singapore,
which in the most recent Neilsen Media Research Survey, emerged as the
fastest growing newspaper in the country, with 524,000 readers.

At the conference, many mainstream media executives worried about an
erosion of quality and a threat to their  bottom line represented by a
growing public perception propagated by free newspapers - not to mention
free Internet access to news providers - that news is a free commodity.

"We need to get our readers off the idea that quality news can be got for
free," said  Mr Arthur Sulzberger, chairman of the New York Times Company.
"Our newsrooms are expensive." - AFP

The tabloid argument: Page 18



SINGAPORE SNIPPETS
------------------
Second man charged with woman's murder

A second man, Muhammad Kadar, 29, has been charged with the murder of a
69-year-old woman in Boon Lay on May 6. Madam Tham Weng Kuan was found in
the living room of her flat.

Her daughter, Madam Loh Yin Leng, had called the police when no one came
to the door. Madam Tham's husband, Mr Loh Siew Kow, 69, was at home but he
could not shout for help as he is bedridden and unable to speak because of
a stroke. On May 9, Ismil Kadar, 37, was charged with her murder. -
Channel NewsAsia

Contest launched to name low-cost terminal

The contest is on to find a name for Singapore's new low-cost terminal in
Changi which is expected to be ready next year.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore is looking for a name that best
reflects the terminal's role and function. Submit your entry by end-July
and if you win, you will get $2,000 and a 3G mobile phone. Participants
also stand to win four 3G mobile phones and 12 pairs of air tickets to
Asian destinations in a lucky draw.

The contest is open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Forms are
available at community libraries, arrival halls and Changi Airport's
website.  - Channel NewsAsia

Actor fined for using mobile while driving

Veteran actor Leong Nyet Chin, better known as Liang Tian, was yesterday
fined $1,000 and disqualified from driving for eight months for using a
mobile phone while driving. He also had his mobile phone forfeited.

The 62-year-old, who plays supporting roles in Channel 8 drama serials,
committed the offence last November.  - NewsRadio 93.8

Policeman jailed 20 months for corruption

A policeman has been sentenced to 20 months jail after pleading guilty to
corruption charges. V N Arasakumar accepted bribes totalling $13,350 from
pub operators and former triad members. In return, he used his influence
to protect their interests.

The station inspector attached to the Secret Societies Branch committed
these offences over a year. - NewsRadio 93.8

Housewife jailed  for abusing maid

A 33-year-old housewife, Pauline Ang, has been jailed for 5 months after
admitting to ill-treating her 24-year-old maid by punching, slapping and
caning her. The court heard this abuse started in August 2002 and went on
for one-and-a-half years. In mitigation, Ang said she was suffering from
marital problems. - NewsRadio 93.8



FIRST STEP TO PRESIDENCY
------------------------
Just fill in these forms ... and fulfil some eligibility criteria

Derrick A Paulo
derrick@newstoday.com.sg

"Hi, I'd like to collect the application form for the certificate of
eligibility for the elected presidency."

"Is it for yourself?" asked the Elections Department staff behind the
counter.

"It's for an acquaintance."

"Can I have your IC, please?" she asked, before going to get the forms.

Returning, she asked for the name of my "acquaintance" - for "record
purposes" - before handing over a sealed envelope.

Thus, the process of collecting the application form for the Certificate
of Eligibility for this year's presidential contest took all of two
minutes, as Today discovered at the Elections Department yesterday.

Filling up the form should also be simple enough for candidates the likes
of ministers, permanent secretaries, heads of the Fifth Schedule Statutory
Boards (CPF Board, HDB, JTC and MAS) or heads of companies with a paid up
capital of $100 million.

They have to provide their particulars and employment history,
substantiated by documents, and state whether they have been "convicted of
any offence by a court of law in Singapore or elsewhere".

For those who have not held such office, they must have held a position of
"seniority and responsibility" in an organisation of sufficient size and
complexity in the public or private sector, which they must detail in the
form.

The required data includes the organisation's financial status, names of
the board of directors and any civil or criminal penalties issued against
it - which must be verified by the company secretary and auditors.

All applicants must make a statutory declaration before a Justice of the
Peace or Commissioner of Oaths about the veracity of the furnished
information.

There are also forms for three references to provide a "frank and honest"
evaluation of the applicant and state "any adverse aspects" to his or her
character, integrity and reputation.

Yesterday, two more persons went to the Elections Department to collect
the form, including Mr Ooi Boon Ewe who tried to be certified eligible -
unsuccessfully - during the 1999 presidential contest.

Then, he was a private tutor. Now in the real estate business, Mr Ooi told
the media he is aware he would still be ineligible, but said that he could
get the signatures of between 100 and 1,000 people to support his
candidacy.

He added, however, that he has not decided whether he would submit the
forms this time.

Mr Ooi also put himself up for election as an independent candidate in the
2001 General Elections against Minister of State for Education Chan Soo
Sen in the Joo Chiat ward. He obtained 16.5 per cent of the votes to get
his election deposit back.

As for the deposit for the presidential elections, an amount has not been
fixed yet, said the Elections Department. In 1999, it was $30,000 and
prior to that, $18,000.

The other person to collect the form yesterday, an Indian Singaporean, was
not identified.

Four forms were issued on Tuesday, with lawyer and grassroots leader Toh
Weng Cheong taking two  sets. In 1999, it was  Mr Toh who handed in
President S R Nathan's application for eligibility.



CORPORATE EXERCISE WITH A HEART
-------------------------------
First Singapore Executive Expedition returns from Bhutan, having helped
empower disabled kids

Derrick A Paulo in Bhutan
derrick@newstoday.com.sg

Everywhere that Aaron Lam went, his little Bhutanese friend, Jigmi, was
sure to follow.

When the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) director had lunch, Jigmi would sit
with him and share his food. If Mr Lam was talking with a group of people,
Jigmi would come by and sit next to him.

Mr Lam has now returned to Singapore from Bhutan. Jigmi remains in his
country. But the disabled boy has left a lasting impression on the
Singaporean executive.

For Mr Lam and the other members of the Singapore International
Foundation's first Singapore Executive Expeditions (SXX), the 17-day visit
was meant to develop responsible leadership. But it also left its mark on
the people they met, especially the children they helped.

"Kids are pure. If they like you, they tell you. If they don't, they let
you know. Jigmi seems to have established a strong attraction to me  I
think we're leaving with a lot of attachment here," said Mr Lam.

PwC had selected him and  14 other employees - all senior managers,
directors or partners - from Singapore and across the region to join the
SXX and work on service projects in Bhutan.

Armed with a printer, four computers, books and toys donated by the
company and its staff, the team set up a library-cum-computer classroom
for the Draktsho Vocational Training Centre for the Disabled in the
capital city, Thimphu.

They bought software applications and taught the centre's staff and
children how to use the program as well as arranged for an IT vendor in
the city to address the centre's future needs. The project cost $8,350.

"The technical part was easy, but working with the children was a
different matter," said  Mrs Rachna Nath from PwC's India office.

Although the Bhutanese speak English well, many of the 30 children have
hearing or mental disabilities. The executives felt "out of the comfort
zone" initially, especially as they had to organise a children's camp.

"However, you learn not to think of their disabilities. They're like
normal kids. They're playful and want attention and care," said Mr Lam
after the camp ended.

With the Bhutanese media covering the projects, Draktsho principal Jigme
Wangmo hopes her centre - the first of its kind in the country - can
dissuade parents from "hiding their children at home".

"The stigma is there. We have this belief that if children are born with
disabilities, there is nothing they can do. I hope we can be an example
for parents to bring out their children so they can learn something," she
told Today.

The expedition's impact will have a direct effect on the operations of the
country's Youth Development Fund (YDF). In line with their core
competencies, the PWC group did a financial management study for the YDF
and submitted a report with proposals to tighten the system and beef up
accountability. The YDF intends to adopt the changes.

These changes could also become a template for all non-government
organisations such as Draktsho which benefit from the fund.

As for PwC, which paid SIF $10,000 to send each employee on the SXX, the
aim is to provide its staff "professional development, empowerment and
personal renewal", said Mr Soh Kok Leong, a partner in the firm.

The tie-up materialised after PWC Singapore Executive Chairman Gautam
Banerjee met SIF Executive Director Tan Tay Keong for lunch last year,
said Mr Soh.

SIF is now the Bhutan Government's closest Singapore partner. The two
parties recently signed an MoU to increase cooperation through visiting
and volunteer programmes, youth exchanges and institutional linkages.
These will involve government officials, business leaders and the youth.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How to use this mailing list ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To change your subscription to this alert, go to
http://www.todayonline.com/login.asp to update your profile.
You can manage all your TODAYonline.com communication preferences
from this site.
For News Alert, go to TODAY Section and uncheck the section(s) to remove,
or check the section(s) to add.
For ClassAd, go to Classified Listing and select any sub-classification
from the list and click on left arrow to remove, or select
any sub-classification from available list and click on right arrow
to add.


~~~~~~~ Visit TODAYonline website at http://www.todayonline.com ~~~~~~~

THIS DOCUMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS PROGRAM ARE
FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.The information type should not be
interpreted to be a commitment on the part of MediaCorp Press Ltd and
MediaCorp Press Ltd cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information
presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. The user
assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
TODAYonline newsletter e-mail may be copied and distributed subject to the
following conditions:
1. All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be
included
2. All copies must contain MediaCorp Press Ltd's copyright notice and any
other notices provided therein
3. This document may not be distributed for profit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

