News Today

News In Brief
Tokyo, New York bourses on track for tie-up dealTOKYO - THE Tokyo and New York stock exchanges are expected to reach an agreement on their tie-up when bourse officials meet in New York at the end of the month, said a... [Read more]

Pigging out on stamps galore
A SPECIAL stamp exhibition launched yesterday promises to give visitors an insight into the origins and traditions of the Chinese New Year. The Spring Flowers and Autumn Moon exhibition, at the Singapore Philatelic Museum in Coleman Street, will continue during the... [Read more]

Bryant shines brightest in NBA All-stars show
LAS VEGAS - NOT surprisingly, the first National Basketball Association All-Star Game in Las Vegas featured plenty of flash, but little substance. There were slam dunks galore and no defence to be found, as the Western All-Stars beat their Eastern counterparts... [Read more]

AFF special committee will probe Thai walkout tomorrow
THE Asean Football Federation (AFF) will convene a special committee to look into Wednesday's Thai walkout.The incident happened during the first leg of the Asean Championship final hosted by Singapore at the National Stadium.The committee will meet in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.... [Read more]

Frank Hsieh to join Taiwan presidential race
TAIPEI - FORMER premier Frank Hsieh yesterday announced that he will seek the ruling party's nomination for next year's presidential election.His announcement came just days after opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou declared his bid for the island's top office on Tuesday.Mr Hsieh,... [Read more]

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

Thais burn effigy of S'pore minister
BANGKOK - SOME 200 Thais yesterday burned an effigy of a Singapore leader outside the Republic's Embassy here in yet another protest following a diplomatic spat between the two countries. The protesters said they belonged to several groups, including Ramkhamhaeng University... [Read more]

Liquid curbs likely on all flights from Singapore
SINGAPORE is seriously considering limiting the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels that passengers can carry aboard aircraft, joining the United States, Canada and European Union states that already have the anti-terror restrictions in place. The move is in line with... [Read more]

Virgin plans to build casino resort in Macau
HONG KONG - SIR Richard Branson's Virgin Group is in advanced talks to secure land in Macau on which it intends to build a US$3 billion (S$4.6 billion) casino resort.Sir Richard, the British entrepreneur who founded the airline-to-mobile-phone empire, is close... [Read more]

More workers' dormitories may get beer permit
A SCHEME to sell beer at selected foreign workers' dormitories since at least 2003 has not led to serious law and order problems, and may be extended. Police, who gave approval for the pilot scheme at four dormitories, are now conducting... [Read more]

Drought-hit Australia gets $12b water plan
CANBERRA - AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister John Howard yesterday unveiled a radical A$10 billion (S$12 billion) plan aimed at protecting dwindling water supplies in the world's driest inhabited continent. The move was also seen as an attempt by the Prime Minister to... [Read more]

TV show in which man kicks dog as punishment sends the wrong message to children

I was watching a local production on Channel 8 titled 'My Dear Kin' on March 7 when I was shocked to see an actor kicking a dog to teach it a lesson for biting a child.

My niece, who was also watching the programme, ran over and asked me if she could similarly kick our pet dog if our dog misbehaved. I believe any right-minded person who owns a dog would have given his dog just a light rap as punishment.

I hope that MediaCorp TV will take the effort to do some research (as in the right way to discipline a dog).

It is important for our young generation to learn that such abusive behaviour is wrong.

Lee Mei Fang (Miss)

Tips from top pro

Some day, Alphonse Tan, 13, hopes to be a professional golfer like England's Lee Westwood.

Yesterday, the St Hilda's Secondary 1 schoolboy, a 20-handicapper, moved a step closer to his dream.

He was among 250 HSBC Youth Golfers who were coached by Ryder Cup star Westwood, as part of the Emirates Youth Golf Development Programme.

The programme gives schoolchildren who cannot afford to take up golf the opportunity to try out the sport.

Shouldn't experts assess buildings after tremors?

SINGAPOREANS felt tremors following earthquakes off Indonesia's coast on Tuesday. High-rise buildings in the Central Business District were the most affected. They swayed slightly for 10 minutes.

Office workers started leaving the buildings even though there was no announcement of an evacuation.

Many groups of office workers were seen just above the Raffles Place MRT station. Later, most of them were seen returning to their offices after the landlord claimed that it was safe to do so. How could this be true when it takes time to physically check the structure of a 50-storey building? Should not surveyors or experts be called in to assess the condition of buildings?

Goh Wee Koon

FROM the picture I saw on the Straits Times Interactive, it appeared that the people who were evacuated from one of the Suntec City towers after the tremors were standing at the foot of the building.

Should they not have been evacuated to an open area, in view of the risk of objects falling and more tremors?

Agnes Sng Hwee Lee (Ms)
Sofia, Bulgaria

Results

BASKETBALL

NBA: Orlando 99 Milwaukee 81, Cleveland 91 Houston 85, Miami 88 Atlanta 81, Golden State 111 Detroit 93, Utah 120 Charlotte 95, San Antonio 88 LA Clippers 74.

CRICKET

World Cup warm-up matches - In Port-Of-Spain: South Africa 192 all out in 50 overs (A. Hall 67 n.o.; Langford-Smith 3-30, Johnston 4-40, Botha 2-24). Ireland 157 all out in 44.2 overs (W. Porterfield 37; Nel 2-38, Hall 3-26, Langeveldt 4-31). -4, Telemachus 6-0-14-1, Kallis 4-0-23-0, Peterson 3-0-11-0. South Africa win by 35 runs.

In Bridgetown, Barbados: Sri Lanka 294-7 in 50 overs (Sangakkara 81, Jayasuriya 77, Tharanga 70). Scotland 122 all out in 22 overs. Sri Lanka win by 172 runs.

In Arnos Vale, St Vincent: England 286-8 in 50 overs (J Dalrymple 76; D Borden 3-71). Bermuda 45 all out, 22.2 overs (J Lewis 3-7, A Flintoff 2-3). England win by 241 runs.

GOLF

Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, final rd; after completion of a darkness-halted play-off (Wilson won with birdie on 3rd play-off hole. USA unless stated): 275 Mark Wilson 72 66 66 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 70 68 71 66, Jose Coceres (Arg) 69 71 69 66, Boo Weekley 71 68 66 70 276 Tripp Isenhour 71 70 68 67, Robert Allenby (Aus) 67 68 73 68, Steve Stricker 68 69 70 69 277 Brett Wetterich 68 71 71 67, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 70 68 68 71 279 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 66 75 70 68, J.P. Hayes 71 73 67 68, Arron Oberholser 68 73 69 69.

SOCCER

FAS Women's Challenge Cup - Group A: Bishan Arsenal A 9 NTU 0, FAS Young Women 16 NYPGA 0. Gp B: Police 6 FAS U-17 1, UWC 2 Paya Lebar Punggol 0. Gp C: Tiong Bahru 5 Sporting Westlake 0, Arion 4 Bishan Arsenal B 0.

Chief selector in row over Sehwag

MUMBAI - INDIA'S chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar was taken to task by a cricket official on Sunday, after saying out-of-form batsman Virender Sehwag was included in India's World Cup team at skipper Rahul Dravid's insistence.

In an interview with CNN-IBN television news channel, Vengsarkar said if Dravid had not demanded Sehwag's inclusion, he might not have been on the team.

His comments on Saturday could lead to controversy ahead of India's campaign in the World Cup, according to Rajiv Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

'The team is selected by five selectors in consultation with the captain and the coach. Selection issues should not come out in the open,' he said.

'It creates unnecessary controversy before the World Cup.'

Sehwag, 28, goes to the March 13-April 28 World Cup in the Caribbean following a prolonged slump. He has scored just one 50 in 13 innings since August.

The aggressive batsman from Delhi missed several limited-over internationals after he was dropped from the team because of his dismal performance on the recent tour of South Africa.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS

News Today

Catch fireworks at S'pore River Hongbao
LOOK out for fireworks on some evenings at the Esplanade Park. They are a feature in this year's Singapore River Hongbao, from tomorrow to March 4.Motorists who want to watch the display will not be allowed to stop or illegally park... [Read more]

Tonight's Headlines
Joy, then sadness for lone United fanON SUNDAY, private tutor Mervin Tan, 30, went where few Manchester United fans dared to tread - the den of local Arsenal fans. Clad in a black United jersey and red scarf, he joined the... [Read more]

Creamer grabs her first title since 2005
KAHUKU (HAWAII) - PAULA Creamer won the LPGA Tour's season-opening SBS Open on Saturday for her first victory since 2005, handling the whipping wind to hold off Julieta Granada by a stroke.The 20-year-old Creamer closed with a two-under 70 for a... [Read more]

A dry February so far
THE first 12 days of February were drier than normal over most of Singapore.A statement from the weatherman yesterday said two-thirds of the island received less than 5mm of rain - more than 90 per cent below average. Most of the... [Read more]

High alert in Karbala for religious event
IRAQI forces tightened security in and around Karbala yesterday as Shi'ite Muslims flocked to the shrine city to commemorate Ashura, a mourning period. 'Security forces have been ordered to completely block car traffic from neighbouring provinces,' Karbala Governor Akhil al-Khazali said,... [Read more]

US 'may ease ban on N. Korea's accounts'
TOKYO - THE United States is considering easing financial sanctions on North Korea in an effort to kick-start talks on ending the North's nuclear arms drive, a report said yesterday.US and North Korean financial officials are scheduled to resume talks in... [Read more]

India gives Bhutan free rein in foreign policy
NEW DELHI - AFTER 57 years of overseeing Bhutan's foreign policy, India and the tiny Himalayan kingdom have signed an updated treaty that gives Bhutan more elbow room in military purchases and external affairs. With Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as... [Read more]

Name changes 'could bring disaster'
TAIPEI - FORMER Taiwanese president Lee Teng-hui has warned that the island's drive to remove references of rival China from the names of state-run companies could bring disaster. Under the campaign pushed by the current president, Mr Chen Shui-bian, four state-run... [Read more]

No meeting with defence minister
SECURITY issues are likely to dominate US Vice-President Dick Cheney's trip to Japan but one person he will not meet is the Japanese Defence Minister. Mr Fumio Kyuma recently set off a tempest by calling the US decision to invade Iraq... [Read more]

Blair's top fund-raiser rearrested while on bail
THE top fund-raiser for British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour Party was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, a police source said.Lord Michael Levy was arrested when he returned to a London police station... [Read more]

Malaysia to review curbs on foreign investors
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA is to review curbs on foreign shareholding in state-linked firms as it gears up for a big push to attract more foreign investment and raise its profile, a minister said yesterday.Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop revealed... [Read more]

Japan to set up US-style security council

TOKYO - JAPAN is poised to set up a National Security Council (NSC) that aims to concentrate policy planning on major diplomatic and security issues in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The new body, modelled along the lines of the one in Washington, will replace the government's existing Security Council, which plays no role in formulating such policies.

The proposal to create the new NSC was contained in an interim report tabled earlier this week by a panel seeking ways of boosting the functions of the PMO.

The new council will formulate long-term diplomatic and security strategies, make decisions in policy areas that straddle more than one ministry and respond swiftly to national emergencies.

Its establishment comes amid a worsening security environment around Japan, especially after the nuclear tests and missile launches conducted by neighbouring North Korea.

The NSC will be chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and will include the chief Cabinet secretary and foreign and defence ministers as permanent members. Other ministers will participate in meetings when necessary.

The council, which will meet twice a month, is expected to become a test of Mr Abe's political abilities.

The influential business daily Nikkei said the NSC 'could be an effective organisation for developing policies that will help raise Japan's international profile'.

'But whether the council will really work as it should will depend greatly on the political abilities of the prime minister in office at the time,' it added.

Mr Abe has ambitions of giving Japan a larger global security role and is suspected of hoping to use the NSC to study the viability of Japan taking part in joint military operations with other countries, which is banned under the Constitution.

Since coming to power last September, the Japanese leader has yet to display strong leadership, a weakness that has contributed to the erosion of his popularity over the past few months.

But just having an NSC does not guarantee that Mr Abe will be in charge.

Resistance by Japan's elite bureaucracy can make white elephants of government panels.

The existing Security Council, set up in 1986, ended up as a rubber-stamping body for policy recommendations by bureaucrats.

To function effectively, the new council needs staff but is expected to have only 10 to 20 full-time employees, compared to some 200 in the case of Washington's NSC.

Because the creation of the NSC was one of Mr Abe's key campaign promises, there appears to have been an attempt to rush out a concept before it was fully developed.

For instance, there is no clear indication how the NSC will have access to the intelligence gathered by each ministry and where it will get the personnel to analyse the data for the council's consideration.

Japanese government agencies are reportedly loath to share information with each other or even with the PMO because of sectionalism and also because of concerns that information might be leaked by politicians.

The composition of the council could be another problem.

Mr Abe's national security adviser, former environment minister Yuriko Koike, is supposed to attend all meetings of the council but is not considered a formal member as she is not a Cabinet member. Ms Koike and four other special aides to the Prime Minister are viewed with disgruntlement by the bureaucracy.

'We are not sure what their roles are. But they seem to be trying to duplicate our work,' said an official who declined to be named.

wengkin@gol.com

US-S'pore trade up 19% last year

TRADE between Singapore and the United States hit US$42.5 billion (S$65 billion) last year, a 19 per cent rise over 2005, the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore said yesterday.

This was the second-highest growth rate among all Washington's major trading partners last year, after China. US-China trade grew 20.2 per cent.

Singapore also retained its position as the US' 15th- largest trading partner last year.

But it rose to become the US' ninth-largest export market, up from 11th spot in 2005. The value of US exports to Singapore rose to US$24.7 billion from US$20.6 billion a year earlier.

This helped Singapore remain the biggest Asean market for US exports. It accounted for 43 per cent of total US exports to Asean last year, up from 41.5 per cent in 2005.

Key US exports to Singapore in the first nine months of last year included machinery, electrical machinery, aircraft and aircraft parts, and optical and medical instruments.

AmCham Singapore executive director Dom LaVigne said the rise in bilateral trade 'continued a positive trend of growth' since the US-Singapore free trade agreement came into effect in January 2004.

Since then, two-way trade has increased 34 per cent, while US exports to Singapore have gone up almost 49 per cent.

FIONA CHAN

Sports world

S'PORE U-21 TEAM LEAVE FOR ASEAN C'SHIP

SINGAPORE'S national Under-21 team leave for the 10-day Asean Youth Football Championship in Brunei today. They open their campaign against Thailand on Sunday.

The 18-strong squad, led by coach Terry Pathmanathan, have been drawn in Group A with Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines are in Group B along with the hosts.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

RENAULT DRIVER UNHURT AFTER CRASH

LONDON: Heikki Kovalainen, Renault's new Formula One driver, emerged unscathed from a 200kmh crash during testing in Bahrain on Tuesday. He wrecked the right side of his car after smashing into a barrier at the Sakhir circuit.

The 25-year-old Finn has taken up the race seat vacated by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, following the Spaniard's move to McLaren.

REUTERS

RULE CHANGE PROPOSED TO LIMIT SPIN

LONDON: The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and the United States Golf Association have proposed a rule change that limits the spin produced by U-shaped grooves in irons.

The proposal would not ban U-shaped grooves. But it would set specifications so that they performed like V-shaped grooves, producing less spin, especially out of the rough.

One concern in recent years is that players can hit shots as far as possible, knowing that extra spin will help keep the approach shot on the green, even if the ball lands in the rough.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

TV times

SOCCER: Italian Serie A: Lazio v Catania (Live, Ch24, 9.55pm). FA Cup, 5th rd replay: Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal (Live, Ch24, tomorrow, 3.55am).

News Today

Breathing easy
These people at a hospital in Xian, in China's Shaanxi province, are being treated in an oxygen chamber for carbon monoxide poisoning. The poisonous gas from coal-fired heaters was trapped in people's homes by unusually low atmospheric pressure.Coal is the main... [Read more]

Report perverts immediately to facilitate follow-up action
I refer to the letter, 'Please advise women how to deal with MRT perverts' (Online forum, Jan 23) by Mr Nelson Quah.Indecent exposure is an offence punishable under the law. In addition, under the Rapid Transit Systems Regulations, it is stipulated... [Read more]

Inappropriate time slots for prime-time trailers
I am a regular viewer of Ch5 and I am bothered by some of the commercials and shows aired by the channel. Being the premier English channel in Singapore, I expect MediaCorp to be more in tune with the larger English-speaking... [Read more]

India celebrates cosy ties with Russia
NEW DELHI - INDIA toasted visiting President Vladimir Putin yesterday by putting on a display of mostly Russian-made military equipment.A day after the two nations signed several agreements signalling that their close ties endured, New Delhi rolled out T-90 and T-72... [Read more]

Parking fine unjustified - is there no grace period?
On Feb 11, I went to see a Chinese physician at People's Park Centre. On reaching the car park beside the building, I displayed a parking coupon with the tabs torn to indicate 11.25 although the car clock showed 11.24.I thought... [Read more]

Widow struggles to care for kids, mum-in-law
IN AN HDB flat in Block 17, Toh Yi Drive, the start of the Chinese New Year brings back terrible memories. On Jan 26 last year, the family's breadwinner, lorry driver Lim Kah Sim, was crossing the carpark just below the... [Read more]

Minister doubts eavesdropping claims
THAI Minister of Information and Communication Technology Sittichai Pokai-udom has cast doubts on the junta's claims that Singapore was eavesdropping on Thai military conversations.In an interview on a Thai-language TV talk show, Siam This Morning, on Tuesday, Mr Sittichai said eavesdropping... [Read more]

CapitaLand earns $40m from sale of office space
CAPITALAND has sold all its entire interest in the Samsung Hub office block to two different buyers for a gain of $40 million.The entire divestment of space in the central business district building amounted to $152.9 million.Property company Ho Bee Development... [Read more]

Space tourist taking books in his pack
THE world's next space tourist, Hungarian-born American software developer and billionaire Charles Simonyi (below), has said he would like to see a library in outer space. 'Everywhere where humans are, I think there should be a library,' the 58-year-old Mr Simonyi,... [Read more]

Second offer for CK Tang fails to get enough support
RETAILER CK Tang looks set to remain a listed company for now after chief executive Tang Wee Sung was unable to garner enough shareholder support for his privatisation bid.At the close of yesterday's offer of 65 cents a share, for which... [Read more]

SingTel staff to be more attentive when giving info
I REFER to the letter by Ms Liew Chuen Li (ST Online Forum, Feb 13).We have contacted Ms Liew and apologised for the service lapse she and her mother experienced.Upon receiving feedback from Ms Liew, we successfully turned on her mio... [Read more]

News Today

Social workers ought to get higher pay with extra funding
I REFER to the letter, 'Pay increase for social workers lauded' (ST, Jan 25), by Mr Edmund Lim Wee Kiat. We agree with Mr Lim that social workers play an important role in maintaining and improving the well-being of our society.In... [Read more]

Goodie bag has magazine with questionable contents
MY HUSBAND participated in the recent Safra Sheares Bridge Run. Participants of all ages took part in the event and they were given a free goodie bag. In it was a magazine with an article entitled 'What to do if she... [Read more]

It's showtime when Grossman's angry
MIAMI - SUPER Bowl XLI is a classic match-up of the Peyton Manning-led Colts scoring machine and a Bears defence that has long been the pride of Chicago gridiron fans. It is also time for Rex Grossman to make his critics... [Read more]

Russia may pull out of arms treaty over US missile shield
MOSCOW - RUSSIA has threatened to pull out of a landmark arms control treaty unless the United States backs away from plans to install its missile defence shield in Eastern Europe.General Yuri Baluyevsky, head of the Russian general staff, said Russia... [Read more]

Office rents, prices soar in supply crunch
OFFICE owners and landlords enjoyed impressive gains last year as prices and rentals of office space surged after years of sluggishness. Rentals jumped 30.3 per cent to hit their highest level in at least eight years, according to new Urban Redevelopment... [Read more]

Two-way race for HK's Chief Executive post
HONG KONG leader Donald Tsang will announce today his candidacy in the coming Chief Executive election, which is shaping up to be the city's first-ever contested leadership poll. The election is likely to be a two-way race after barrister-cum-lawmaker Mr Alan... [Read more]

Pyongyang nuke deal 'template for Teheran'
WASHINGTON - THE US reached a deal with North Korea with its sights set on a bigger problem: Iran. It held up as a model for Teheran the six-party agreement where Pyongyang will take steps towards giving up nuclear weapons. White... [Read more]

JB floods unleash pent-up sentiment against S'pore
KUALA LUMPUR - THE ripples began during the second wave of floods that submerged hundreds of villages and towns in Johor last month. It all started with a brief report on the nightly news bulletin on popular private TV station TV3... [Read more]

French naval vessel sails in
The French navy's oldest helicopter carrier, FS Jeanne d'Arc, sailed into Changi Naval Base yesterday. On board the 12,000-tonne carrier was a French Army Gazelle chopper. A team of French officers and airmen are here to share their experiences operating naval... [Read more]

News? Simi lancheow! Go Fuck yourself!
India to review policy on SEZ projectsNEW DELHI - INDIA is reviewing its policy on special economic zones as opposition to them grows.A panel of senior ministers will examine all new plans for the zones, which are intended to attract billions... [Read more]

S'pore army chief's China visit
Singapore's Chief of Army, Major-General Desmond Kuek, exchanging mementoes with People's Liberation Army's Chief of General Staff, General Liang Guanglie, during his four-day introductory visit to China.Singapore's Ministry of Defence said yesterday that Maj-Gen Kuek, who returned on Thursday, was hosted... [Read more]

Roma's physical tactics upset Lyon

LYON have accused Roma of rough play during Wednesday's 0-0 Champions League match.

'It was quite a rough match with unfair behaviour by the Roma players,' said Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, after the game in Rome.

'There was some verbal abuse too. Several Italian players came to apologise after the game for insults.'

Referee Mike Riley handed out 11 yellow cards - eight of them to Roma.

The first of the Roma players to be booked was defender Philippe Mexes, after three minutes, for a tackle on Lyon playmaker Juninho.

Aulas said: 'Mexes didn't go for the ball, he tried to get me out of the game. French clubs are not respected in the Champions League. We saw it with Lille on Tuesday.'

Lyon coach Gerard Houllier said: 'I was wondering about a 'contract' Roma could have put on Juninho's head.'

REUTERS

Real to protest over van Bommel's gestures

MADRID - Real Madrid will reportedly protest to Uefa over two insulting gestures made by Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel, after he scored in the teams' Champions League game.

The Spanish club considered Tuesday's actions 'an intolerable provocation'.

Van Bommel, a former player with Madrid's arch-rivals Barcelona, apologised, but said he had been insulted by a Madrid player about his Barcelona connections. He did not name the player.

'It's the first time I've played at the Santiago Bernabeu and I have nothing against the crowd - although I do have something against a player,' he told Catalunya Radio.

Newspaper Marca reacted with indignation to the incident, with its front page accompanying a photo of van Bommel gesturing with the headline: 'They're going to have to swallow this'.

The paper advised Madrid players to 'cut the photo out, stick it in the dressing room and don't stop looking at it until the return leg'.

Sports daily As added that Madrid will also protest that Bayern substitute Hasan Salihamidzic spat at supporters behind the goal straight after van Bommel's goal.

Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos said van Bommel and Salihamidzic's actions were 'disgraceful' and 'do soccer no good'.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Roma's hopes rest on an improved performance

ROME - IF ROMA want to progress in the Champions League, they will have to play better than they did last Saturday.

Then, they produced one of their worst performances in recent times in their 0-1 loss to Empoli.

The result left them 14 points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

But manager Luciano Spalletti believes the Champions League will bring out the best in his faltering team.

They face Lyon in the last 16. Today, they host the first leg.

Lyon are on course for a record sixth consecutive French league title, while Roma's Serie A challenge has faded dramatically in recent weeks.

But Spalletti is confident his players will be highly motivated for today's match.

'Lyon are mentally and physically strong, but I am convinced we will give them two great matches,' said the 47-year-old coach.

His team are unbeaten in their last eight European matches at Rome's Olympic stadium.

Lyon's coach Gerard Houllier expects an evenly-balanced tie, despite watching Roma's poor performance against Empoli.

'It wasn't the real Roma,' he said. 'Our chances of going through are 50 per cent.'

Lyon have an impressive away record in the Champions League - eight wins in their last 13 matches.

But, despite being tipped by many as potential winners of the competition, they have never gone beyond the quarter-finals.

Roma, who reached the final of the old European Cup in 1984 only to lose to Liverpool on penalties, have never qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Group pays $884m for rest of Marina plot

THE consortium that is developing the prime Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) has disclosed the sum - $883.8 million - that it is paying for the second phase of the site, on nearby land.

And for the first time, the consortium, which includes Singapore's Keppel Land, disclosed that residential apartments, as well as offices, will be built in phase two.

The upmarket residential component of phase one of the 99-year leasehold site was a big hit among property investors.

The announcement comes amid tightening office supply, which is not expected to ease until MBFC's phase one is ready in 2010.

Office rents have climbed significantly in the past year and they look set to continue the climb. Indeed, prime rents may rise to as much as $20 per sq ft in two years, from the current high of about $13 psf, predicted property consultancy Savills Singapore's Mr Ku Swee Yong.

In a statement yesterday, the consortium said that it had exercised its option to buy phase two of the site in the new downtown from the Government. The price works out to about $423 psf, excluding 5 per cent GST (goods and services tax). In 2005, it took up an eight-year option for the buy.

Phase two will add 194,000 sq m of gross floor area to the 244,000 sq m of space that is being developed under phase one.

Assuming construction starts immediately, the new offices and homes may hit the market only by 2011, market watchers say.

'The consortium indicated it would develop both Grade-A office and high-end residential components in the new phase, details of which will be revealed in due course after discussions with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA),' the consortium said.

It comprises Keppel Land, and Hong Kong's Cheung Kong Holdings and Hongkong Land.

The general manager of the venture's asset management firm Raffles Quay Asset Management, Mr David Martin, said: 'The purchase of phase two demonstrates the consortium's confidence in Singapore's property market and its continued development as a key financial centre in Asia.'

Just last week, the Government said it plans to launch more development sites at Marina Bay.

For the consortium, its move is timely, coming less than a fortnight before the URA unveils its six-monthly review of development charges on March 1.

Given the rise in values in the area, property consultants expect significant increases in the commercial development charges for Marina Bay of up to 100 per cent.

The first phase of MBFC comprises two office towers and the 428-unit Marina Bay Residences, which sold out before its launch last December.

Phase two of the MBFC is made up of two separate sites - one is behind The Sail @ Marina Bay and the other is behind Marina Bay Residences.

joyceteo@sph.com.sg

News of the Day

Have separate blood bank for those who visited UK
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Cash in pension fund scandal 'recovered'
BEIJING - SHANGHAI has retrieved 'every cent' siphoned from its social security fund in a scandal that shook China's largest city last year, its mayor said yesterday.'We have secured retrieval in full amount of the embezzled social security fund in line... [Read more]

Fergie doubts unsettled Blues
LONDON - LIVERPOOL received a boost ahead of tomorrow's match with Chelsea at Anfield from an unlikely source - Alex Ferguson.The Manchester United manager believes that the speculation over Jose Mourinho's future could unsettle the defending champions.He compared the effect of... [Read more]

Jakarta top cop wants ISA-style anti-terror law
WASHINGTON - INDONESIAN national police chief Sutanto has called for tougher laws to fight terrorism, suggesting that Jakarta adopt the Internal Security Act (ISA) that is in place in Singapore and Malaysia.He said that current legislation impeded investigations.'We need something like... [Read more]

Wung Yew fires first Olympic salvos
THE Olympics is just 19 months away. And Lee Wung Yew, who is taking no-pay leave, is wasting no time in his bid for Beijing 2008 glory.A month after the Asian Games, the Singapore trap shooter has already met his new... [Read more]

Technorati Profile
Technorati Profile... [Read more]

CIA spy in Watergate scandal dies
THE veteran CIA spy who helped plan the break-in at Washington's Watergate complex which brought down President Richard Nixon has died in Miami.Mr Howard Hunt, 88, had reportedly battled pneumonia.He plotted the night-time burglary on June 17, 1972 at the Watergate... [Read more]

'Study causes of floods before blaming S'pore'
MALAYSIA'S Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has called for a full study to be done into the causes of the recent flooding in Johor before fingers are pointed at Singapore. 'There have been all kinds of claims, but we cannot... [Read more]

Upset over handling of bus passenger who failed to pay
ON FRIDAY Jan 19 at around 8.20pm, I witnessed a person taking a free ride on an SBS bus - SBS 7401G. This person was then reported to the police by the bus driver, after he stopped the bus along the... [Read more]

Case file
CHARGED WITH CANNABIS TRAFFICKINGAN AUSTRALIAN man was yesterday charged with two counts of trafficking in cannabis. On Jan 9, 189g of cannabis and 248.38g of cannabis mixture were found in the Pasir Ris flat Michael Karras, 38, shares with Singaporean Ngo... [Read more]

Split over Reds and Blues
FANS are divided when it comes to today's Liverpool v Chelsea match. However, they are favouring Arsenal to beat Manchester United tomorrow. Out of 160 entries submitted as at 6pm yesterday for the 'Predict and Win' contest, participants are split evenly... [Read more]