News Today

$45,000-per-head dinner extravaganza in Bangkok
BANGKOK - SUPERLATIVES are flying about in Bangkok over a 1-million- baht-per-head (S$45,000) gala dinner tonight prepared by six of the world's finest chefs. The first of 15 people wealthy enough to afford the price - plus the 17 per cent... [Read more]

Catch fine arts on last day of Nafa open house
TODAY is the last day of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) three-day open house. The highlight is a fashion show to be staged by Nafa students who won two major design contests held in conjunction with Singapore Fashion Week... [Read more]

Today in Summary
Supermart staff under probe for skiving on YouTubeLONDON - A BRITISH supermarket chain has launched a probe after video clips of people performing stunts while wearing the company uniform surfaced on the YouTube website.The videos allegedly featured Somerfield staff 'skiving' from... [Read more]

Dubai deal gets nod from US port authority
NEW YORK - THE New York-New Jersey Port Authority and American International Group (AIG) have reached a preliminary agreement to let the insurer buy Dubai Ports World's (DP World) stake in the Port Newark container terminal.DP World acquired assets at six... [Read more]

For S'pore chefs, a lonely quest for success
LYON (FRANCE) - IN HALL 33 of Lyon's Eurexpo, the stands groaned from the weight of 1,000 supporters in the heated throes of war. National flags were printed on their T-shirts, painted on their faces and waved in unison in their... [Read more]

Make high-quality preschool available to rich and poor
I REFER to the recent parliamentary debates between several MPs and Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Masagos Zulkifli concerning preschool education.In the debate, it was assured that the Ministry of Education (MOE), in tandem with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and... [Read more]

Problem's not the stadia, it's the Ultras
MILAN - THE installation of 28 electronic turnstiles - that was all it took for the Italian government to open the San Siro Stadium to season ticket-holders. The Serie A game staged there yesterday against Livorno ended 2-1 for home team... [Read more]

A-G wants Suharto to repay $500m in charity funds
JAKARTA - INDONESIA'S Attorney-General said yesterday he would demand that former president Suharto repay charity funds alleged to have been used to enrich friends and family before launching a civil suit against him. Earlier this month, Attorney-General Abdul Rahman Saleh said... [Read more]

Car COE prices dive to 17-year low
CERTIFICATES of Entitlement for cars fell to their lowest level in 17 years yesterday. This freak result came about because of a shorter-than-usual interval between the latest tender and the previous one, said motor traders. The early hongbao for 4,000 bidders... [Read more]

Asean rocks on to reach out to youth
ASEAN turns 40 this year, and it is celebrating by reaching out to youth.The 10-member group of South-east Asian nations kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations with a five-day music festival at the Hard Rock Cafe here yesterday, and more youth-oriented... [Read more]

Fee freeze at 3 universities in view of GST hike
SINGAPORE'S three local universities will not raise tuition fees this year in view of the upcoming increase in goods and services tax (GST).The news came as a pleasant surprise to university-bound students and their parents, particularly because the National University of... [Read more]