News Summaries

Youngsters make their mark
MELBOURNE - NOVAK Djokovic and Andy Murray have confirmed their status as the new generation's leading lights. The 19-year-olds have impressed at the Australian Open, easing through the draw.Murray dispatched Spaniards Alberto Martin and Fernando Verdasco in straight sets.Djokovic saw off... [Read more]

Coerced info can now be used in Guantanamo trials
WASHINGTON - THE Pentagon has unveiled new rules for trials of 'war on terror' detainees that will allow hearsay and coerced information as evidence if a judge considers it credible.The new rule handbook, sent to Congress, will apply to the special... [Read more]

US troops told: Kill or nab Iranian spies in Iraq
WASHINGTON - THE Bush administration has authorised the US military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq in an aggressive new strategy to weaken Teheran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear programme.This was... [Read more]

China case shows futility of taking govt to court
BEIJING - WHEN the Beijing Zhonghongji Construction company sued two developers for unpaid wages after building a central government ministry's dormitory, it won. But both developers, including one owned by a central government ministry, had gone bankrupt and could not pay... [Read more]

China and Japan vow to build ties
BEIJING - MINISTERS from China and Japan wrapped up three days of closed-door strategic talks at the weekend, vowing to build 'mutually beneficial' ties, Chinese state media reported yesterday. The talks, the seventh in a series kicked off in May 2005,... [Read more]

Make it easier to invest in government bonds
THE Singapore Government Securities (SGS) market has been open to retail investors for a number of years. As a risk-free debt instrument, SGS bonds could form an important part of an investment portfolio, particularly as their yield can exceed comparable investments,... [Read more]

Diversified Indian firm with global presence
NEW DELHI - INDIA'S Tata Group boasts an increasingly global stable of interests from tea and trucks to technology.A little more than two years ago, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata said he wanted the conglomerate to 'spread its wings far beyond... [Read more]

Growing trend
AD AGENCY Y&R Singapore stepped up its PR efforts this month by hiring Mr Justin Low, 30, from Grayling Public Relations to manage its publicity affairs. Mr Charles Sng, who specialises in marketing communications at headhunting firm Aquent, says it is... [Read more]

Lakers beat slumping Spurs
KOBE Bryant overcame a slow start to score 34 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-96 road victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.He had just three points in the first quarter, but caught fire in the second,... [Read more]

What a character
PHOTO: REUTERSA snowman in Tokyo draws attention with a face made up of Japanese hiragana characters,which are commonly used in children's drawing of faces. Henohenomoheji are the characters broken into seven letters - the eyebrows are the first two 'he', the... [Read more]

Analyst admits affair with model
KUALA LUMPUR - PROMINENT political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda admitted to police that he had an affair with murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, a High Court here was told yesterday.Even though the trial of Abdul Razak, who is charged with abetting... [Read more]