Thursday, November 30, 2000
Top Stories
SM Didn't Comment On Gus Dur Government
Nor did he publicly criticise Indonesian elite, says Singapore Foreign Ministry in response to media queries.
News
Singapore Media Rallies Behind Government Against Indonesia's Outburst
Singapore newspapers launched a counter-attack Thursday against withering criticism from Indonesia, accusing President Abdurrahman Wahid of an ill-judged tirade that bordered on provocation.
Sale Of Site For New Entertainment Hub Next Year
"It's very hard to develop and link up the district if you sell the land parcel by parcel. It's difficult to see how a vibrant entertainment precinct can develop if you have roads that cut through it, a mix of old and new and incompatible uses alongside."
Technology
Singapore To Auction Off Five Wireless Broadband Licenses
Singapore will auction off five fixed wireless broadband (FWB) licences, the city-state's industry watchdog Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) announced Thursday.
Taxis' GPS Systems 'Poor In Ergonomics'
The level of awareness of ergonomics here is low and more needs to be done to improve this, says NTU prof.
Wednesday, November 29, 2000
News
Social Issues Muted In Singapore
When it comes to speaking openly on sensitive social issues, such as race, religion and politics, it seems that most people would prefer to keep the door firmly shut, according to a recent survey.
Jarkarta 'Ready To Face Any Consequenc'
Indonesian government was prepared for any consequence, including cuts in assistance and investments from Singapore.
Relocating Hostels A Waste Of NUS Money
Adrain Kwong Sze Ken: What sort of 'masterplan' does the university have when it changes its mind about hostel space in such a short time?
Technology
Catherine Lim Opens E-Book Chapter
Catherine Lim's first cyberspace literary effort goes for just US$0.19 per chapter.
Entertainment
MediaCorp Is Blocking My Album: Dick Lee
During an interview with Life! yesterday, singer-songwriter Dick Lee claimed that when he joined TV Works on Nov 14, rival MediaCorp responded by stone-walling Everything, his new retrospective album, both on television and radio.
Tuesday, November 28, 2000
Top Stories
Singapore Breaks Silence On Wahid's Tirade
There was no direct reply to Wahid's comments that Indonesia should cooperate with Malaysia to choke Singapore's water supply, which is being piped in from Johor.
Singapore Greets Wahid Outburst With Silence
Singapore yesterday maintained a diplomatic silence in response to bitter comments from President Abdurrahman Wahid, as diplomats and Indonesian officials expressed bewilderment and shock.
Officials Downplay Gus Dur's Outburst
No change in attitude towards Singapore, say officials as they launch damage-control operation.
News
Singapore's Vulnerabilities Exposed After Wahid's Criticisms
Even if Singaporean leaders employ the best economic policies, they have little influence on the external factors.
Singapore To Get City Air Terminal By Early 2002
The location of the City Terminal still has not been decided.
Case Calls For Review Of LRT Safety
Case president Teo Ho Pin told The Staits Times last night the SLRT had yet to tell the public what led to the procedural error - systems or human failure.
Participants At Dialogue Felt AMP Idea Was Dangerous
Wang Kai Yuen, Member of Supervisory Panel Feedback Unit: Many of the participants felt that the pitfalls of collective leadership are so obvious it begs the question why the AMP would propose it in the first place. It is in this context that two AMP representatives explained the background leading to the paper on collective leadership presented at the AMP seminar.
Technology
Ambrosia Bundles Killer Titles At A Killer Price
Escape Velocity Override and Mars Rising are available for a limited time on one CD at a super discounted price.
Dotcoms In A Jiffy
The Registry of Companies and Businesses (RCB) has cut down the processing time for name approvals and incorporations from five to two working days.
Entertainment
A Top 10 List Of Restaurants
If the range of food is vast so are the locations for eating it. From the simple and cheap hawker centres which scatter the city to five star world-class restaurants.
Monday, November 27, 2000
News
Mahathir: We'll See If Singapore's Move Affects Asean
"If it means goods coming into Singapore then go into Asean countries, after the Asean Free Trade Area and free of tax, then of course it is a no-go thing."
Singapore Wants Only Profits, Says Gus Dur
The Indonesian leader says the Republic was manipulative in water deals and suggests to Malaysia's PM that supplies be restricted.
Change Yishun To Nee Soon
Lee Kip Lee: I would like to suggest that all 'Yishun' street and place names should be replaced by 'Nee Soon' to educate those who are unaware that both names refer to the same person, Lim Nee Soon.
Technology
Palm Handhelds Get Wireless Kit
The Palm Mobile Internet Kit provides access to Internet and Web content, as well as to e-mail and messaging services.
Entertainment
Coming Soon: Prof Chao Film
Hongkong and S'pore stars to appear in Body Puzzle.
Sunday, November 26, 2000
Top Stories
Indonesia's Wahid Launches Tirade Against Singapore
Speaking to Indonesian journalists at the Indonesian embassy in Singapore on Saturday, Wahid accused the small republic of trying to go its own way and only thinking of profit, the Kompas daily said.
News
Endangered Species
Singaporeans need to have more babies. But success breeds selfishness.
Technical Constraints Will Restrict Height Of Buildings: Minister
"I'm talking about height constraints imposed by flight paths or height constraints imposed by may be microwave links. So apart from the technical constraints and, of course, subject to buildability. In other words subject to escalators, your lifts, your construction technology, it's feasible."
Driver-Less MRT Trains In 5 To 6 Years?
LTA is doing feasibility studies as fully-automated trains are 'safer, more efficient' and are cheaper to run.
Entertainment
Kings Of The Wok
The golden legacy of the Big Four in Singapore's Chinese restaurant business has taken a new turn.
Saturday, November 25, 2000
Technology
War Of Words Escalates Between Shop And Surfers
Video-Pro's threat to sue members of Hardwarezone.com for defamation has surfers lambasting it for trying to curtail their freedom of speech.
Entertainment
Zouk Out At Sentosa
This is one party where girls can officially don their sexiest bikinis and guys can chill out in beach wear.
HBO Voted Asia's Most Popular Channel
The ad-free channel was tops with cable operators while repeat programming and copycat shows were given the thumbs down.
Friday, November 24, 2000
Top Stories
Sex In The Lion City
Digital technology poses problems for countries like Singapore.
How Does Your Mac Retailer Score?
"The Reseller Ratings poll is one of the ways we attempt to encourage users to take a pro-active stance in improving the Macintosh scene here."
Thursday, November 23, 2000
Top Stories
Future Is Highrise: Land Report
If these armchair urban planners had their way, apartment blocks would soar higher and be spaced farther apart for more privacy, and each HDB dweller would have more space.
News
CPF Restoration Takes Time: BG Lee
Bosses were yesterday given an oblique assurance by Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that the employers' Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rate would not be restored too quickly.
22 Golf Course Here 'Enough'
Unveiling the focus group's interim report at a media briefing on Tuesday, Associate Professor Vivian Balakrishnan, its co-chairman, urged Singaporeans not to take extreme positions on the issue, but to view it as a matter of supply and demand.
Technology
Palm Signs On Over 20 Singapore Firms For Content
The local companies have developed web clipping applications which let users access Internet content by using Palm's Mobile Internet Kit, which will be available next month, with a data-enabled GSM mobile phone.
Wednesday, November 22, 2000
News
Early Completion Of Flats Inconvenient For Couples
Tony Tan Song Huat: Although the HDB only requires couples to show proof of their marriage three months after collecting the keys to their flat, an early completion can disrupt wedding preparations.
Hassle-Free GST Refunds With Automated System
Under the new automated system, tourists can get their tax claims printed out in a fraction of the time it used to take.
SingTel, Virgin In US$100M Pan-Asian Mobile Deal
Joint venture company will offer cellular services and products throughout Asia.
Technology
ECnet Tops Inaugural Enterprise 50 Dotcom List
The other E50 dotcoms are, in order of rank, AsiaTravel.com Holdings Pte Ltd, Commerce Exchange Pte Ltd, dollarDEX.com, SPH AsiaOne Ltd, Asiacontent.com Media Pte Ltd, MediaRing.com Ltd, WebOffice Pte Ltd, BuzzCity Pte Ltd and CalendarOne.Com Pte Ltd.
Half Of New Cellphone Users Pick StarHub
This means that StarHub signed on almost 88,000 new mobile subscribers in the second quarter ended Sept 30 to add to its first-quarter figure of about 79,000.
New Telecom Entrant Says Profitability Four To Five Years Away
New telecommunications operator StarHub on Wednesday projected revenues of 250 million Singapore dollars (144 million US) in its first year of operations ending March next year but warned it will take another four to five years to become profitable.
Tuesday, November 21, 2000
Technology
Li's Exit Hits MediaRing Share Price
"It is hard to build a financial model for MediaRing because its business model and hence its revenue streams have been changing for the past 12 months."
OCBC Gets Back Use Of Domain Names
It has won back the domain names www.ocbc.com and www.bankofsingapore. com from an unnamed American cybersquatter by donating 'a nominal sum' to his favourite charity - the Red Cross.
Damaged Cable Leaves Singapore Net Links Unscathed
A damaged undersea cable is wreaking havoc on Internet traffic in Australia - but Singapore has managed to escape unscathed.
SingTel, Indosat To Repair Dmaaged Undersea Cable
The damage was found closest to Indonesia and Singapore. SingTel is Singapore's biggest phone company and Indosat is Indonesia's dominant international call operator.
M1, Nokia In S$500M 3G Deal
Partnership involves the deployment of 3G technologies, as well as the creation of GSM1800 network and service creation plant.
Damaged Undersea Cable Cuts Net Traffic
Internet traffic piled up yesterday as a 39,000km undersea cable linking Asia and Europe was damaged.
Entertainment
SPH Wants Half Of TV Ad Pie Here
For a start, instead of charging fixed rates, MediaWorks will offer a flexible price scale tied to viewership of its two channels, the English-language TV Works and its Chinese counterpart, Channel U, which are due to be launched in the middle of next year.
Stages In Singapore Theatre
A book chronicling the history of English theatre in Singapore will be launched early next year, together with results of the inaugural Life! Theatre Awards.
Singapore Prepares For Big Fashion Bash
Singapore as the region's fashion capital? Uh-huh. Bury cynicism six feet under and take a deep breath. For that's what this little island is poised to be, if Fashion Festival 2001 takes off as planned.
Monday, November 20, 2000
Top Stories
Three Hurt In Train Collision
A failure by an operations officer to follow safety rules caused a Light Rapid Transit (LRT) train to slam into another in Choa Chu Kang early yesterday morning, injuring three passengers in one of the trains.
News
Pushing Back The Boundaries
But can Singapore's artists ever break free to be truly creative?
Return To Dialet Naming
"Zhujiao Centre" finally resumes its original name of "Tekka Centre" after 20 years.
Singapore Has Invested Well, Study Shows
Singapore has not over-invested compared to the other Asian newly industrialising economies (NIEs) and its investments are not less efficient, a new study by the Ministry of Trade and Industry shows.
Technology
R(A) Movies On The Desktop?
SingTel is exploring how it can provide Restricted (Artistic) content over its Internet service to adults at home, while blocking access to children. But do not hold your breath - the Government has yet to give any service providers here the nod to start offering R(A) content.
Entertainment
MPH Gets Hip
The store's new look is designed to appeal to the younger crowd and, come January, staff uniforms will undergo a makeover too.
Friday, November 17, 2000
Top Stories
Licence To Speak, Or Not?
Food for thought: If Mr Chiam, or Mr Low Thia Khiang of Hougang, turn their speeches into songs, will they still need permits?
News
Base Child Train Fare On Age
Selvam Sinnakannu: Perhaps the MRT could consider issuing exemption cards for children under seven. Parents could produce their children's birth certificates in order to get these cards for their children.
Paper's Launch Not Worth Coverage Given
Sunil Ramchand: Placing such "infommercials" as the top item on prime-time news does nothing for the creditability of the network.
Economists Less Upbeat About Outlook For Next Year
The economy may have soared to its highest growth level in three years but economists are more reserved on next year's outlook.
Singapore GDP Forecast Raised
Singapore has recorded third-quarter economic growth of 10.4 per cent over the same period last year, prompting Government officials to raise their full-year forecast for economic growth to 9.5 from 9 per cent.
Thursday, November 16, 2000
Top Stories
Cheaper, Faster Access To Local Websites Soon
SingTel also introduces new broadband Internet access plan allowing users to pay for amount of data they download rather than time they spend online.
CyberWorks, C&W Deny Politics Played Role In Merger
Pacific Century CyberWorks and Cable & Wireless (C&W) yesterday scrambled to undo the damage inflicted by C&W chief executive Graham Wallace, who admitted on Wednesday that a political hand had interfered in the sale of its Hongkong unit.
News
Which To Buy? Case To Help You Decide
Consumer body to test claims, starting with health supplements.
Technology
M1 Will Be Forced To Close CDMA Service
M1, which invested S$140 million in building the CDMA network, will consider asking for compensation from the country's telecommunications regulator Infocomm Development Authority (IDA). Under Singapore's Radio-communication Regulations, there would be no compensation for change or withdrawal of frequency allocated, according to IDA.
Entertainment
Music On The Move
The 11-day S'pore Music Festival aims to bring stars up close and personal without buring a hole in your pocket.
Wednesday, November 15, 2000
News
Government Set To Corporatise More Units
First off will be depts of JTC, followed by PSB and NSTB; Govt hopes stat boards will become lean and more agile.
MediaCorp Newspaper Today Garners Loyal Following
The reporter spotted someone wearing a pass bearing the logo of a rival newspaper company and asked about it, whereby the person immediately covered up the pass.
Technology
Ensure Safe E-Banking Facilities
Utpalendu Gupta: The Association of Banks in Singapore may wish to initiate measures to see that its members submit their electronic systems to stringent tests conducted by independent and well-recognised testing bodies before hard-selling such systems to unsuspecting clients who are forced to sign indemnities.
Vulgar Postings Lead To Threat Of Lawsuit
Video-Pro, a computer shop in Sim Lim Square, has threatened to sue about 60 people, most of whom are teenagers, for posting defamatory statements against it on a local IT portal, Hardware Zone.
Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Top Stories
DBS Goes Red In Face After Breach In E-Banking
DBS Bank spokesman Jenny Lee confirmed that a case of one user logging into another user's account had occurred, but declined to give details.
Talaq: Tell Us Why It Was Banned
It was Muis which decided the fate of Talaq. Its objections were so grave that even the National Arts Council's recommendations, that it be staged if some parts were taken out, were not good enough for the Muslim governing body.
MediaCorp Should Not Be Biased In Its News Coverage
Wong Nian Jun: By censoring newsworthy local events simply on the basis of the event's connection with a competitor, MediaCorp is definitely not serving the interests of Singaporeans.
Singapore's Godfather Makes His Case
it is every bit as hypocritical to defend state authoritarianism in a prosperous, highly educated, and secure Singapore. Lee's powerful memoir reveals a great deal—perhaps even more than the author intended.
Government To Ease Rules For Public Events
Lighter touch on community activities but rules for holding political forums and talks to stay; penalties updated.
News
MPs Unsure About Government's Focus On Family
Some question its motive while others worry it's just paying lip service.
Don't Let Machines Get In Way Of Service
Annette Kwan-Terry: I am writing to plead with the National Library to put a human face to its public service, and not hide behind technology or bureaucratic systems.
Why Singapore Is Unloading An Icon
NatSteel Electronics has become a parable of how difficult it is for Asian players to compete against outsize global corporations in the fast-growing contract manufacturing business.
Exam Fiasco, So Studnets To Resit Paper
Marketing paper was similar to SIM's exam earlier this year. Now MIS has given two dates for the re-exam, amid protests from working students.
Technology
Free Internet Access May Not Last Long
Although the ISP market in Asia-Pacific is still healthy, the free access model is not.
SCV May Put Internet On TV
SCV's WorldGate will offer basic surfing and e-mailing service if its system, on trial now, is successful.
M1 Rolls Out GSM 1800 Network To Replace CDMA
MobileOne is rolling out a GSM 1800 network and hopes to transfer its CDMA users to the new network by end of next year.
Entertainment
TV Works Goes To The Heart Of The City
TV Works, the English channel of SPH MediaWorks, Singapore Press Holdings' television arm, will unveil a city studio in the heart of town in about two months' time.
Dick Lee To Be Creative Director At MediaWorks
As creative director, he will conceptualise and oversee the image and grooming of the channel's stars and personalities. He will also mastermind media events and outdoor shows to give the TV channel a spectacular branding.
Monday, November 13, 2000
Top Stories
Singapore's Baby Step Toward A "Livelier Press"
But with the competition limited to government-controlled companies, it may be a long time before Singaporeans truly experience freedom of choice.
News
Censorship Of Talaq
Dana Lam: All who reject the idea that domestic violence is a part of every Muslim household must support Talaq. Talaq is a play about the social problem of domestic violence. It is not a commentary on the Muslim religion. To suggest otherwise is to offend all Muslims.
Cathay Building And McDonald House Chosen As National Monuments
Information and the Arts Minister Lee Yock Suan announced the new category of national monuments early this month. Under it, buildings can be redeveloped or even torn down partially, as long as certain distinctive portions of the buildings are kept.
Technology
Burn Rate, Baby, Burn Rate
As cash dries up and budgets shrink, Singapore dotcoms are now more careful with ad dollars.
From Boom To Gloom?
Online adspend made up just 0.5% of total spending on all advertising in the Asia-Pacific last year, and will form just 3% of total adspend by 2004.
Sunday, November 12, 2000
Top Stories
UK Magazine Yanked After Slipping Singapore's Net
A British lifestyle magazine has been pulled from news stands in Singapore for falling foul of the city state's tight controls on pornography — but not before dozens of copies were snapped up.
Speakers' Corner: Has It Run Out Of Steam?
Crowds might have died away but the speakers vow to talk on.
News
Make Singapore A Pleasant Place To Live In, Urges DPM Lee
Yeo: Better Ties Ahead Between Malaysia And Singapore
Singapore and Malaysia should have better ties in the next decade when a new generation of leaders come to power because they will not be encumbered by the past, said a Singapore minister.
Technology
Sending Messages Just Got Easier
Home-grown technology lets users send SMS messages to friends' e-mail, SMS, ICQ and fax — all at the same time.
Entertainment
Show More Enthusiasm In Applauding Artistes
Yong Shao May: The arts scene in Singapore is certainly livening up. However, I am dismayed at the apparent lack of appreciation shown for artistes' performances
Art And Soul Of Asean
The annual gathering of artists at Asean's premiere art award begins today in Singapore as the event hits its stride in its seventh year.
Ann Kok Sets Sights On Hongkong
"People who know me, know me. Those who don't, they write all sorts of things about me."
Saturday, November 11, 2000
Top Stories
Swee Say: New Economy Dictates Regional Grouping
It must not only liberalise its economy and shift from a mindset of value added to value creation, but get its neighbours together to compete as a team.
Can Singapore Inc Ever Become A Nation?
Chua Lee Hoong: Not very inspiring stuff, but fine if we are satisfied being Singapore Inc. I am not satisfied though. I want Singapore to be a nation. How?
News
Singapore Lawmakers Call For Discussion Of Plane Crash
Singapore legislators will raise questions in Parliament Monday about the recent crash of Singapore Airlines flight SQ006 in Taiwan, officials said Saturday.
Rebates For Car Buyers Who Go Green
Environment-friendly electric and "hybrid' cars cost more, but rebates may encourage buyers to switch.
Entertainment
CHef Celebrates 12 Years At Hai Tien Lo
Known for his meticulous attention to detail, and painstaking technique, chef Chan can make even the humble roast chicken exceptional. His version is made by hanging the fowl over a hot grill and dousing it continuously in boiling oil — a messy task Chan often undertakes himself.
Friday, November 10, 2000
Top Stories
After The Crash
Good crisis management and a fine reputation can save SIA.
The Mile High Club
With a question mark hanging over the pilot of SQ006 at Taipei, any suggestion of pilot error usually comes with serious legal consequences.
Careers Before Politics
Plunging into politics in your 30s might put a break in your career.
News
New Singapore Tabloid Hits The Street
SIA Apologises To SQ 006 Victims In Taiwanese Newspaper
The move came after a representative of the Taiwanese victims' families earlier criticised the airline and its pilots for not apologising for the incident even after preliminary investigation reports showed the flight had taken off on the wrong runway.
Runway Lights A "Booby Trap" For Pilots
New pilots simulating take-off from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in bad weather often turn into the wrong runway in the aircraft simulator.
The Human Touch
Singapore Airline's PR man Rick Clements rose to the challenge to give the tragedy a sympathetic human face, and more importantly, a helping hand.
NTUC And SMRT To Set Up Stores At MRT Stations
SMRT Corp president and SMRT Investments director Kwek Siew Jin said SMRT chose Cheers as a partner because "NTUC FairPrice has a longstanding reputation in Singapore for quality and competitive pricing...and it is a trusted brand".
Technology
Lycos Asia Starts Multi-Lingual Domain Registration
Lycos Asia and Speednames will provide a domain name registration service beyond the English language to businesses and individuals.
Entertainment
Saucy, Pricey And Very Classy
La Fete boasts an old world charm and very fine food, as our reporter finds out.
Singapore Action Flick To Hit America
Action flick 2000 AD will make its way to movie theatres in the US, the second Singaporean film to be picked up for distribution by Miramax.
TV Star Lina Ng Crosses Over
Ng, 26, now in the TCS 8 sitcom The Right Frequency, handed in her resignation on Wednesday and has inked a three-year acting contract with MediaWorks.
Thursday, November 9, 2000
News
Technology
Wednesday, November 8, 2000
Top Stories
Outcry Over OUB's Card Offering
An exclusive arrangement which enables Overseas Union Bank (OUB) customers to pay their power bills by using a newly launched credit card has raised the hackles of some bankers, resulting in not one, but two, protest letters being sent out.
DelGro Pulls Out Of New Newspaper
Transport company DelGro Corporation's revelation came a day before it was to sign a joint venture agreement with three other parties on the company to put out the newspaper, Today.
News
Hong Kong PCCW's Yuen Says No Decision Yet On Singapore M1 Stake
Maps Fail To Add Clarity To Probe Of Airline Crash
Speculation yesterday mounted that a misleading map issued by Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration may have been responsible for causing the pilot's error which led to the crash of Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ006 last Tuesday night.
Technology
M1 Taken Aback By IDA's Charge
Telecom operator denies allegation that it took "out of context' discussion on recorded messages.
CyberWorks Eyes Singapore
The mobile-telephone joint venture between Pacific Century CyberWorks and Australia's Telstra is seeking a majority stake in Singapore's MobileOne (M1), according to sources.
Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Top Stories
Cut It Out, IDA Orders M1
Dropping a bombshell late last night, it said it had already alerted the IDA of its plan to tag on the message at an earlier meeting, and had received no adverse reaction then.
Taipei Airport Cameras May Hold Clues
Investigators probing the crash of Singapore Airlines flight SQ 006 disclosed yesterday that they would examine hitherto undisclosed ground- surveillance-camera tapes of the Chiang Kai-shek airport runway. These might show if edge lights of the closed runway were switched on, making it appear that the runway was operational.
News
More Want To Work Overseas WIth SIF
The sudden increase is due to programmes launched by the foundation over the last year, says the foundation's executive director, Dr Tan Chi Chiu, who has been in the job for a year.
Debate Pointless If PM's Mind Is Made Up
Koh Kia Jeng: What is there to debate if the result is known from the onset?
SPH Hard To Beat, Says US Bank
MediaCorp's free tabloid Today — which will be launched on Friday — would not dent SPH's advertising revenue significantly or be a disruption to its rate structure.
Technology
Entertainment
Ra Ra Girl Returns To Showbiz
Stage veteran and alumnus of the ill-fated Ra Ra Show Karen Tan is the latest addition to MediaWorks' growing stable of artistes.
Monday, November 6, 2000
Top Stories
M1's IDD Tactic
At the heart of the matter: the 80,000-odd M1 customers who had pre-registered for SingTel's overseas call services such as 001 and 013. Instead of having their calls routed through immediately once they dialled these access codes, the customers had to put up with a 10-second marketing message by M1 asking them to use its 002 or 021 IDD services instead.
"Uproar" If Taiwan Prosecutes 3 Pilots
The aviation expert leading the official investigation into the SQ 006 crash warned yesterday that prosecuting the three pilots involved could damage Taiwan's international relations.
Racial Politics Will Undermine Singapore: PM
The four races here were like four overlapping circles, and the area of overlap was where Singaporeans "live, play and work together" with "minimal consciousness of ethnicity". "We must never reduce the common space," he stressed. "If we do, the country will break up into separate, unlinked circles."
News
Indonesian Minister Accuses Singapore Banks Of Forex Speculation
Several banks in Singapore have been accused by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Rizal Ramli of capitalizing on the bickering among Indonesia's political elite through speculation in the foreign exchange market.
Investigators Re-Create Ill-Fated Singapore Airlines Flight
The exercise, held at at Chiang Kai Shek airport at 3:30 am (1930 GMT Sunday), was aimed at determining why the Boeing 747-400 passenger jet tried to take off late Tuesday from a runway sealed for repairs, leading to the crash which killed 82 people.
Technology
Sunday, November 5, 2000
Top Stories
New Blood Before Next Election
PM Goh is searching for a batch of younger Singaporeans capable of taking on a career in politics.
News
Aviation Expert Says Runway Lights Should Not Be Turned On
Port Still The World's Busiest
Singapore has maintained its status as the world's busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage but should strive to serve shipping lines better, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in its 1999 annual report.
Friday, November 3, 2000
Top Stories
Singapore Airlines Demands Answers To 'Horrifying Mistake' In Taiwan
"The families of those who passed away on that flight, all those who were on board SQ006 and the public at large will want some answers."
Singapore Airlines Admits Plane On Wrong Runway
"The aircraft was on the wrong runway, and we want to understand now how could this have happend." airline public affairs vice president Rick Clements told a media briefing in Singapore.
News
Black Box Findings Released In Singapore Air Crash
The pilot of Singapore Airlines flight SQ 006 uttered an expletive and the words, "something there!" less than a minute after the jumbo jet started accelerating Tuesday night down a runway at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport that had been closed for repairs.
Put News In Sections: ST Readers Polled
While most were pleased with the newspaper's coverage of stories as well as its layout, many also asked for easier-to-find sections.
Why No Warning Signs, Experts Ask
Lights on closed runway should be off, access blocked, and control tower should have checked on jet, they say.
Portland Survivor Hailed Hero In Singapore
Courtney is one of many survivors claiming that the Singapore Airlines crew of being unprepared and concealing information to the passengers.
SIA Crash: Lights On Runways Were In Working Order
The Taiwan Civil Aviation Bureau revealed in a news conference that lights on the runways were in working order at the time of the SQ 006 crash.
Technology
StarHub Has Let Its Users Down
Ng Hong Peow: I believe many StarHub users wish it would stop the advertising gimmicks, stop giving excuses for the hiccups and start providing a reliable service.
Net Behaviour: Singapore Highest In Chat, Email
Singapore leads the way in cyberspace - with the highest proportion of users here chatting online. A report filed by NetValue, an Internet measurement company had 33% of Singapore users chatting online, leaving Hong Kong and even the United States lagging behind.
Entertainment
Short Films Get Showcase
Fans of short film productions can now sample the creative talents of Singapore's up and coming directors at this attractive site.
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Top Stories
Four Banks Plan ATM Joint Venture
The days of frenzied bidding by Singapore banks for prime automated teller machine (ATM) sites may soon be numbered as four rivals join hands to centrally own and operate the cash-spitting machines.
News
Foolish To Overreact To Remarks Against Western Values
John B. Carpenter: It is foolish to be so sensitive to people's often-irrational feelings that we fail to identify and guard against the invasion of Hollywood's propaganda.
Singapore Airlines Future A Mystery
Singapore Airlines, long considered one of the world's safest airlines, may have to draw on its sterling reputation to persuade passengers and investors to stand by it after a crash this week that killed 81 people.
Distraught Relative Demands Answers At Singapore Airlines Briefing
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Top Stories
Blame Game Begins
Even as news bulletins broadcast reports of men, women and children drenched in jet fuel and engulfed in fire as the 747 jet erupted in flames on the tarmac, the blame game was beginning - quietly.
Airline Defends Pilot's Decision
The airline and Taiwanese aviation officials said the veteran pilot wasn't reckless for deciding to fly.
Hypocritical To Condone Racism Against Caucasians
John A. Douglas: Why is it then that bigoted remarks against Caucasians are regarded as decent and acceptable here? The answer: gross hypocrisy.
Pushing Boundaries On Stage
The furore over Talaq is just the latest instalment in an age-old struggle, not only in Singapore but around the world, between artistes and the establishment. Talaq is not the first, nor the last, play to offend sensibilities.
Taiwan Jet Crash Leaves Dozens Unaccounted For
There were conflicting reports on the number of dead. On Wednesday moring in Taiwan, The Associated Press reported that at least 65 people had been killed, while Reuters reported the number as 68.
News
Restoration Of CPF Cut: "Too Early To Tell"
It was too early to tell if the full restoration of the 10-point CPF cut would be delayed by falling stock prices and the rising cost of crude oil.
Free Cab Rides From Comfort
Taxi operator Comfort Transportation is switching off the meter in 130 of its cabs between noon and 5 pm on Nov 4, 11, 18 and 25 as part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations.
Don't Short Change Us On CPF Partial Restoration
A responsible paper states its views in its editorial column and defend them when challenged. It does not doctor readers' letters to mute challenges to its own views.
Singapore Airlines Refuses Comment On Wrong Runway Theory For Crash
Singapore Airlines said Wednesday it could not confirm speculation that a Boeing 747 which crashed on take-off in Taiwan was on the wrong runway and hit construction equipment.
SIA Crash: MFA To Render Assistance To Relatives
At a 5 am news conference, SIA had said that there was 11 Singaporean passengers on board, and 17 Singaporean crew members. It could not confirm the total number of deaths, but did say the two Singaporean first officers survived together with the captain.
Accidents Rare For Singapore Air
At Least 66 Die In Singapore Crash
Attention Turns Toward Cause Of Deadly Taiwan Jetliner Crash
Preliminary speculation into the cause of the crash will focus on how weather may have affected the flight.
Technology
Singapore Power May Lease Its Cables To Telco
"Our underground ducts could be useful, but we are not operating a telecoms business . . . Our core business is in the transmission and distribution of electricity."
Power-Socket Internet Access Takes Off
The new technology is on a one-year trial at Singapore Polytechnic. Access speed may be increased to 4,000 kbps by next year.
M1 Hits Out At Rivals For Moving In On Its CDMA Users
An advertising war, aimed specifically at drawing away M1's 55,000 CDMA mobile phone subscribers, erupted last week with SingTel Mobile and StarHub taking out full-page advertisements on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
Entertainment
MediaWorks In Tie-Up With HK Firm
Joint venture to pool talents and regional marketing to produce Mandarin TV programmes for Asia.