nst online

Bin Laden will never face US trial, be caught alive: Holder

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:06:29 +0800

WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden will never face trial in the United States because he will not be captured alive, Attorney General Eric Holder told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Medvedev to visit Argentina in April

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:08:26 +0800

BUENOS AIRES Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will travel to Argentina on April 14 and 15, the first official visit by a Russian head of state in 125 years of bilateral relations, the Argentine Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Furious factory owner locks in enforcement officers

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:12:19 +0800

REMBAU: Enraged with the appearance of enforcement officers at a factory for slaughtering and processing chickens, a man believed to be the factory owner, suddenly locked in the officers at the premises in the Pedas Halal Park, here.

Brain damage linked to prenatal meth exposure

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:14:47 +0800

WASHINGTON: A developing fetus exposed to methamphetamine can cause far more damaging brain, cognitive and behavioral problems than prenatal exposure to alcohol, a study said Tuesday.

Football: Sevilla rue Palop howler as CSKA progress

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:22:53 +0800

MADRID: A costly goalkeeping blunder from Sevilla captain Andres Palop helped CSKA Moscow qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a 2-1 win here on Tuesday.

Sex: Nerds lose out when women judge on germs

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:28:12 +0800

PARIS: What gives a guy the best chances of attracting a girl? Should he be metrosexual or macho?

US watchdog orders Boeing to fix 777

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:56:00 +0800

WASHINGTON: US aviation watchdog, the Federal Aviation Administration, on Tuesday ordered Boeing to fix a software problem in hundreds of 777 aircraft that could cause them to overrun the runway.

Mexico hitmen chased US victims by car: official

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:33:09 +0800

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico: A gunman chased a US official and her husband by car in Mexico’s crime capital Ciudad Juarez for over a kilometer before killing them over the weekend, a military official said Tuesday.

'Arrogant' rich countries marred climate talks: economist

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:56:44 +0800

LONDON: The “arrogance” of rich countries at the Copenhagen climate summit in December contributed to the negotiations’ “disappointing” outcome, a leading economist has told the BBC.

Thinner smokers face higher risk of lung cancer

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:03:30 +0800

Bordeaux vintners look to Asia to drain cellars

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:10:01 +0800

BORDEAUX, France: Hong Kong has emerged as the fastest growing wine hub while China’s seemingly unquenchable thirst for wine has ousted the United States as Bordeaux’s number one client outside Europe.

Honda recalls 412,000 US vehicles for 'soft' brakes

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:13:36 +0800

CHICAGO: Honda announced Tuesday the recall of an estimated 412,000 vehicles in the United States because of problems with “soft” brakes, in the latest blow to the embattled Japanese auto industry.

Greying baby-boomers spark tourism boom

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:29:38 +0800

Fed's rates decision boosts Asian markets

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:46:49 +0800

HONG KONG: The US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates low for some time and an anticipated further loosening of monetary policy by the Bank of Japan helped Asian stocks higher on Wednesday.

Chinese ad firms seek talks with Google over pullout threat

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:53:33 +0800

BEIJING: A group of 27 Chinese advertising agencies have sent Google a letter calling for talks over compensation for possible business losses if the Internet giant pulls out of the country.

Fire & Rescue Dept needs more staff

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:58:41 +0800

KUCHING: The Fire and Rescue Department is in need of more men and women, about 1,450 nationwide, in line with its restructuring and expansion which began in 2006.

China drought leaves millions short of water

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:02:19 +0800

BEIJING: Millions of people face drinking water shortages in southwestern China because of a once-a-century drought that has dried up rivers and threatens vast farmlands, state media reported Wednesday.

USM kit to help lower cancer risks from UV rays

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:56:04 +0800

GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has unveiled a special kit that can help lower skin and eye cancer risks due to ultraviolet (UV) ray.

Bank of Japan doubles loans to banks to 220 billion dollars

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:15:55 +0800

TOKYO: The Bank of Japan Wednesday said it would extend emergency steps launched last year to boost the economy by doubling short-term loans available to banks to 20 trillion yen (220 billion dollars).

World Bank urges China to let currency rise

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:25:06 +0800

BEIJING: The World Bank on Wednesday urged China to let its currency rise to contain inflation and stop the economy overheating, predicting that growth will gallop ahead at 9.5 percent this year.

China zoo shut amid allegations it harvested tiger parts

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:28:20 +0800

BEIJING: A zoo in northeastern China has been shut after a spate of Siberian tiger deaths as reports Wednesday said dozens of the dead animals may have been used to make a virility tonic.

PMCC wants cooling-off period extended

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:30:43 +0800

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce (PMCC) yesterday called on the state government to extend the cooling-off period for the demolition of illegal business premises from a month to between six months and a year.

Malaysian scientist offers hope for kidney patients

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:09:24 +0800

MELBOURNE: When award-winning Malaysian researcher Dr Eng Hooi Sian steps onto the podium in Singapore this Saturday to receive her PhD in Medicine from the University of Adelaide, it will be another step forward in an impressive career.

Spike in drug trafficking busts in dry season

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:55:07 +0800

KUALA TERENGGANU: Drug trafficking rings apparently blossomed during the dry season here, as supply from across the Thai-Malaysia border was not hindered by raging rivers and flooded roads.

Tennis - Baghdatis stuns Federer in Indian Wells

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:56:56 +0800

INDIAN WELLS, California: Marcos Baghdatis stunned world number one Roger Federer 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) Tuesday, saving three match points en route to victory in the third round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000.

Penang properties still in good demand

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:52:57 +0800

BUTTERWORTH: Despite the global downturn last year, the Penang property market has not recorded any significant drop in prices and is expected to improve this year in line with the economic recovery.

Four roads to close for Petronas Cub Prix

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:59:18 +0800

ALOR SETAR: Four roads in the city will be closed for four days, starting today, to stage the Petronas Cub Prix.

MPs who walked out not credible reps: DPM

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:45:40 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition members of parliament (MPs) who walked out of the Dewan Rakyat after they were denied a chance to debate a motion, cannot be credible representatives, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

‘Do not reveal country’s military secrets, or else…’

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:32:10 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will not compromise on anybody found leaking military secrets, including the Dewan Rakyat to leak official military secrets for their own benefit.

A committee to seek views on sex education will be set up

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:28:57 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: A committee will be set up to seek views from various quarters on sex education policy in schools, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Three killed, two injured as 4WD crashes into trailer

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:33:07 +0800

GUA MUSANG: Three people were killed while two others was injured when their 4-Wheel drive crashed into the rear of a trailer parked on the shoulder of the road at KM 65 Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai this morning.

‘Sudin Ajaib’ to face four charges

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:01:26 +0800

KUALA KRAI: Shamsuddin Che Deraman or "Sudin Ajaib", who was said to have married an underage girl, is likely to face four charges under the Kelantan Islamic Family Law Enactment 2002.

Malaysian lawyer goes international

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:11:07 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior lawyer Datuk N. Sivananthan achieved another first for the legal profession in the country when he was elected vice-president for the Asia-Pacific region of the International Criminal Bar (ICB).

Indian CM’s ‘fetish’ causes uproar

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:25:19 +0800

NEW DELHI: An Indian woman chief minister's fetish for wreaths made of banknotes worth millions of Indian rupees has a created a furor.

Dengue claims 38 lives already in 2010

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:32:16 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Four more deaths recorded last week, (March 7-13) has raised the number of deaths caused by dengue, to 38 for the year.

Businessman loses RM400,000 to robbers

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:01:24 +0800

KUCHING: Two foreigners held up a businessman in his car and escaped with the victim's bag containing RM400,000 in Kota Samarahan, near here last night.

Astro to go private at RM4.30/share

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:11:08 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Astro All Asia Networks Plc (AAAN), Malaysia's sole pay-TV operator, is to be taken private at an offer cash price of RM4.30 per AAAN share, or RM8.5 billion in total.

F1 fans get to watch practice session for free on April 2

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:34:30 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will offer motorsport fans an unprecedented opportunity, to watch Formula One teams training for the Malaysia Grand Prix, for free.

US presses Japan to open farm markets

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:03:00 +0800

WASHINGTON: The United States pressed Japan Tuesday to throw open its lucrative markets to foreign farm products, as US lawmakers demanded an end to curbs on American beef.

Tiger Woods to make golf comeback at Masters

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:10:37 +0800

ORLANDO, Florida: Tiger Woods set the stage Tuesday for an emotional return to competitive golf, announcing plans to play at next month’s Masters after a five-month layoff over a sex scandal that wrecked his iconic image.

AOL plants Seed for Internet Age news operation

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:21:44 +0800

AUSTIN, Texas: Faded Internet star AOL is reinventing itself as a digital age news operation with an army of freelance writers wielding online tools.

RMAF’s Nuri makes emergency landing

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:51:26 +0800

ALOR GAJAH: A Nuri helicopter belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force had to make an emergency landing at the field of Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Pulau Sebang, near here, believed due to technical problems.

NEM should be more competitive: Daim

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:03:52 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The soon-to-be-announced Malaysia's New Economic Model (NEM) should be focus on strategies that would make the country competitive regionally, globally and domestically, said former finance minister, Tun Daim Zainuddin.

Healing the crisis
Ka Ting confirms bid for No. 1 post to ‘restore stability to MCA’

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:24:44 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The battle for the right to heal the 17-month crisis in MCA took shape yesterday, with immediate past president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting confirming that he is running for the top post to “restore stability, credibility and rule of law to the party”.

I respect Ka Ting’s decision: Ka Siong

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:41:04 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said today he respected the decision of former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting to contest the presidency in the party elections on March 28.

Odyssey sold in Malaysia not affected by recall: Honda

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:27:07 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd clarified that the recent recall of Odyssey and Element 2007 YM and 2008 YM does not affect units sold in Malaysia.

Coke's RM1b vote of confidence

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:04:05 +0800

NILAI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was heartened yesterday by the Coca-Cola Company's recognition of Malaysia as an important market and as its hub to serve the Asean region.

Three robbers shot dead

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:06:23 +0800

KUALA SELANGOR: The mastermind of a robbery gang and two of his accomplices were shot dead by police yesterday morning here in Kota Puteri after a car chase.

New Ipoh airport strategy

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:09:28 +0800

IPOH: The Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here will serve as a feeder airport to other airports in the region as it cannot compete with Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang and the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

DEWAN DISPATCHES
Why this tendency for rowdiness?

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:34:27 +0800

ANOTHER year in the Dewan Rakyat, another designed ruckus explodes.

Shahrizat to discuss with Jamil Khir on reviewing syariah issues

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:26:24 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she would discuss with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom on reviewing a number of issues involving syariah.

Fund analyst found dead in drain

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:12:20 +0800

By V. Shuman and Alagesh Nathan

'Middle Malaysia is mere rhetoric and sloganeering'

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:17:00 +0800

DAP'S Middle Malaysia concept is a mere rebranding of the party's old concept of "Malaysian Malaysia", said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday.

Shahrizat: Send the right signal on child brides

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:17:16 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Police and the Attorney-General's Chambers have been urged to fast-track investigations into recent cases of underage girls being forced into marriage.

Umi's death sentence commuted to life term

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:12:14 +0800

PASIR PUTIH: Convicted drug trafficker Umi Azlim Mohamad Lazim, who is imprisoned in China, has had her death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

Grieving Iranian rescued after high drama

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:12:17 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: A 20-year-old Iranian caused a four-hour high drama yesterday morning when he was seen seated precariously on a window ledge on the 25th floor of Villa Putri Condominium here.

DPM: All have role in new economy

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:12:30 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The soon-to-be-announced new economic model can be a key instrument to break down the walls of racism.

'Ex-CC duo have right to contest'

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:14:37 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: A former MCA legal bureau chief insists that central committee members Wong Nai Chee and Datuk Wong Mook Leong are eligible to contest in the March 28 party polls.

Time leaders worked as one

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:14:42 +0800

'I'm a victim of sabotage'

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:14:46 +0800

ALOR STAR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Bakar Arang state assemblyman Tan Wei Shu, who was dropped from the Pas-dominated state executive council last week, claims to have been "backstabbed by people" he thought "were my friends".

Civil servants top graft list

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:14:50 +0800

KUANTAN: Most of the 500 people who were detained in the country last year on suspicion of corruption were civil servants.

Behave and be present, BN reps advised

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:16:57 +0800

BARISAN Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak has reminded all the coalition's members of parliament to safeguard their behaviour and maintain a good record of attendance during the current Parliament sitting.

Anwar withdraws appeal to disqualify judge

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:19:21 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has withdrawn his appeal to disqualify the trial judge presiding over his sodomy case as he "did not want to prolong the trial".

Opposition MPs walk out after speaker refuses debate

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:17:05 +0800

YESTERDAY was only the second day of the third session of the august house, but a walkout, scream-ing matches, trading insults and heated debates were the order of the day.

Nazri: Write to speaker

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:17:09 +0800

DE FACTO law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said a select committee could look into the recommendation of abolishing the quorum and voting by division requirements in Parliament.

MSU's well-tailored optometry course

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:21:28 +0800

ONE expertise in high demand among employers in the public and private sectors is the eye doctor or optometrist. The role of an optometrist is as important as a medical doctor, hence the profession is highly regarded in society.

'My duty to make that report'

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:19:24 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: Two complainants in the sedition trial of DAP chairman Karpal Singh agreed at the High Court that a sultan could be brought to court if it was provided for in the Federal Constitution.

Mental preparation for overseas-bound students

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:21:31 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR:Every student should be focused and mentally prepared so that he or she will not get a culture shock when going overseas for further study, says Muhammad Izmil Fitri, a Management & Science University (MSU) graduate in biomedicine.

5 held over killing of Pas club chief

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:23:55 +0800

TELUK INTAN: Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the gangland-style murder of the Perak Pas Supporters' Club youth chief on Monday.

RM100m loss a year from illegal music downloads

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:24:02 +0800

JOHOR BARU: More than 9,400 illegal mobile phone outlets nationwide are selling song downloads illegally to the public.

93pc gonorrhoea cases involve men

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:24:05 +0800

EIGHTY-SIX per cent of the 76 gonorrhoea cases recorded last year were from those aged between 15 and 29-years-old. Of that, 93 per cent were men.

RM86m dam to ease water woes

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:53:15 +0800

A NEW dam costing RM85.5 million is being planned in Kahang near Kluang in a move to address the water shortage problem during the dry season in the district.

Medical centre raises RM47,000 for charity fund

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:24:12 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The Mahkota Medical Centre Sdn Bhd yesterday donated RM47,331.95, which it raised at a charity carnival, to the NSTP Charity Fund.

Sex drugs and sexual aids seized in raid

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:24:15 +0800

JOHOR BARU: Police and Health Department personnel seized sexual pleasure enhancement drugs and an array of sexual aids in an operation in Jalan Wong Ah Fook yesterday.

It pays to keep river clean

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:26:19 +0800

RANAU: Just a year after a group of villagers cleared rubbish from a river, several types of fish started breeding again, making their home in a waterway once used as a dumping ground.

2-year-old dumped at stall

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:26:22 +0800

JITRA: A 2-year-old boy is now homeless after a woman, believed to be his mother, abandoned and left him with a nasi lemak stall owner in Kampung Permatang Liku, Air Hitam, near here yesterday.

Hose had no water to douse burning car

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:26:26 +0800

GEORGE TOWN: An arsonist is believed to have set fire to a brand new Honda Jazz owned by an entertainment outlet worker early yesterday morning.

Two boys drown while crossing river

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:26:30 +0800

KUALA KRAI: Two members of a football team drowned while six others were saved by an angler while trying to wade across Sungai Lebir yesterday.

Jealousy drives man to kill wife

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:26:33 +0800

ALOR GAJAH: Driven by jealously, a lorry driver slashed his wife to death before hanging himself at their rented home in Taman Seri Redan, Masjid Tanah, here.

Champions League: Bordeaux shun crisis talk as Olympiakos await

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:57:10 +0800

PARIS: Defender Matthieu Chalme says Bordeaux have emerged unscathed from an indifferent run of form prior to the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Olympiakos today (early tomorrow in Malaysia).

Champions League: Messi to unleash magic on Stuttgart

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:57:14 +0800

MADRID: Holders Barcelona hope Argentine sensation Lionel Messi can continue his rich vein of goal-scoring form today (early tomorrow in Malaysia) against VfB Stuttgart in the second leg of the last 16 Champions League tie at Nou Camp.

EPL: Ronaldo branded a 'provocative' player

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:59:18 +0800

MADRID: Valladolid's Brazilian defender Nivaldo Santana, who appeared to stamp on Ronaldo's shin during a weekend Spanish league match, on Monday accused the Portuguese striker of being a "provocative" player.

Another four make the grade

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:15:47 +0800

FOUR athletes, two each from archery and diving, have been included in the "Road to London" programme, thus bringing the total to 21.

AFC Cup: Selangor made to eat humble pie

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:01:21 +0800

SELANGOR suffered one of their biggest defeats in recent memory when they were mauled 6-1 by Indonesia's Sriwijaya FC in an AFC Cup Group F match at the Jaka Baring Stadium yesterday.

Five star KL sink Perlis

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:01:40 +0800

DEFENDING champions Kuala Lumpur notched their third successive victory in the National Under-16 tournament by blanking Perlis 5-0 in a Group A match in Sandakan yesterday.

Razip's gamble paying off

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:17:39 +0800

RAZIP Ismail took a leaf out of Arsene Wenger's book through his philosophy in starting them out young which is beginning to reap dividends after Kuala Lumpur stunned Perlis 2-0 in a Super League match in Kangar on Saturday.

Comment: It's high time BWF introduced the 'Hawkeye'

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:01:37 +0800

INTERNATIONAL badminton players should push the game's rulers to follow the example of tennis and introduce "Hawkeye" technology to end disputes over close line calls. The Hawkeye should be implemented in the modern game of badminton as line judges are not as competent as before.

Marathon: Organisers promise smoother event

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:01:25 +0800

THE Standard Chartered KL Marathon organisers have vowed to deliver a smoother event on June 27 while targeting 18,000 runners this year.

Chong Wei guns for more titles

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:03:51 +0800

LEE Chong Wei, as expected, is not satisfied with the All England title and will gun for more honours this year.

Najib wants Thomas Cup next

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:21:06 +0800

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hopes Lee Chong Wei's All England victory will galvanise the national badminton team for the Thomas Cup challenge in May.

Praises coming in for Meritus

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:22:47 +0800

MERITUS GP got the thumbs-up from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for becoming the first Asian team to win a GP2 race.

CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open: Nicol stays focused

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:23:43 +0800

FRESH from her season-opening win in Chennai two weeks ago, Nicol David is ready to take on all-comers in a bid to win the CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open for the sixth time starting today.

Eating dogs: Vet's idea shows little love for animals

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:52:57 +0800

I AM appalled by the statement of Veterinary Services Department deputy director-general Dr Ahmad Suhaimi Omar about eating dogs from pounds.

SPM: Do girls really have what it takes?

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:04:14 +0800

I REFER to the reports in the NST about girls outperforming boys in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination and the column by Zainul Arifin "Girls power on, but what about the boys?" (New Sunday Times, March 14).

SPM: Follow your heart

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:04:48 +0800

NOW that the SPM results are out, many school leavers will be thinking about their next step.

Nostalgia: Our heritage too easily razed

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:05:18 +0800

I WAS surprised to read in Wan A. Hulaimi's column ("Coming back to a past that's being chipped away" -- NST, Jan 31) about the demolition of the bookshop where he launched his book Growing Up in Terengganu, together with all the shophouses in the same row.

Language use: Kill 'd' fad now

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:05:53 +0800

THE report "First to NZ, then Everest" (NST, March 12) said the proposed second attempt by a group of Malaysians to climb Mount Everest is called "Perdana de Everest Mission".

Smoking: Do yourself a favour and quit habit now

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:11:14 +0800

IN 2003, the Global Youth Tobacco survey revealed that 25 per cent of youths in Malaysia were tobacco users and more than half of adult men were smokers.

Banking: RM10 for what was free

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:11:44 +0800

I AM unhappy with the way banks are imposing indiscriminate charges on customers, especially on services that used to be free but which now attract fees. For instance, the service charge for bank statements.

Public transport: States should take the initiative

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:13:12 +0800

THE Malacca government has made many announcements and comments related to public transport over the past five years.

Build-then-sell system: Policy under review

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:56:33 +0800

I REFER to the letter "Adopt build-then-sell system" (NST, Feb 22).

EDITORIAL
Paedophilia by another name

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:04:25 +0800

THERE are many terms to describe a girl below the age of consent. But mention "Lolita" -- after the protagonist in Vladimir Nabokov's novel of the same name -- and images of a young, nubile nymphet, 12 years old and wanton, immediately appear. In the story, Lolita's step-father Humbert Humbert lusts after her. After his wife's timely demise, Humbert and Lolita consummate this desire and enter into a marriage of sorts. But it ends badly because Lolita is still a child in need of a childhood and is denied it by Humbert. "Lolita" describes the forbidden.

MARK LANDLER and ETHAN BRONNER
US anger over Israeli plan building up

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:21:36 +0800

AN ill-timed municipal housing announcement in Jerusalem has mutated into one of the most serious conflicts between the United States and Israel in two decades, leaving a politically embarrassed Israeli government scrambling to respond to a tough list of demands by President Barack Obama administration.

W.SCOTT THOMPSON
All ye fools, march no more in folly

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:21:45 +0800

IT would be hackneyed to use the overused phrase "March Of Folly", most recently of Barbara Tuchman's, while describing any particularly loathsome undertaking by a world leader or suicidal society. But when a prominent Israeli uses it of his country it's just a bit different. Indeed, Uri Dromi, the spokesman for Yitzhak Rabin, has entitled an op-ed in the International Herald Tribune "Will Israel Join The March Of Folly? (A surreal touch: on the other side of his op-ed last Thursday was a piece on a terrible Israeli eviction of Palestinians in East Jerusalem.)

KAMRUL IDRIS
Iran awaits the statesman to heal its rifts

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:21:51 +0800

EVEN sworn enemies can have more in common than they think.