Friday, January 29, 2016

Singapore Straits Times

SATURDAY JANUARY 30 2016
3 HR PSI 32 
 SINGAPORE 29°C/25 °C
ST Index  2,629.110 +66.660

TOP STORIES 

TOKYO (REUTERS, BLOOMBERG) - The Bank of Japan ramped up its aggressive stimulus campaign on Friday (Jan 29), adding negative interest rates on central bank deposits to its massive asset-buying programme, stunning financial markets that expected no action or a moderate increase in asset purchases.

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Basketball: Swimmer Phelps strips as free throw distraction
US swim star Michael Phelps, hopeful of adding to his record of 22 Olympic medals in August at Rio, showed off his fitness at a college basketball game by stripping down to his swimsuit. http://str.sg/Zj7r 
Iranian drone flew over US carrier in 'unprofessional' move - US Navy
An unarmed Iranian drone flew directly over a US aircraft carrier operating in international waters in the Gulf this month in a move that was "abnormal and unprofessional," the US military said on Friday. http://str.sg/Zj7z PHOTO: EPA
Boston bomber appeals death sentence, conviction
Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Friday filed an appeal against his death sentence and conviction, handed down last year over one of the deadliest assaults on US soil since the 9/11 attacks.  http://str.sg/Zj7R PHOTO: REUTERS
Europe launches 'most wanted' list, Paris attack suspects featured
European police agencies introduced the list on a website hosted by Europol, as part of a push to share more information about criminals across borders. http://str.sg/Zj7E PHOTO: EUMOSTWANTED.EU
Maoist cult leader Aravindan Balakrishnan jailed 23 years for raping followers
Balakrishnan was convicted in December of offences spanning almost 34 years including child cruelty, false imprisonment, rape and indecent assault. http://str.sg/Zj7L PHOTO: AFP
Football: Sepp Blatter appeal on Feb 16 - Fifa spokesman
Sepp Blatter's appeal against his eight-year ban from football will be heard by Fifa judges on Feb 16, a day after that of Michel Platini. http://str.sg/Zj76 PHOTO: AFP
Netherlands to join US-led air strikes against ISIS in Syria
Bowing to US demands, the Dutch government announced on Friday it will take part in US-led air strikes in Syria against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, extending its current air support mission over Iraq. http://str.sg/Zj7B PHOTO: REUTERS
Golf: Leader Lawrie has record third Qatar title in sight
Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie edged closer to a record third Qatar Open title after taming the trademark winds of the Doha course to card a third round 70 that put him two strokes clear on Friday. http://str.sg/Zj78 PHOTO: EPA
Child suicide bomber kills 10 in Nigeria market: Witnesses
A child suicide bomber blew himself up in a market in north-east Nigeria on Friday, killing at least 10 people, witnesses said, the latest bloodshed to hit the region, which is plagued by Islamist violence. http://str.sg/Zj7d 
Cameron says 'not enough' progress made after EU talks
Prime Minister David Cameron said progress had been made in Britain's renegotiation of relations with the EU, after talks in Brussels on Friday, but it was "not enough".  http://str.sg/Zj7h  PHOTO: EPA
French police question Disneyland gun-carrier, militant links not seen
Initial questioning of a man arrested with handguns and a Quran in his baggage at the Disney theme park near Paris suggests he had no link to any potential militant attack, but he will remain in custody. http://str.sg/Zj7s  PHOTO: REUTERS
Polish senate approves Internet surveillance law
Poland's senate on Friday approved a controversial amendment making it easier for the secret service and police to access Internet data, stoking concerns about the state of democracy in the EU member. http://str.sg/Zj7W PHOTO: REUTERS
More FairPrice supermarkets will remain open over Chinese New Year period

A total of 25 stores will remain open on Feb 8 and 9, the first and second day of Chinese New Year. This is more than the 21 stores last year. 
On Feb 6, 92 stores will operate round the clock to cater to shoppers doing last minute shopping for their reunion dinner the following day.  http://str.sg/Zj7p
PHOTO: ST FILE
 
Malaysia at high risk for the spread of Zika virus, warns its Health Ministry

Deputy Health Director Datuk Dr Lokman Halim Sulaiman said the country is vulnerable because of the high presence of Aedes mosquitoes in the country.

The World Health Organisation will convene a special emergency meeting on Feb 1 to deal with the Zika virus which was "spreading explosively" across the world. More than 20 countries have reported incidences of the Zika virus, mainly located in South America and even in some developed nations like the United States. http://str.sg/ZjhF 
PHOTO: REUTERS
Bank of Japan to adopt negative interest rates: 5 key questions answered

Japan's central bank introduced -0.1 per cent interest rate at the end of their two-day policy meeting on Friday. Why is the central bank doing this?  This will give banks more incentive to loan the money out, thereby pump more cash into the economy. Find out more about the shocking decision.  http://str.sg/ZjnA  
Pussy willows in shorter supply, with smaller blooms this Chinese New Year, florists say

There is a supply shortfall of 30 to 40 per cent due to bad weather in Taiwan and southern China, but demand has also fallen due to concerns over mosquito breeding.
"People are worried about dengue and the Zika virus, and about mosquitoes breeding, so the number of people buying (pussy willows) has also reduced," said Mr Bernard Chiang, 64, of Golden Roc Florist. http://str.sg/Zj7k  ST PHOTO: ALICIA CHAN
Shooting: Singapore miss last chance to earn Olympic spot in women's 10m air rifle

No shooters from Singapore will be  competing in the women's 10m air rifle event at this year's Olympic Games after Martina Lindsay Veloso, Jasmine Ser and Ho Xiu Yi missed the cut at the Asia Olympic qualifying event in New Delhi. http://str.sg/Zjhy ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
NParks to extend early morning 2-hour free parking to more parks
NParks may extend a new two-hour-free parking policy to more parks across Singapore. Last September, NParks revised operating hours for carparks at seven parks from 24 hours to 22 hours, freeing up a slot between 6.30am and 8.30am where drivers are not charged. Here's the full list of carparks which are near parks: http://str.sg/ZjhH PHOTO: ST FILE
JUST IN: Lee Li Lian's NCMP seat has been declared vacant and will be given to another WP candidate. WP MPs abstained from voting
This paves the way for WP candidate Daniel Goh to fill the seat. Full story here: http://str.sg/ZjhD PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER FILE
JUST IN: MPs vote for amended NCMP motion
The amended motion proposed by PAP supports WP filling the NCMP seat vacated by Ms Lee Li Lian, but it registers WP's support for "political manoeuvre" to take advantage of the NCMP seat.

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Reader Brent Morgans wrote to askST to point out that Singapore Airlines is still charging fuel surcharges, "sometimes up to 30 or 40 per cent of a fare", but crude oil and jet fuel prices have been declining for a long time now.

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