The Straits Times

February 18, 2009 Wednesday

Updated

Straits Times Headlines

Why I said yes

Inside

Throw the hiring net wide

View Points

Politician in nude photo uproar breaks down in tears

Japanese minister fails to quell criticism of his conduct

Exports fall a record 35%

Bukit Batok bush fires keep firemen busy

US gives priority to Japan

Voter roll to be updated

Dealing with devils in the mind

How to beat recession woes

Concerns about economy go back to mid-2008

Constitution keeps procedures flexible

Breaking News

19 dead in hepatitis outbreak

Man put body in toilet

700 homeless in PNG floods

China to help IT industry

'Buy Local' mandate

Illegal transplant tourists

Taiwan in recession

Aso, Medvedev discuss island

Missile tests in 2 weeks?

Better bird flu surveillance

Mt Namsan to get railway **

Mortgage plan unveiled

MESA (Arizona) - PRESIDENT Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled the next step in his multi-pronged efforts to lift the United States out of recession on Wednesday, pledging up to US$275 billion (S$421 billion) to help stem a wave of home foreclosures that sparked the US financial meltdown.

Mr Obama, who on Tuesday signed a landmark $787 billion economic stimulus bill mixing government spending and tax cuts, was set to unveil his housing plan formally at 12.15 pm EST/1715 GMT (1.15am on Thursday Singapore time) in Arizona, a state that has been especially hard hit by the housing crisis.

Polling districts changed

A DAY after the announcement that the register of voters will be updated, the Government Gazette has now revealed that changes have been made to polling districts.

The latest change - which is to ensure that each polling district has the optimal number of voters - was set out in a 144-page notification on Wednesday in the electronic version of the Government Gazette.

Investors to sue?

ABOUT 200 investors who lost cash on DBS High Notes 5 are weighing up legal action after their compensation appeals were rejected by the bank.

The investors met on Wednesday evening in a lecture room at PSB Academy's Campus@Delta to learn from lawyers about their legal options.

Indonesia key to US policy

JAKARTA - US SECRETARY of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday tapped Indonesia - as a democratic and mainly Muslim country - for a key role in the new US administration's foreign policy.

'Building a comprehensive partnership with Indonesia is a critical step on behalf of the United States' commitment to smart power,' she told a press conference here alongside Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

'Buy Local' mandate

BEIJING - CHINESE provinces are scrambling to try to shore up local firms through mandates to buy locally, in a sign that the protectionism economists have warned about is not just an international issue.

China's Ministry of Commerce has been quick to warn against protectionism, especially the 'Buy American' provision in the United States stimulus plan.