The Straits Times

November 7, 2009 Saturday

Updated

Straits Times Headlines

Govt to offer slew of sites for homes

'A horrific outburst'

Inside

France has to clean up its act

View Points

Prime rolling out hybrid cabs

LTA says 'no' to a seventh taxi firm

Beijing plays down controversy over MM Lee's remarks

Ogilvy Centre to become a hotel

Gunman shouted 'God is great'

Gunman was reluctant for Afghan duty

US Muslim groups go into crisis mode, condemn attack

Fort Hood has high suicide rate

Dhana: Chronicle brings past to life

Cambridge faces stiff competition

SPH chief executive named as one of Insead's top 50 alumni

Crab expert leads charge on climate

Breaking News

Knifeman says deserves death

Man hangs from gondola, safe

Acknowledge contributions

Maid escapes death from fire

Putting the squeeze on space

New sanctions on Iran possible

Japan 'concerned' about spat

Consider financial deals tax **

Wen reaches out to Muslims

CAIRO - CHINESE Prime Minister Wen Jiaobao sought to reassure the world's Muslims about his country's goodwill towards them in Cairo on Saturday, at a time when Beijing is criticised for the treatment of its own Muslim minority.

'The relationship between Chinese civilisation and Islamic civilisation goes back years,' Mr Wen said in a speech delivered at the Cairo-based headquarters of the 22-member Arab League.

Acknowledge contributions

PROPERTY giant CapitaLand's decision to restore wage cuts for its executives and management staff has got the thumbs up from Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Yet given early signals of economic improvement here, he said it was up to companies to set the pace to restore pay cuts, adding that imposing a deadline would not be 'practical' at this stage.

Why we need immigrants

SINGAPORE will go the way of the dinosaurs, without the influx of permanent residents and new citizens, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong warned on Saturday night.

Making a compelling case for the need to take in more new immigrants, he trotted out various sets of figures to drive home the stark reality Singapore is facing: 'In the last 10 years, the number of people aged 65 and above has grown by about 100,000 while the number of children aged below 15 had shrunk by about 50,000.'

Don't panic over buying

THERE is no need to rush to buy homes, now that a slew of land parcels will be released to private developers in the first half of next year.

That was the assurance given on Saturday by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan. Similarly, he assured developers that they will have a variety of sites to choose from, with some up for grabs as early as January.

'Maximum restraint' urged

BANGKOK - THE head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations urged Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday to show 'maximum restraint' amid tensions over Phnom Penh's job offer to a fugitive former Thai premier.

Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said the 10-country bloc should not be seen to be divided by the dispute ahead of a historic meeting with US President Barack Obama and regional leaders later this month.