THE life of a seven-year-old girl suffering from a severe case of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is no longer in peril. But there is still a big question mark hanging over the future of Sharmaine Lee, once a happy-go-lucky Primary 2 pupil and avid reader.

LONDON - CHELSEA are planning a mass clear-out of players at the end of the season, irrespective of whether coach Avram Grant hangs on to his job.

PARIS - SIXTY countries have backed a report calling for radical changes to world farming in a bid to feed the world's poor, prevent social catastrophe and protect the environment.

THE man who bought Robinsons this month has taken his first walk around the Orchard Road icon, unveiling plans to add more buzz to the 150-year-old store.

LONDON - THE European Union's trade chief has warned that attempts to publicly embarrass China over Tibet will prove ineffective and could prompt retaliation against European economic interests.

LONDON has Sherlock Holmes and his pipe. New York has Nero Wolfe and his beer bottle. And Singapore has C.F. Wong and his lo pan.

THE phrase 'crime against humanity' has never been used to describe perverseness in governments' food management policy. Two officials whose brief extends to staving off a scarcity crisis - Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and the United Nations special rapporteur for food, Mr Jean Ziegler - have been unequivocal in saying nations that use food crops to produce car fuel during a period of food-induced unrest are morally deficient.