China seeks boycott of Dalai Lama event

With the Dalai Lama set to give a speech at the Geneva Graduate Institute today, China has written to diplomats and United Nations officials urging them not to attend the event, which is sponsored by the United States and Canada. The Nobel Peace Prize winner fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against communist rule. China views him as a separatist, but the monk says he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, his homeland.

New bus fleet's colour to be unveiled

The new livery for public buses under the government contracting model will be unveiled today at a bus carnival at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza.

Commuters had cast votes for the two choices: bright red or lush green. The chosen colour will make its debut on buses to be used by Anglo-Australian company Tower Transit.

US import, export data out today

The United States will release its import and export prices data today, a report which has been consistently weak in negative mid-single digits. The stronger US dollar is making imports cheaper but the export side has been hurt by falling global demand for US products. Analysts see import prices falling 0.8 per cent in February and export prices down 0.5 per cent.