7-day Archive: 

Loan scheme for unqualified home buyers violates EPF Act, say Pakatan reps

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Putrajaya’s plans to use RM1.5 billion from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to give home loans to unqualified buyers is in breach of the EPF Act 1991, which sets out permissible investment activities for the fund, Tony Pua said today.The DAP publicity chief said that while the EPF may lend to money to federal and state ... Read More
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Josefina Vazquez Mota, presidential hopeful from Mexico’s ruling conservative National Action Party (PAN), talks to a child at a boarding school in Apizaco February 3, 2012. — Reuters pic  

Malaysia

1 Care in its ‘final stages’, say Health Ministry officials

By Yow Hong Chieh
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Putrajaya’s controversial 1 Care scheme, which critics claim will tax citizens and businesses monthly to foot the country’s growing healthcare bill, has ... Read More

Sugar deal inked above market price as subsidy bill spikes

By Lisa J. Ariffin
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 – Malaysia signed a long-term sugar supply deal at a fixed price of US$26 (RM78.20) per hundred pounds last month despite global prices for the commodity ... Read More

Shahrizat says NFCorp test from Allah, vows to fight on

SEPANG, Feb 3 — Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil says she plans to continue leading the women’s wing of the party despite the National Feedlot Corporation ... Read More

Business

Nasdaq vaults to 11-year high on surge in jobs

NEW YORK, Feb 4 — A surge in hiring in the world’s largest economy last month drove the Nasdaq to an 11-year high yesterday as optimism grew that the labour market is on a steady ... Read More

Wall Street analysts struggle to predict Apple

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 4 — By day, Robert Leitao manages a Catholic church in Southern California. By night, he indulges his other passion: predicting Apple Inc’s results.Leitao is ... Read More

US job growth surges, jobless rate drops to 8.3pc

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 — The US economy created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.3 per cent, providing ... Read More

World

Romania rescues children as Europe’s freeze deepens

BUCHAREST, Feb 4 — Nine Romanian children were taken into care after a baby died in an unheated house, joining at least 189 others killed by a ... Read More

Over 200 people killed in Syria as UN prepares to vote

BEIRUT, Feb 4 — More than 200 people were killed in shelling by Syrian forces in the city of Homs, activists said today, as the UN Security Council ... Read More

Sports

Terry loses England armband but remains Chelsea skipper

LONDON, Feb 4 — John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy by the FA but will continue to captain Chelsea, his club manager Andre ... Read More

Ferrari unveil ‘aggressive’ F2012, Massa warned

LONDON, Feb 3 — Ferrari unveiled their 2012 Formula One car via the Internet today after their usual glittering launch had been cancelled due to snow ... Read More

Technology

Google loses appeal in Taiwan over app refund

TAIPEI, Feb 4 — Taiwan said yesterday it had rejected an appeal by Google against a fine imposed on the US Internet giant for refusing to grant ... Read More

Google employs ‘Bouncer’ to keep malware out of Android app club

NEW YORK, Feb 3 — Google announced that it has commenced automatic scanning of all applications found in its Android Market in the wake of malware ... Read More

Features

People-pleasers eat more at parties, says study

CLEVELAND, Feb 3 — Individuals who tend to put the needs of others before their own and invest a lot of energy into making sure others are ... Read More

Time to tax sugar to combat health crisis, say experts

PARIS, Feb 3 — Sugar should be identified alongside alcohol and tobacco as a health danger, and governments should tax sweetened drinks and food as ... Read More

Showbiz

Radcliffe admits to being drunk during ‘Harry Potter’ scenes

LOS ANGELES, Feb 4 — Daniel Radcliffe admitted he was drunk while filming some scenes for the “Harry Potter” movies during a period in his life when ... Read More

Egyptian film star gets jail for insulting Islam

CAIRO, Feb 3 — The Arab world’s most famous comic actor, Adel Imam, has received a three-month jail sentence for insulting Islam in films and plays, ... Read More

Books

Royal party and read-a-thon mark big day for Charles Dickens

LONDON, Feb 4 — Queen Elizabeth is throwing a star-studded party for him at Buckingham Palace and in Buenos Aires, leading cultural figures will ... Read More

Nobel-winning Polish poet Szymborska dies aged 88

WARSAW, Feb 2 – Nobel-winning Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska died yesterday at the age of 88, her assistant Michal Rusinek announced.Szymborska, who ... Read More