<p>LONDON - FORMER England captain David Beckham admits he is far from certain to win a place in England's squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.<p>Beckham was an unused substitute in England's recent friendly win over Egypt as Fabio Capello opted to look at Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right wing instead of the veteran LA Galaxy star.</p>

Beckham uncertain over WorldC

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<p>LAW Minister K Shanmugam said on Sunday he expects Romania to 'seriously consider' the evidence from a recently concluded coroner's inquiry into a fatal road accident that allegedly involved former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu.<p>He said the 'gravity' of the Dec 15 hit-and-run case last year warranted a thorough investigation on the Romanian government's part.</p>

Probe must be thorough

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<p>BANGKOK - ANTI-GOVERNMENT demonstrators vowed on Sunday to march on military barracks housing Thailand's top leaders as their icon, deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, urged them from exile not to give up.<p>The red-clad protesters - assembled amid tight security in public spaces near government offices in Bangkok - have vowed to step up their campaign if the government does not dissolve parliament within 24 hours.</p>

Rally to march on barracks

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<P>THE rain could not deter eager shoppers from flooding Suntec Convention Centre on Sunday afternoon to catch the last day of the IT Show.<p>The largest of its kind, the annual consumer electronics fair broke previous attendance and sales records in its eight-year history. </p>

IT show breaks sales record

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<p>MANAMA - TWO-TIMES former champion Fernando Alonso marked his debut with Ferrari by leading home team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa in a resounding one-two triumph at Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.<p>In a keenly-anticipated race including four champions, three new teams, five rookie drivers and new rules that banned mid-race refuelling, returning 41-year-old 'red baron' Michael Schumacher was left among the chasing pack and finished sixth.</p>

Alonso wins Bahrain F1

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<p>THE Canberra Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) will the first grassroots group to embark on a comprehensive package called the Anti-Shark Programme since laws were made this year to crack down on loan shark activity.<p>As part of the programme, the CCC will install five closed-circuit television cameras - to be bought by the end of the year and costing over $2,000 each - at stairwells near the lower floors in blocks occupied by residents who report harassment by loan sharks.</p>

Grassroots take on loan sharks

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<p>MANAMA - THE season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, the first round of the 60th anniversary year of the Formula One World Championship, got off to a smooth start at the Sakhir circuit here on Sunday.<p>While seven-times champion German Michael Schumacher was the chief centre of attention on his return with Mercedes after three years in retirement, much anticipation focussed also on team tactics in the first race of the new no-refuelling era. It was the first time that they raced with full fuel since 1993. </p>

Curtain up for Bahrain's 60th

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<p>BANGKOK - TENS of thousands of protesters converged in Bangkok on Sunday and gave Thailand's military-backed government an ultimatum: call elections within 24 hours or face crippling mass demonstrations across the capital.</p><p>About 80,000 red-shirted supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra flooded the historic heart of Bangkok, singing pro-democracy songs, dancing, waving placards and illustrating Thaksin's enduring influence on Thai politics even after his ouster in a 2006 coup, graft conviction and exile abroad.</p>

Protesters swarm Bangkok

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<p>MILLIONS have been spent on service and quality standards improvement, yet consumer complaints have skyrocketed in the past decade - and mostly about the same old industries.<p>According to the Consumers Association of Singapore, complaints have steadily grown over the years, from 13,995 in 2000 to 21,782 last year - representing a jump of more than 50 per cent.</p>

Consumers' complaints up

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<p>LONDON - BRITISH Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis urged cabin crew at British Airways on to call off their planned strikes this month, saying it threatened the company's very existence.

Strike threatens BA's future

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<p>DEEP in the bowels of the stealth frigate RSS Stalwart, Singapore naval officers in the warship's Combat Information Centre have their sights locked on a hostile nuclear submarine.

Navy hits target in Pacific

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<p>A MAN was found dead at the void deck of Block 170 at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 on Saturday night.<p>Police were alerted to a case of dispute at about 10.30 pm.</p>

Man killed at void deck

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<P>MANAMA - INDIANAPOLIS is still a logical venue for a US Formula One Grand Prix and an eventual return is on the cards, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said.

Ecclestone mulling F1 return

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<p>KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN maritime authorities said on Sunday they had picked up 93 members of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority who had drifted aboard a boat for 30 days after fleeing their country.

M'sia detains 93 boat people

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<p>BEIJING - CHINA'S fiscal revenues rose 32.9 per cent in the first two months of 2010 from the same period a year earlier, thanks to the improving economy as well as a low base of comparison, the Ministry of Finance said on Sunday.

China's fiscal revenues up 32.9%

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<p>MANILA - FILIPINOS nationwide on Sunday rejoiced over boxing hero Manny Pacquiao's latest victory, broadcast live from Texas after officials vowed that the Philippines would be spared its perennial blackouts.

Pacquiao's victory celebrated

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<p>SAN DIEGO - INVESTIGATORS with Toyota and the federal government were unable to make a Toyota Prius speed out of control as its owner said it did on a California freeway, according to a memorandum obtained on Saturday by The Associated Press. A congressional spokesman said the finding cast doubt on the driver's story.

Probe questions runaway Prius

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<p>KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S government put off a politically risky plan to enforce a 4 per cent goods and service tax, cheering opposition critics on Sunday who claimed it would burden the poor.

Malaysia delays sales tax plan

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<p>JAKARTA - THOUSANDS of Indonesian Muslims on Sunday staged peaceful rallies in cities across the country to protest US President Barack Obama's visit later this month.

Protest over Obama visit

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<p>DALLAS (Texas) - FILIPINO superstar Manny Pacquiao easily defeated Joshua Clottey by unanimous 12-round decision to retain his World Boxing Organisation welterweight title Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao beats Clottey

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