News Update

TAEKWONDO DELIVERS ANOTHER BRONZE FOR S'PORE
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SINGAPORE - Singapore picked up its second bronze medal of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games through taekwondo exponent Nurul Safinas Abdul Rahman (picture) last night.

The 17-year-old from Republic Polytechnic secured the medal when she took down Kaburee Ioane of Kiribati 9-0 in the quarter-finals earlier in the day.

But she could not repeat the feat in the semi-finals against Vietnam's Nguyen Thanh Thinh, losing the closely-contested 55kg bout 8-9.

Unlike team-mate Daryl Tan, whose parents were unable to get tickets to watch their son win Singapore's first bronze of the Games on Monday, Nurul's parents Siti Rafidah and Abdul Rahman were in the stands.

Said Mr Abdul Rahman: "I'm very happy for her to have delivered on her promise to win a medal. I would have been happy even if she didn't, so I'm really proud that she's done so well."



THEY NEARLY DIDN'T MAKE IT HERE ...
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SINGAPORE - They may not be gunning for athletic glory, but the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held such appeal from halfway around the world that 31 British teenagers sweated for six months to raise funds so they could be volunteers here.

The group from London (picture) held staff-student football tournaments and taught sports at primary schools in their borough, among other projects, to raise £58,000 ($122,800) and make their two-and-a-half week stint here possible.

And their experience so far - despite some having to wake up at the crack of dawn for "work" - has exceeded expectations. "I'd recommend it to everyone," said George Morey, 17, who is volunteering at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Efforts to drum up excitement via clappers and half-time performances are some ideas he will take home and put to use if he volunteers at the 2012 London Olympics.

Referring to the Singapore Cubs' victory over Zimbabwe on Friday, he said: "They won 3-1, so it must be working!" Without the funds raised, George said he would probably not have been able to make it here.

Their teacher, Mr James Rudd, said the prospect of the trip falling through was very real. "Our budget was very stretched.

We honestly didn't think we were going to be able to come," said Mr Rudd, 26, a sports coordinator at Bacon's College in Southwark borough.

The group fell short of their initial target but then found free lodging by way of homestays through a local Christian group.

For 17-year-old Kelly Brooks, her Youth Olympic Village stint has brought her closer to her dream of a sports management career. "It's something I've always wanted to do," she said.

Their six teachers are staying at a budget hotel in Geylang and, being unaccredited, cannot even watch the youth at work at YOG venues.

But, Mr Rudd is simply glad the experience has helped his charges "realise they can do anything.

OVERHEATING APPLE IPOD BRINGS TOKYO RUSH-HOUR TRAIN TO A HALT
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TOKYO - A crowded commuter train in Tokyo was delayed on Friday during the morning rush hour due to an overheating Apple iPod music player.

Passengers had complained of a strong burning smell, forcing the train to come to a halt for eight minutes in western Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, reported Reuters. "When a member of staff went to investigate inside the train, a passenger came over showing him that the iPod she was listening to had burst apart," a spokesman for rail line operator Tokyu Corp was quoted as saying.

He said there were no reports of injuries. It was unclear which iPod model was involved. But there have been around 60 incidents of overheating, including four cases involving minor burns, in Apple's first generation iPod nano music players in Japan.

Last month, Apple was ordered by the Trade Ministry to improve safety warnings on the devices, reported Reuters. Apple attributes the problem to batteries provided by a single battery supplier, and says overheating incidents were very rare.

However, there have been several instances of iPods overheating in other countries.

Apple is being sued by the mother of a 15-year-old boy in Ohio who claims his 16GB iPod Touch exploded in his pants, burning his leg.

Last year, an 11-year-old girl in Britain said her iPod Touch also exploded and flew some 3 metres into the air.