PATRIOTISM. More than two-thirds of French people favour a planned merger between utilities Gaz de France and Suez, and back the government's policy of "economic patriotism", an opinion poll showed yesterday. The survey by TNS Sofres research group for Le Figaro newspaper was welcome news for Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who has been criticised by trade unions and some of his European Union partners for brokering the merger. The plan for the alliance between state-owned Gaz de France and private group Suez was agreed last week, days after Italian firm Enel hinted at a takeover bid for Suez. Sixty-seven percent of 958 French people surveyed on March 2 and 3 supported the decision. Only 22 percent thought it a bad move and 11 percent had no view or had not heard of the merger. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said it was right for the French state to be able to step in to prevent foreign takeovers. Twenty-seven percent disagreed and four percent had no opinion. Despite the overall backing for the merger, 39 percent of respondents opposed the privatisation of Gaz de France, since the state would no longer have a majority stake in an enlarged Gaz de France/Suez group. Only 32 percent welcomed the privatisation and 29 percent were indifferent or had no opinion.

SINGAPORE. yesterday unveiled an audacious plan to build a helix-shaped bridge that will link a massive new tourist development, including a giant Ferris wheel and casino complex on reclaimed land. The bridge, which will cost around S$68 million, is believed to be the world's first to resemble the structure of DNA, the genetic material. Singapore aims to double visitor arrivals to 17 million and triple tourism receipts to S$30 billion by 2015 with new projects such as two planned casino-resorts and a 170-metre high (558 feet) Ferris wheel. The nearby resort island of Sentosa is also being developed. Tourism is one of the biggest service industries in the city-state of 4.4 million people, generating more than 5 percent of gross domestic product. The government said construction of the bridge, consisting of a six-lane motorway and six-metre wide pedestrian walkway, will begin at the end of the year and is targeted for completion in 2009.