News Today

Madrasahs get ready for PSLE next year
MADRASAHS, or Islamic schools, are gearing up for next year, when the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) becomes compulsory for their students for the first time. Over the past three years, about $1.5 million has been spent training more than half... [Read more]

Thai PM Surayud: 'I'm not weak, just very careful'
BANGKOK - THAILAND'S army-installed Prime Minister, answering criticism that his government is slow and indecisive, says he must be 'very careful' as he lacks a support base 'like a political party'. General Surayud Chulanont was speaking in an exclusive interview with... [Read more]

Complex factors at play in spat over Thaksin
BANGKOK - BANGKOK'S Sathorn Road, where the Singapore Embassy is located, is sometimes referred to as 'Little Singapore' because of all the Singapore-owned businesses and buildings in the area. That reflects the fact that Singapore is one of Thailand's largest investors... [Read more]

M-cycle trip to help pal ends in tragedy for best friends
TWO grief-stricken families yesterday buried their young sons, killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident in Malaysia while on their way to help a friend. Childhood buddies Roslan Rahim and Muhammad Redhuan Hussain, both 24, died on Tuesday night near the Malaysian... [Read more]

Different records for Reading and Wigan
LONDON - IT WAS a day of records for Reading and Wigan, but of two very different kinds.Wigan were beaten 2-3 away by Reading - sealing an eight-game record losing streak in the Premiership.Not surprisingly, the club are being sucked into... [Read more]

Pressure on China as Hu visits Sudan
KHARTOUM - INTERNATIONAL pressure was on China yesterday to use diplomacy to stop Sudan's civil strife after President Hu Jintao arrived in the country, the highlight of an eight-nation tour of Africa. But Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol said the meeting... [Read more]

Second report links military to murders in Philippines
MANILA - PHILIPPINE President Gloria Arroyo came under intense pressure yesterday to rein in the military after a second damning report implicated top commanders in a wave of political assassinations.The government inquiry, made public only after pressure from the United Nations,... [Read more]

$15b in Iraq reconstruction funds wasted by US
WASHINGTON - ABOUT US$10 billion (S$15.3 billion) has been squandered by the US government on Iraq reconstruction aid because of overcharges and unsupported expenses, and federal investigators say more money is at risk. The three top auditors overseeing work in Iraq... [Read more]

Final push to seal deal with N. Korea
BEIJING - ENVOYS to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme will hold a final day of negotiations today, US chief negotiator Christopher Hill announced last night. Mr Hill, the US Assistant Secretary of State, said the talks had snagged... [Read more]

One size no longer fits all with budget carriers
VIVA Macau, a month-old carrier in the Chinese gaming city, calls itself a 'fusion airline', claiming it offers the best of two worlds - the attractive fares of low-cost carriers and the high level of comfort of full-service airlines. Australia's Virgin... [Read more]

Why jail terms in Penal Code being amended
IN THE report, 'WP asks Govt to explain Penal Code amendments' (The Sunday Times, Feb 4), Ms Sylvia Lim asked why it was necessary to increase the maximum imprisonment terms by three or four times, citing the examples of the offences... [Read more]