News Today

Why Somkid was picked to be economic adviser
DR SOMKID Jatusripitak's brief tenure as an economic adviser to the Thai government put the spotlight again on why he was appointed in the first place. Five possible reasons were offered by The Nation newspaper yesterday: He was brought in so... [Read more]

GST hike: How it will benefit the poor
A WEEK before it is due to detail the impending hike in the goods and services tax (GST), the Government has reiterated the rationale for the move.Second Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam also tackled the question of why the changes were being... [Read more]

Beijing slams Taipei over changes to textbooks
BEIJING - CHINA lashed out at Taiwan yesterday for dropping phrases from high-school history textbooks that link the two as one country, and said the move was another step towards promoting the island's independence.The changes included replacing terms such as 'the... [Read more]

North Korea 'ready to implement agreement'
NORTH Korea is ready to implement an agreement reached earlier this week on initial steps towards denuclearisation, a news report yesterday quoted the North's top nuclear negotiator as saying.'The talks went well,' Kyodo news agency quoted the North's Vice- Foreign Minister... [Read more]

Ministers reply to MPs' queries
MPS yesterday quizzed National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Foreign Minister George Yeo on the impact of Indonesia's ban on land sand exports to Singapore. Below is an extract of the exchange in Parliament: Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines GRC)... [Read more]

Two-way race for HK's Chief Executive post
HONG KONG leader Donald Tsang will announce today his candidacy in the coming Chief Executive election, which is shaping up to be the city's first-ever contested leadership poll. The election is likely to be a two-way race after barrister-cum-lawmaker Mr Alan... [Read more]

Tax 'gap' to benefit some firms
SOME companies with financial years ending before July 1 this year could reap an unexpected bonus.They will get a head start over other companies and start enjoying the benefit of the lower corporate tax rate earlier before having to start paying... [Read more]

Henry left out of League Cup final team
LONDON - THIERRY Henry will be confined to the role of cheerleader when Arsenal play Chelsea in Sunday's League Cup final.Arsene Wenger will keep faith with the young players who have taken them to Cardiff, and the Gunners' captain understands the... [Read more]

Security cameras for all MRT trains and stations
SECURITY cameras will be fitted on every train and at every MRT station to keep an eye out for terrorists on Singapore's transport network. These 'eyes' will also have a strong deterrent effect on other mischief makers out to rob or... [Read more]

Malaysia to review curbs on foreign investors
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA is to review curbs on foreign shareholding in state-linked firms as it gears up for a big push to attract more foreign investment and raise its profile, a minister said yesterday.Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop revealed... [Read more]

Police inquiry ordered into botched murder investigation
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S police chief has ordered an inquiry into the botched investigation of the murder of a 21-year-old which led to the case being thrown out of court earlier this week.The collapse of the Mohd Hosni Fadzil Mohd Amin... [Read more]