News Today

Vast reserves of vital minerals found in Tibet
BEIJING - CHINA has discovered huge resources of vital minerals buried in the Tibetan plateau, locating more than 600 potential sites for new mines. A new survey suggests the plateau has reserves of up to 40 million tonnes of copper, 40... [Read more]

Don't qualify for credit card? You may still get $500 credit
PEOPLE who do not earn enough to qualify for a credit card will soon be able to make purchases of up to $500 on credit every month.The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed to allow banks and other lenders to... [Read more]

Industry faces 3 key challenges: STB chief
FINDING and training people for tourism-related jobs will be one of three crucial challenges facing the industry in the next few years, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Lim Neo Chian said at the Asean Tourism Forum yesterday. The other two... [Read more]

Could a wedding break the Gandhi-Bachchan ice?
IF THE Gandhis are the dominant clan in Indian politics, there is little doubt who calls the shots in Mumbai, headquarters of the nation's film world: The Bachchans are the first family of glamour. The city pauses when Amitabh Bachchan, India's... [Read more]

Boosting defence ties
An American defence official received the Singapore Defence Technology Distinguished Fellowship yesterday, for boosting defence cooperation between Singapore and the United States. Mr Craig Hunter, the former deputy assistant secretary of the army for defence export and cooperation, received the award... [Read more]

What it should have been
In our report, 'Non-Indonesian sand arrives as prices start to rise' on Tuesday, we reported that we spoke to ready-mix concrete supplier Supermix Concrete. This is wrong. It was Alliance Concrete and not Supermix Concrete. We are sorry for the error.... [Read more]

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]

Usage rate of chip plants slumps
TOKYO - THE utilisation rate of the world's semiconductor plants fell to its lowest in seven quarters at the end of last year on weak demand for logic chips, said an industry group.However, one analyst predicted an uptick from April as... [Read more]

Four new lifestyle groups for members
'AKAN datang'' (Malay for coming soon) will be more affordable and fun activities for workers.That was what the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) new secretary-general Lim Swee Say promised as part of the organisation's workplan this year to care for its... [Read more]

Yudhoyono draws fire from retired generals
JAKARTA - RETIRED military chiefs are marching back into the limelight to challenge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's two-year-old administration. Former military commander Wiranto set up a new political party, the People's Conscience Party (Partai Hati Nurani Rakyat), last month to serve... [Read more]

2 new PAP MPs elected into party's HQ exco
TWO of the 24 new PAP MPs elected at last year's general election have been appointed to the party's headquarters executive committee. It is an indication that Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew and Mr Lee Yi Shyan are seen as having... [Read more]