PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong will consider Mrs Lim Hwee Hua to head a ministry of her own if she continues to perform well and when an opportunity arises.

And she was promoted to become a minister because of merit, not gender, he added.

LAHORE (Pakistan) - PAKISTANI security forces took control of a police academy in Lahore on Monday after militants rampaged through the centre's parade ground, killing up to 20 people before holing up inside for hours.

'The operation is over. Four terrorists were killed and three arrested,' Interior Ministry Secretary Kamal Shah told Reuters. He said 89 policemen were wounded but the number killed was still being determined.

RAG-AND-BONE man Ng Kim Ngweng was sentenced to six months' jail on Monday after he was convicted of threatening to cause hurt to a Member of Parliament.

The 49-year-old was found guilty after an eight-day trial of threatening to cause hurt to MP for Jalan Besar GRC Denise Phua on Jan 12.

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has lost weight - because his doctor ordered it.

The Straits Times asked about his health on Monday during a press conference on the Cabinet changes announced last Thursday.