THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) will offer 8,000 new flats this year, or more if the pick up is stronger, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on Wednesday.

Mr Mah said the Board is monitoring demand and will 'calibrate its supply of new flats' to meet some of that demand, but not all.

SINGAPORE is the most trade-conducive economy in the world, according to an influential report which put great rival Hong Kong at second.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) pointed to Singapore's many advantages, including policy approaches, that have made it No.1.

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA said on Wednesday it will dump English as the language of instruction for maths and science in schools, in a highly sensitive decision that has split opinion in the multi-ethnic country.

Deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin said that from 2012 the subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia in national schools, or in Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools.

BOGOR - INDONESIA'S voters handed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a second five-year term on Wednesday, placing their faith in his firm but unassuming hand on the economic tiller and his promises of further reform.

Officials results from the election will not be announced until later this month, but 'quick count' results - which have proved extremely reliable in the past - showed Dr Yudhoyono had won enough votes to avoid a second run-off with his nearest rival.