Top stories from The Straits Times on Sunday, May 27

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kickstart your Sunday, May 27.


VIDEO: Korean leaders hold surprise talks on Trump-Kim summit; Kim Jong Un expresses 'fixed will' to meet Trump

South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hold their second summit at Tongilgak, on North Korea's side of the truce village of Panmunjom, on May 26, 2018.PHOTO: SOUTH KOREA BLUE HOUSE

South Korean President Moon Jae In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for two hours just north of the heavily militarised border, with Mr Kim reportedly expressing strong will for the June 12 summit to happen.

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Malaysia looking at how to cut compensation to Singapore if high-speed rail dropped: Mahathir

The 350km rail deal between Singapore and Malaysia was inked in 2016 under Malaysia's previous prime minister Najib Razak.PHOTO: EDELMAN

With Malaysia looking at ways to pare its RM1 trillion (S$337 billion) debt, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has raised the possibility of dropping the 350km project, which is estimated to cost up to RM50 billion.

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VIDEO: Levelling the educational playing field in Singapore

The only son of a full-time Grab driver and housewife, Putra Zayan Mohd lives in a three-room flat with his ailing grandmother. He receives full financial aid for school.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

The issue of Singapore's top schools becoming closed circles instead of social levellers has again come under scrutiny after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the problem of stratification in Parliament.

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VIDEO: More underage maids spotted in Singapore and sent home

New maids attending a Settling-In Programme. Last year, the Manpower Ministry punished more than 80 employment agencies for bringing in underage maids. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Last year, the Ministry of Manpower punished more than 80 employment agencies for bringing in underage maids - an exponential rise from nine between 2012 and 2016.

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VIDEO: Heavy rain causes flash flood in Orchard Road; vehicles stuck in murky water

Photos posted on Facebook show vehicles in deep murky water at Cavenagh Road, which is next to Kramat Lane.PHOTO: FACEBOOK/SG ROAD VIGILANTE

Both lanes of Kramat Lane, near the Concorde Hotel, were flooded on Saturday, leaving some vehicles stuck in deep murky water that came up to mid-tyre level. PUB also advised people to avoid the area.

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VIDEO: Lunch With Sumiko: BreadTalk's George Quek on conquering the world, one loaf at a time

Mr George Quek says F&B is a tough business. Yet, he loves it. He loves the thrill of coming up with a location and getting the restaurant and food concept right. At 62, he feels young and retirement is not on the cards.ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Today, BreadTalk Group - where Mr Quek is founder and chairman - has nearly 1,000 stores spread over 100 cities in 17 countries. It is aiming have 2,000 by 2022.

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Trump-Kim summit: Fast-paced chronicle may yet have a happy ending

North Korea initiating the demolition of the nuclear test facility at Punggye-ri in the country's north-east last week. The country has already finished testing the full range of nuclear warheads it is likely to need for the conceivable future. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Should US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un indeed meet, realistically they can only set the foundation for further talks.

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Ex-PM Najib takes swipe at how quickly new Malaysian government transformed economy

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak marvelled at how they transformed Malaysia's "failed" economy into a strong one in just two weeks in a sarcastic Twitter post.PHOTO: REUTERS

Mr Najib's tweet comes after he criticised Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng for unsettling the financial markets with his announcement that Malaysia's debt is now at RM1 trillion (S$338 billion).

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VIDEO: It Changed My Life: From Redhill to Nasa, then from space to clay

Ceramics artist Wee Hong-Ling, who is now based in New York, has had a colourful and eventful journey making different - and sometimes unexpected - life choices.ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

Ms Wee Hong-Ling, 50, has had a colourful and eventful journey - from leaving Singapore for the US and becoming a Nasa researcher, and eventually, a celebrated ceramics artist.

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Football: Brilliant Bale breaks Liverpool hearts as Real Madrid clinch 13th European crown

Real Madrid players celebrate winning the Uefa Champions League final football match on May 26, 2018.PHOTO: REUTERS

Gareth Bale came off the bench to score twice - including a jaw-dropping overhead kick - to help Real beat Liverpool 3-1 and win the Champions League trophy for the third year running.

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