(29/7) Saudi leaders have discussed the possibility of sending forces from Arab or Muslim states to Iraq. It is believed that such a force could help the US-led coalition fight the fierce insurgency in Iraq. Bharati Jagdish finds out more. >>>

(29/7) The US Democratic Convention ended its third day, with Vice-Presidential challenger, John Edwards presenting his keynote speech to the delegates and potential voters. And the message that the Democrats have been putting forward - that of a united party - has been working well. This according to David Tucker, Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Melbourne, who spoke with RSI's Melanie Yip. >>>

(28/7) Singapore is preparing for political transition, with Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong taking on the reins of Prime Minister next month. Outgoing Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong will take on the number two role in the new government. RSI's Melanie Yip finds out what changes can Singapore expect. >>>

(27/7) The absence of war and the peace process which is in a limbo is threatening the fragile peace in Sri Lanka, so says Ravi R Prasad in a TODAY news commentary. >>>

(27/7) Discussions are underway between US President George W Bush and his top aides to implement security recommendations based on the September 11th commission report. Bush is under immense political pressure to speed up the new security measures in an important election year, amidst fears of another attack. What are these new security measures likely to be?

(26/7) In a TODAY news commentary Dr Khoo How San asks if the US, China and Taiwan manoeuvres mean war or are they for show? >>>

(23/7) The newly created National Security Coordination Secretariat in Singapore will give national security concerns top priority at the highest levels of government. So what more can be expected from this new security agency? Felix Tan speaks to Dr. Andrew Tan, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore. >>>

(23/7) PAS has argued that ‘Malaysian Idol’ will have a corrupting influence on youths and make them neglect their religious duties. Felix Tan asks how far are PAS’s arguments sound? >>>

(20/7) Lala Rimando talks about an air-conditioned mosque that will be built before the end of the year and become part of the landscape of the Greenhills Shopping Complex, in Manila. >>>

(19/7) Observers watch leadership transitions in any country with interest, to assess their impact on the domestic, regional, and international fronts. So, would the impending leadership change in Singapore have an impact on the bilateral ties with our neighbor, Malaysia? Melanie Yip puts the question to Dr. K S Nathan. >>>

(19/7) Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be sworn in as the new Prime Minister on 12 August. He will succeed Mr Goh Chok Tong who has been Singapore’s Prime Minister since 28 November, 1990. What role will Mr Goh play after he steps down? And how have some Ministers reacted to this? RSI's Yvonne Gomez finds out. >>>

(19/7) Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be Singapore’s third Prime Minister when he takes on the leadership role on 12 August. He will face a different set of challenges from those confronting Mr Goh Chok Tong in the 1990s. So, how different is the backdrop against which DPM Lee will assume the Prime Minister’s role? Felix Tan finds out. >>>

(19/7) In a TODAY news commentary, Yeo Lay Hwee says that while the Forum on Social Entrepreneurship sets out requisite qualities, the lack of enthusiasm shows S'pore has a long way to go. >>>

(16/7) As part of political reforms, the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah has said that he would reopen its parliament after it was suspended 20 years ago. RSI's Felix Tan looks for possible reasons why Brunei has decided to reinstate parliament after 20 years. >>>

(15/7) The United States has fought back against widespread attacks on its AIDS policies, insisting that it is leading the fight against the killer epidemic and spending more money on it than the rest of the world combined. Bharati Jagdish speaks to Senior Policy Adviser at UNAIDS, Michael Iskowitz about this. >>>

(15/7) An inquiry into Britain’s justification for war in Iraq has found that the pre-war intelligence was flawed. The inquiry, led by former top civil servant Lord Robin Butler, cleared British Prime Minister Tony Blair of any personal responsibility. RSI's Felix Tan asks if the Prime Minister should be held partly responsible for depending so heavily on the pre-war intelligence data provided? >>>

(14/7) It's almost certain that Indonesians will have to go to the polls again on September 20 in a runoff election to decide on a President. RSI's Bharati Jagdish asks if party loyalties or even religious affiliations are going to figure in voters' decisions. >>>

(14/7) The Philippines has begun pulling its forces out of Iraq, after a militant group has threatened to execute a Filipino hostage. Despite the pullout, Manila had no information on the situation of Filipino hostage, Angelo de la Cruz. Asiri Abubakar, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Philippines updates RSI's Melanie Yip on the contingent pullout. >>>

(9/7) Iraq’s Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has just signed the National Safety Law, which will allow the government to impose martial law and detain terror suspects. RSI's Felix Tan asks what good the new security law do now. >>>

(8/7) Iraqi gunmen, purportedly from a new group called the Iraqi Islamic Army, have threatened to kill a Filipino hostage unless the Philippines withdraws its troops from Iraq within 72 hours. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has ordered an immediate halt to any more Filipino workers going to Iraq. RSI's Felix Tan asks what steps President Arroyo can take now to deal with the situation? >>>

(8/7) Senior party executives and campaign managers for the top two presidential candidates, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Sukarnoputri are now trying to build a coalition before the September 20 runoff election. Analysts say that both Susilo and Megawati will try to get support from Golkar, the largest party in the Indonesian parliament. RSI's Bharati Jagdish finds out why. >>>

(6/7) Indonesians joke that this is the "Year of Voting Dangerously". William Pesek Jr says that if Indonesia's next leader doesn't act quickly and boldly, this could indeed be a year of investing - and perhaps living - dangerously. >>>

(5/7) Polls opened today for Indonesia’s first direct presidential election, and soon after they closed in the early afternoon, millions of ballot papers inadvertently became invalid. Yvonne Gomez gets a description of the mood as voters went to the polls earlier Monday, July 5. >>>.

(5/7) Since Philippine President Gloria Arroyo’s inauguration on June 30th, talks on plans for a new political system in the Philippines have resurfaced. Reports say that President Arroyo is ready to serve as concurrent Prime Minister as the Philippines prepares to switch from a Presidential to a Parliamentary form of government in 2007. RSI's Felix Tan asks, why the talk about switching to a different political system in the Philippines by 2007? >>>

(2/7) A thin and gaunt looking, but defiant, Saddam Hussein appeared in an Iraqi tribunal yesterday to hear charges put up against him. Most of the charges are atrocities committed against the Kurds in the 1980’s, as well as the infamous invasion of Kuwait in 1991, which led to the first Gulf War. RSI's Felix Tan asks how credible the new Iraqi tribunal that will try Saddam Hussein is. >>>

(1/7) For almost an hour on the night of June 29, several parts of Singapore were, as one radio listener described the situation, "thrown into the depths of darkness". In a TODAY commentary, legal officer Dharmendra Yadav asks if we can see light in a blackout. >>>

(1/7) In a news commentary William Pfaff asks what moral significance lies in the adoption by the United States of a policy of torture and the creation of secret political prisons? >>>