‘Why purchase expensive Chromebook models?’

PETALING JAYA: Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari today questioned the Education Ministry on the purchase of Chromebook laptops at a higher-than-market price for the 1Student 1Device programme.

He also questioned the need to buy so many Chromebooks when it is not user specific.

“I would now like to question the cost-efficiency of the proposed purchase of Chromebooks, which are laptops based on cloud computing, meaning that each unit is not user-specific.

A Tale Of Two Popes And The Sainthood

LAST week, history was once more made in the Catholic Church following Pope Francis approval of the miracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honour Pope John XXIII. The candidates have rightly been described as two of the 20th century’s most influential Popes; having closely identified with the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings that brought the Catholic Church into modern times.

Popes John Paul II, John XXIII to be made saints: Vatican

(Reuters) - Pope John Paul II, the globe-trotting pontiff who led the Catholic Church for nearly 27 years, and Pope John XXIII, who called the reforming Second Vatican Council, will be declared saints, the Vatican said on Friday.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had approved a second miracle attributed to John Paul, a Pole who was elected in 1978 as the first non-Italian pope in 450 years and died in 2005. His progression to sainthood is the fastest in modern times.

South Sudan turns 2, others hope to be born some day

DOSSIER. Africa's youngest state marks second anniversary of independence while facing a number of challenges · A number of secessionist movements are on track to emulate the South Sudanese · Marginalization by the central government and differences rooted in history are usually argued by pro-independence partisans

South Sudan marks today the second anniversary of its independence, which was achieved after a decades-long war that ultimately led to an interim autonomous status and a referendum on secession. The "yes" vote reached more than 99% of the ballots, casting no doubt over the preferences of South Sudanese for full independence.

Civil movement to call for self-government, nationhood for Malaysia's Sarawak

SSM wants the territory to have law-making powers, raise taxes, control own natural resources · Sovereignist movement argues Sarawak is one of three constituent nations of Malaysia · Sarawak Chief Minister Taib against any move: union brought "stability and peace" · International organizations accuse Taib of corruption, deforestation, "skirting laws and taxes"