TOP OF THE NEWS
'No repeat of last year's haze'
An Indonesian official yesterday said there would be no repeat of the severe haze affecting Singapore and the region last year. Mr Nazir Foead, head of Indonesia's Peatland Restoration Agency, said that forest fires in Indonesia, which contribute to the haze, will not be as bad as those last year.
TOP OF THE NEWS
China's growth continued to slow although there are signs that growth is stabilising, thanks to government stimulus measures. Its economy in the first quarter grew by 6.7 per cent - the slowest pace in seven years.
WORLD
From a drop in Chinese tourist numbers to what Taiwan has termed the "illegal abduction" of its nationals from Kenya, Beijing is slowly turning the screws on Taiwan in the hope of influencing Taiwan's incoming President Tsai Ing-wen's inauguration speech on May 20, when she is expected to state her China policy which has been shrouded in ambiguity.
WORLD
The simmering animosity between Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders boiled over in Brooklyn, casting doubts on whether Democrats will be able to unite behind the eventual nominee. The two went at each other, from gun control to minimum wage, in an ill-tempered debate.
OPINION
A habit of taking on another person's perspective can reduce conflict levels and enhance understanding, says psychology don David Chan. He cites the first anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's death as an example of episodes which may benefit from people being able to see things from others' points of view.
HOME
More people here are opting for drive-home valet services to avoid drink driving after a night out. Demand for such services has risen by up to 60 per cent in the last two years. Many valet firms attribute the growing demand to greater public awareness as well as stricter and more frequent law enforcement.
HOME
A power struggle at the Singapore Recreation Club is set to be resolved at its annual general meeting today when it votes for its management. The current leaders claim "positive changes" during two years in charge while their rivals believe the period has been acrimonious and want to "bring harmony back".
BUSINESS
Demand for new private homes shot up to an eight-month high last month on the back of better market sentiment and a surge in new launches. There were 843 new homes sold in March, more than double the 303 units moved in February and the highest monthly sales since 1,655 homes changed hands last July.
SPORT
Top shuttlers out in quarter-finals
Both badminton world No. 1 players Chen Long and Carolina Marin were shocked in the
Singapore Open quarter-finals, losing to HongKong's Angus Ng and Japan's Akane Yamaguchi
respectively. Men's doubles second seeds Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan from Indonesia
and third-seeded Chinese pair Chai Biao and Hong Wei also exited the tournament early.
LIFE
Journalist and first-time playwright Helmi Yusof's play My Mother Buys Condoms, about a 63-year- old tuition teacher experiencing a sexual reawakening, is one of three new works at this year's Singapore Theatre Festival. The event, which often features political themes and supports new writing, runs from June 30 to July 24 at Lasalle College of the Arts.
LIFE
Will Rui En's popularity crash?
Actress Rui En, 35, may have crashed her car into a stationary motorcycle on Tuesday, but it is hard to say whether her popularity and chances of winning at the upcoming Star Awards have taken a hit as a result. She is up for prizes in three public-voting categories tomorrow and on April 24.
