What's News: August 21, 2015

A man casting his vote during the 2011 General Election. PHOTO: ST FILE

TOP OF THE NEWS

Changes to election rules

The Elections Department yesterday announced several changes to election regulations, in the strongest signal that polls may be weeks away. The maximum spending limit for a candidate will be raised from $3.50 to $4 for every voter he represents, and candidates' photos will be printed on ballot papers, among other things.

TOP OF THE NEWS

Blast suspects under probe

Two men identified as suspects in Bangkok's bomb blast on Monday have turned themselves in for police questioning, insisting that they are tour guides. Thailand has also said that international terrorists were "unlikely" to have been behind the blast.

WORLD

High toxic levels in Tianjin

Cyanide levels in Tianjin have risen sharply after the deadly chemical explosions, with officials saying that cyanide levels more than 350 times standard limits have been detected in water close to the blast sites. However, the health authorities say that drinking water still meets national standards.

WORLD

Uber 'employs ex-criminals'

Uber might have assured American consumers that it screens its drivers but regulators have found evidence that people convicted of murder and sex offences have driven for Uber. US officials said Uber's checks failed to uncover criminal records of 25 drivers.

OPINION

Economy a big issue for Najib

Malaysian Premier Najib Razak's spring-cleaning of potential threats and critics of his handling of 1MDB has entrenched his political position. Malaysia Correspondent Shannon Teoh warns, however, that the continued flight of investors may bring him to his knees.

The Bugis area shrouded in haze yesterday evening. The NEA says the air could become unhealthy today. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

HOME

NEA warns of hazy conditions today

Singapore may see hazy conditions today, and the air may even become unhealthy. The National Environment Agency said that 120 hot spots were detected in Sumatra in Indonesia yesterday, mainly on the southern half of the island.

HOME

Training for pre-school staff

A newprogramme will train pre-school staff how to work with children aged two months to three years old. The Place-and- Train programme will teach the skills needed to support a young child's learning and care.

BUSINESS

'Act swiftly against rumours'

Companies that come under fire from short-sellers or through critical reports should quickly assess the severity of the attack and respond effectively, said Singapore Exchange chief regulatory officer Tan Boon Gin. He issued the advice yesterday after some firms recently became the target of rumours.

SPORT

Neville bets on Valencia

Phil Neville reckons Valencia can win La Liga, and he should know. The man who was part of Manchester United's famous "Class of 92" is the assistant manager of the Peter Lim-owned outfit. "The club has so much positive energy after finishing fourth last year," he said. "We feel the title is possible this season with what we have."

LIFE

Catch Sing50 concert on TV

The Sing50 concert held at the National Stadium two weeks ago, likely the biggest concert dedicated to Singapore music, will be aired on Channel 5 tomorrow. The 160-minute show has been condensed into a 93-minute programme and the acoustic problems that plagued the live show have been cleaned up for TV.

LIFE

G-Dragon to play host to fans

Popular accommodation listings site Airbnb is holding a contest to give five lucky fans the chance to spend two nights at the legendary Dukyang studio in Seoul where Korean pop superstar G-Dragon of BigBang kick-started his career and trained for years. He will welcome the fans at check-in and give them a personal tour of the space that he newly designed for this event.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 21, 2015, with the headline What's News: August 21, 2015. Subscribe