What's News: August 1, 2015

TOP OF THE NEWS

Malays 'have done well'

Since Singapore's independence in 1965, the Malay/Muslim community has progressed in ways it never imagined, Minister- in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said last night.

Its people have contributed significantly to a vibrant, harmonious nation, and have done well for themselves, he said at an annual Aidilfitri gathering.

TOP OF THE NEWS

Plane part found has number

Malaysian Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said yesterday that the wing component found on the French island of Reunion bears the part number "657 BB", according to photos of the debris. The number was confirmed by Malaysia Airlines to be from a Boeing 777, he said.

WORLD

Aquino endorses successor

In a widely expected move, Philippines President Benigno Aquino yesterday formally endorsed Interior Minister Mar Roxas as his successor. The long-time ally and key figure of the centre-left Liberal Party is regarded by Mr Aquino as the best person to continue his agenda once he leaves office next year.


A Palestinian man checking the extent of the damage to his relative's home after the attack in the West Bank. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

WORLD

Palestinian toddler killed in West Bank attack

Suspected Jewish extremists set fire to a Palestinian home in the occupied West Bank yesterday, killing an 18-month-old baby boy and seriously injuring several other family members, an act the Israeli Prime Minister has described as terrorism.


OPINION

China's Eurasia strategy

World history has seen the rise of the maritime over continental powers, and the Silk Road initiatives of China are an attempt to reawaken Eurasia's continental strengths, says Professor Wang Gungwu in the By Invitation column.

HOME

Health tips for bus captains

Free health checks and tips onhow to eat sensibly, exercise
properly andmanage chronic diseases are on offer in a pilot programme. Some 400 bus captains
from SBS Transit and SMRT are taking part and have undergone basic health screening.

HOME

Upskirt video: Ex-exec fined

A former senior bank executive who took an upskirt video of a
female colleague onan escalator has been fined $6,000. Yuen Kum Fai, 45, was global head of
personal banking and preferred banking at Standard Chartered Bank.

BUSINESS

UOB's Q2 profit down

United Overseas Bank (UOB) has suffered its first year-on-year decline in quarterly profit since 2011, as earnings in the second quarter buckled under pressure from money market volatility. For the three months ended June 30, UOB's net profit slid 5.7 per cent to $762 million.

SPORT

Petit sees big year for Arsenal

Former Gunner Emmanuel Petit, like many other observers, expects a powerful Arsenal side to finally win the Premier League title after having always been in the top four since their last crown in 2003-04.

The 1998 World Cup winner was here to launch a sports network, and is a pundit for tomorrow's Community Shield game.

LIFE

Jacket gets S'pore backing

Singapore residents form the second-largest group of backers for a travel jacket project, which is the most-funded clothing project in the history of Kickstarter. At press time, it has received more than US$3.2 million (S$4.4 million). Singapore is tied with Canada as Baubax's second-largest source of backers, behind the US.

LIFE

Ex-Top Gear host in new show

Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson said on Twitter on Thursday that he would present a new motoring show alongside former co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May for Amazon's subscription service.

The first show will go into production soon and be available to Amazon Prime users next year, said Amazon.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 01, 2015, with the headline What's News: August 1, 2015. Subscribe