What's News: June 21, 2016

Johnson being presented the trophy after winning the US Open, his first Major, on Sunday.
Johnson being presented the trophy after winning the US Open, his first Major, on Sunday. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
Madam Wong will perform with her son Hughes Chong's amateur cello group on Saturday.
Madam Wong will perform with her son Hughes Chong's amateur cello group on Saturday. ST PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR

TOP OF THE NEWS

Benefits for contract staff

Contract workers who have worked in the same firm for three months or more are entitled to statutory leave benefits, said new guidelines released yesterday by the authorities. Some of these workers do not currently get the leave they are entitled to as they are on separate contracts shorter than three months, renewed with a break in between the contracts.

TOP OF THE NEWS

Convicted on 12 charges

National para-athlete Adam Kamis, 37, was yesterday convicted on 12 charges, mainly of trying to procure women for prostitution. He also "tested" some of the women who expressed interest in working for the social escort agency that he set up.

PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

WORLD

Long campaign Down Under

With less than two weeks to polling day in Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's (above) move to hold one of the country's longest election campaigns seems to be paying off. Dubbed the nation's "most boring" campaign, this is probably just the way he wants it as the eight-week campaign seems to have prevented Labor rival Bill Shorten from dominating the national agenda.

WORLD

Deadly floods and landslides

Parts of Indonesia and China were battered by heavy rain over the week, triggering landslides and floods which have left scores dead. In China, the Yangtze River's tributary Yongning saw its biggest flood in 80 years, with water rising 1.43m above the safety line.

OPINION

Strong Asean 'good for peace'

The confused statements from the Asean-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting highlight an Asean in disarray. But big powers should see that a strong Asean is good for regional stability and for themselves too, says Thitinan Pongsudhirak in his By Invitation column.

HOME

Hit-and-run driver arrested

The 63-year-old driver of a Toyota Camry that was filmed knocking down a motorcycle on an expressway has been arrested, said the police. Several witnesses have come forward. The video, posted online, sparked outrage.

HOME

Concern over boar-feeding

A video of a woman feeding a group of wild boars along Lorong Halus jetty posted on Facebook has drawn concern, with wildlife groups saying that feeding wild animals could cause them to go after humans next time. Just last month, a wild boar reportedly chased and injured a boy in Punggol.

BUSINESS

New SGX reporting framework

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) yesterday rolled out new requirements for listed companies here to conduct an annual review of their sustainability - such as environmental or social issues. The "comply or explain" sustainability reporting framework takes effect in 2018, for financial years ending on or after Dec 31 next year.

SPORT

Johnson wins US Open

US golfer Dustin Johnson won the US Open, his first Major, on Sunday (yesterday, Singapore time) with a four-under 276. But the manner in which officials dithered before applying a one-stroke penalty drew criticism from 2015 champion Jordan Spieth, who said: "This is a joke."

LIFE

Stroke survivor makes music

A sudden stroke in October 2014 left Madam Jazz Wong in a coma. She woke up after two weeks and embarked on a long journey of recovery. The 53-year-old is now preparing for a concert with her cello instructor son's amateur group, Cellography Orchestra, on Saturday.

LIFE

More rape claims against Park

Sexual assault charges continue to pile up against JYJ singer and actor Park Yu Chun, 30, with two more women claiming he raped them, bringing the total to four alleged victims. One woman claimed Park raped her in the bathroom of a karaoke bar last year, while another said he raped her in the bathroom of his house in June 2014.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 21, 2016, with the headline What's News: June 21, 2016 . Subscribe