What's News: March 28, 2016

TOP OF THE NEWS

Boat issue 'can be resolved'

Malaysia yesterday indicated its reluctance to escalate tensions near the South China Sea over dozens of alleged Chinese fishing boats found in Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he is confident that, if the sightings are confirmed, the issue "can be resolved bilaterally" with China as the relationship is strong.


TOP OF THE NEWS

Civic District to get tree trail

The 3km-long Civic District Tree Trail will be launched by the National Parks Board in May. Stretching from the Istana to the Raffles' Landing Site, it will feature trees dating back as far as the 19th century. There will be monthly guided walks and markers at all 20 stops along the route.


PHOTO: REUTERS

WORLD

US a diluted power: Trump

In Republican front runner Donald Trump's view, the US has become a diluted power, and the main method by which he would re-establish its central role in the world is economic bargaining. In an interview, he approached most international conflicts through the prism of a negotiation, even when he was not precise about strategic goals.


WORLD

More pressure on Najib

Sidelined Umno leaders and Malaysian opposition politicians yesterday rallied together to ratchet up pressure on Prime Minister Najib Razak, after months of attacks over a funding scandal failed to substantially dent his support. The group will go around Malaysia until June to collect signatures from voters calling for Datuk Seri Najib to step down.


OPINION

Russia turns its back on West

A new Russian ideology that pits itself against Europe has been asserting itself, and the West should take note, says Europe Correspondent Jonathan Eyal.


This is possibly another wall section of the former lunatic asylum which sits in a wooded area of the SGH compound. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

HOME

Remnants of former psychiatric hospital to be preserved

A boundary wall and a group of graves from a former lunatic asylum are to be preserved after surviving almost 130 years. The remnants on the site of Singapore General Hospital (SGH) were rediscovered in 2014, and there were fears they could disappear when the Outram site is redeveloped. The Ministry of Health, however, has said it plans to "preserve its heritage features and structures as far as possible".


HOME

'Rat encounter' at new mall

A diner at a basement restaurant in Punggol's new Waterway Point mall has complained that a rat fell from the ceiling before scurrying off towards a kitchen. The National Environment Agency is investigating the complaint.


BUSINESS

Banks eyeing SME recovery

A string of recent announcements by banks here underlines the importance they attach to the small and medium-sized enterprise segment, even as SME loan demand looks set to moderate this year. SMEs are vital to the local economy, so any slowdown will only be temporary.


SPORT

Revival for women's football

The recent buzz in the S-League has extended to the women's game too. Last month's Women's Football Day drew more than 500 participants, and there are now three all-girls FAS training centres for the association's Cubs Programme. The Lionesses, too, are back in action, playing their first international game in two years in January, losing 0-1 to Sri Lanka.


The romance between Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo in the show has been captivating audiences. PHOTO: KBS

LIFE

Actor not first choice for role

It might sound unthinkable to legions of swooning fans of Descendants Of The Sun across Asia, but Captain Yoo Si Jin did not exist in an early screenplay for the K-romance and actor Song Joong Ki was not the top choice for the role of the dashing soldier.


LIFE

Ex-actor and monk now a chef

More than two years after he was ordained as a monk, retired actor Xie Shaoguang, once Channel 8's biggest star, has hung up his Buddhist robes and is now a chef at a vegetarian eatery in Johor Baru.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 28, 2016, with the headline What's News: March 28, 2016. Subscribe