GE2015: PAP vote share increases to 69.9%, party wins 83 of 89 seats including WP-held Punggol East
The People's Action Party put up a winning performance in Singapore's Jubilee Year General Election, wresting back Punggol East SMC from the Workers' Party and securing a strong mandate with a vote share of 69.9 per cent.
This was an almost 10 percentage point increase from the 60.1 per cent it got in the 2011 election.
The PAP took 83 of the 89 seats in 29 constituencies. The party scored more than 70 per cent in 15 of the 29 wards, results not seen in recent elections.
87 dead as crane crashes into Mecca's Grand Mosque ahead of haj
A massive construction crane crashed into Mecca's Grand Mosque in stormy weather on Friday (Sept 11), killing at least 87 people and injuring 184, the Saudi authorities said, less than a fortnight before the haj pilgrimage starts.
Pictures of the incident on Twitter showed bloodied bodies strewn across a courtyard where the top part of the crane, which appeared to have bent or snapped, had crashed into the several storey-high building.
The incident occurred as hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather from all over the world for the annual haj pilgrimage expected to begin on Sept 21.
Hundreds pay tribute to US heroes of French train attack
Hundreds of people waving American flags lined the streets of Sacramento on Friday to pay tribute to three local heroes who helped thwart a train attack in France.
Mr Spencer Stone, Mr Anthony Sadler and Mr Alek Skarlatos, who grew up in Sacramento, the capital of California, waved and smiled as they took part in the Hometown Heroes Parade.
Tennis: Serena's calendar Slam dream dies as Vinci goes into US Open final
Serena Williams saw her dream of a calendar year Grand Slam title sweep destroyed on Friday as Italy's Roberta Vinci shocked the world No. 1 to reach the US Open final against compatriot Flavia Pennetta.
Vinci battled back to stun the three-time defending champion 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, ending Williams' 33-match US Open win streak and 27-match Grand Slam win streak.
In Saturday's final, Vinci will face 26th-ranked compatriot Pennetta - who upset Romania's second-ranked Simona Halep 6-1, 6-3 - in the first all-Italian Grand Slam women's final in the Open Era.
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch fronts charity song for refugees
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch is fronting the release of a charity single to raise money for the rising wave of refugees reaching Europe's shores from Syria and other nations, seeking safety from war and persecution.
Cumberbatch, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the film The Imitation Game, has recorded a video message for the re-issue of a 20-year-old song by Australian band Crowded House called Help Is Coming.
All funds from the sale of the single will go to Save The Children, one of many charities trying to help thousands of refugees fleeing to Europe from Syria and other troubled countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and Somalia.
