What's News: July 29, 2015

A forest fire in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The agreement would help identify firms responsible for the grounds on which fires are started.
A forest fire in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The agreement would help identify firms responsible for the grounds on which fires are started. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOP OF THE NEWS

DPM Muhyiddin sacked

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak cleaned house decisively yesterday, removing his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who had criticised the government's handling of the controversy surrounding debt-ridden state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB ) just 48 hours before, along with four other ministers.


Speculation over Sept polls

With new electoral boundaries announced and voter rolls open for public inspection, speculation is mounting of a September election. One likely date has been making the rounds on text messages and social media: Sept 12.


WORLD

ISIS in Australian schools

The long arm of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has apparently reached schoolyards in Australia. After revelations that extremist propaganda had been spread in playgrounds and classrooms, radicalising children as young as 14 years old, New South Wales is investigating prayer sessions at all schools in the state.


Urumqi ex-CCP chief charged

China's anti-corruption drive shows no signs of stopping, with the former Chinese Communist Party chief of Urumqi, the capital of the unstable region of Xinjiang, being indicted on corruption charges. His arrest comes shortly after Hebei's party chief became the first incumbent provincial party boss to be arrested.


Five Asean countries to share information on haze hot spots

Five Asean governments will share data on hot spots that cause haze. The agreement would help identify firms responsible for the grounds on which fires are started, but it falls short of Singapore's request that Indonesia share maps on agricultural concessions owned by the companies.


OPINION

Still opportunities in China

Fresh worries over the economy in China, which is Singapore's largest trading partner, have surfaced after recent bloodbaths on its stock market. But China's vast economy still presents opportunities for those who can weather its storms, writes Chia Yan Min.


HOME

Ways to help the vulnerable

The Ministry of Social and Family Development is looking at developing a system that identifies vulnerable groups, so that it can intervene earlier.

The ministry is also looking at building stronger families and promoting volunteering.


Netizens help find stolen car

A Singaporean whose car was stolen in Johor Baru three weeks ago is set to get it back after he launched an appeal on Facebook.

Netizens spotted the white Honda Civic in Malacca and the car was seized by the authorities there.


BUSINESS

'Mediocre' site draws 11 bids

An executive condominium site in a location deemed "mediocre" by experts has attracted a stronger turnout than expected. The tender for the 4.9ha site in Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5 closed yesterday with 11 bids, with a consortium led by China-owned Qingjian Realty emerging tops.


SPORT

Valencia to open S'pore office

Singapore-owned Spanish football club Valencia will open their first overseas office here, with new commercial and marketing director Peter Draper tasked to raise brand awareness to tap the Asian market. But the Englishman, formerly with Manchester United, will have to compete with giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.


LIFE

Playing Mr Lee in musical, film

Actor Adrian Pang has been getting rave reviews for his portrayal of Mr Lee Kuan Yew in The LKY Musical, which could put a lot of stress on actor Lim Kay Tong, who takes on the role of Mr Lee for the film 1965, which opens in cinemas tomorrow. But Lim says the musical and the movie are "two completely different animals".


Cosby's 'victims' on cover

Thirty-five women - dressed in black and in chronological order by their alleged year of assault - appeared together on a striking cover of New York magazine on Monday, giving faces to their accounts of being sexually assaulted by comedian Bill Cosby. The cover drew attention on the Internet and lit up social media after it was posted on Sunday.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 29, 2015, with the headline What's News: July 29, 2015. Subscribe