The news in 5 minutes

PHEY Yew Kok, a former MP and president of the National Trades Union Congress, gave himself up at the Singapore embassy in Bangkok on Monday, after being on the run for 36 years. He fled after being charged with offences including the misuse of union funds.

THE United States and China lauded their environmental protection deals struck on the first day of their strategic and economic dialogue, while seemingly playing down the two powers' rivalries and discord.

A DIPLOMATIC crisis is looming between the United States and France in the wake of a media expose that Washington has spied on three French leaders.

The allies are scrambling to contain any political fallout.

CHINA'S increasing crackdown on conscienceless food manufacturers has opened a can of worms, with the latest revelations including discoveries of thousands of tonnes of rotten or decades-old meat, and infant milk powder with excessive nitrate.

THAI police have arrested a former executive of a Saudi-based energy firm that used to be a partner of Malaysia's debt-ridden state investment fund 1MDB.

The 49-year-old allegedly extorted 2.5 million Swiss francs (S$3.6 million) from his former employer, so as not to disclose confidential information.

ABOUT 2,000 people, mostly elderly, have perished in southern Pakistan under scorching temperatures that run as high as 45 deg C. The record deaths in a heatwave are a result of a perfect storm blending meteorological, political and religious factors in Karachi.

The 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta this month is a reminder of hard-won civil liberties in England and many other parts of the world through the centuries. To celebrate the document is also to remember those who do not enjoy such liberties, and to strive to safeguard rights.

FOR decades, the taxi industry has been a cocooned sector, but Uber and GrabTaxi look set to disrupt it.

These tech start-ups have been trying to find an operating model that gives them an edge over traditional cab companies, and will not run afoul of regulations. It looks like they have found it, writes Christopher Tan.

RESIDENTS of premium housing project Pasir Ris One are feeling squeezed by the narrow corridors outside their units. While the 1.2m walkways are within the rules, one resident said he and his neighbour cannot even open their doors at the same time.

A STATE coroner has ruled that the drowning of a three-year-old boy in a pool at the Aloha Loyang Resort last year was a "tragic misadventure" and said children should be supervised whenever they are in water.

ANTI-DRUG kits and celebrity ambassadors are likely to be the latest weapons that the authorities are rolling out to fight the growing menace of cannabis. These are some of the suggestions made by a government group to tackle youth drug abuse.

SMRT Corp's chief executive Desmond Kuek, 52, is the company's highest-paid CEO, with his compensation doubling in less than three years. His remuneration package is also larger than that of his counterpart at ComfortDelGro Corp.

WHILE most local pro golfers play on the Asian and Asean tours, Quincy Quek is the only one shooting birdies in China, so as to chase his American dream. Overall 16th last year in his inaugural season, he aims to improve this year, with the top five entering the second-tier US-based Web.com Tour, while the next five get spots in the final round of qualifying school.

LITTLE-KNOWN English actor Tom Holland, 19, has been picked to play the web-slinging superhero in the next Spider-Man film, which is due for release in July 2017, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios said on Tuesday.

News of his selection may disappoint fans who had said they wanted a black actor to play the next Spider-Man. Holland is to make his first appearance as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, which is set for release in summer next year.

HERE Comes Honey Boo Boo, a sensationalistic and controversial reality television programme about the family of a child beauty pageant contestant, was criticised as a sign of Discovery TV network losing its way.

Mr Phil Craig, 55, who became the network's chief creative officer in February, agrees and says he is championing a return to the core brand values of Discovery.

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WIKILEAKS documents reveal that the Americans wiretapped three French presidents. Get the key points of the expose at http://str.sg/wpA