Top stories from The Straits Times on Wednesday, April 3

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, April 3.


Government makes initial decision on falsehood but courts are final arbiter of truth: Shanmugam

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam noted that the draft law targeting online falsehoods covers only false statements of fact, and does not cover criticism, opinions, satire and parody. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Mr Shanmugam said that it is "completely not the case" that the Government makes the final call on what is true or false.

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British PM Theresa May gambles on talks with opposition Labour party to unlock Brexit, enraging her party

A Pro-EU campaigner walks past posters mocking British politicians in London on April 2, 2019. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Mrs May said she was seeking another short extension to Brexit beyond April 12.

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13% of employers plan bonuses of 3 to 5 months, but majority to give one to two months: Survey

The 2019 Bonus Expectations Survey was conducted in January and February 2019 and covered about 100 employers and 400 Singapore-based professionals across nine industries. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

More than half of the employees taking part in the survey or 57 per cent think they will receive the larger amount.

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Generation Grit: Forgiving her loved ones has freed her to help others build strong family ties

A difficult childhood resulted in Ms Delia Ng having a strained relationship with her family, but she is now working to help youth build strong family bonds. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

A difficult childhood resulted in Ms Delia Ng having a strained relationship with her family, but she is now working to help youth build strong family bonds.

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Trump takes step back from threat to close border with Mexico

Border officers check travel documents on the Paso Del Norte Bridge, connecting the US and Mexico. PHOTO: NYTIMES

Closing the border could disrupt millions of legal crossings and billions of dollars in trade.

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South Korea set to roll out world's first 5G phone ahead of rivals

Visitors to the KT 5G Experience Zone in Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul trying out Samsung's first 5G phone, the Galaxy S10 5G, last month. Competition to be first in 5G is stiff, as other countries, including the United States and China, are also eager to flaunt their 5G capabilities as soon as possible. PHOTO: KT CORPORATION

Electronics giant Samsung is set to beat US rival Motorola by releasing the world's first 5G-enabled phone, the Galaxy S10, to the public on Friday.

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The 48-hour tech detox challenge: It felt like I was missing one of my senses

ST ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA

The realisation of just how much of his life was being controlled by the offerings of the big tech giants really hit home with six hours left in the challenge, says Bryan De Silva.

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What's in a name? Japan debates meaning of new Reiwa imperial era

Women taking their commemorative photos of the printed T-shirts with the new era name "Reiwa" distributed for free at an event in Tokyo on April 1, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

The first character, "rei", is often used to mean "command" or "order", which has an authoritarian nuance that offends some people. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his government prefer "good" or "beautiful", a lesser known meaning of the character.

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23 from Singapore named in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list

In the Entertainment & Sports category, The Sam Willows, comprising siblings Benjamin Kheng (left) and Narelle Kheng (second right) as well as their friends Jonathan Chua and Sandra Riley Tang, were one of the honourees from Singapore. ST PHOTO: LEE JIA WE

The annual list features 300 young disruptors, innovators and entrepreneurs across Asia, all under the age of 30, who are challenging conventional wisdom and rewriting the rules for the next generation.

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Football: Fulham relegated after 4-1 thrashing at Watford

Fulham's Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic applaud fans after the match. PHOTO: REUTERS

They go down with Huddersfield Town, while the third relegation spot is currently occupied by Cardiff City, with Burnley, Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion all just five points above the Welsh side.

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