Top stories from The Straits Times on Wednesday, July 11

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, July 11.


Thai cave rescue: 'All 13 Wild Boars are now out of the cave', say Navy SEALs

Mr Narongsak Osottanakorn (in blue hat) and his team of senior officials receive a standing ovation from the Thai media at Pong Pa Administrative Centre in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF

Rescuers on Tuesday successfully extracted all the remaining boys and their coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand, after two successful operations on Sunday and Monday freed eight other boys in a saga that has gripped the world.

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Diver involved in Thai cave rescue hails boys as 'incredibly strong'

Mr Ivan Karadzic said it is not in any way normal for children to go cave diving at age 11. PHOTO: REUTERS

A foreign diver involved in the mission to save 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded Thai cave has hailed the children as "incredibly strong", and described their treacherous escape journey as unprecedented.

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More mixed marriages registered in Singapore

Interior designer Adeline Yeo married cinematographer K. Hanshen Sudderuddin last month. They said race was never an issue in their relationship. Mr Sudderuddin is himself a product of a mixed marriage - his father is Indian and mother Chinese. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

Last year, more than one in five of all marriages here - or 22.1 per cent - were between people of different races, a significant increase from the 16.4 per cent in 2007.

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HSR could be revived if cost is cut: Malaysia finance minister Lim Guan Eng

"The project by itself makes some sense but not at the exorbitant cost," said Malaysia's Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Malaysia's Finance Minister has received offers to halve the cost of the high-speed rail after Kuala Lumpur expressed reluctance to go ahead with building the 350km line to Singapore.

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World Cup: Umtiti header sends streetwise France into final

Samuel Umtiti scores for France. PHOTO: REUTERS

Samuel Umtiti's 51st-minute header sent an impressive France into the World Cup final with a 1-0 win over Belgium in an absorbing first semi-final on Tuesday.

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World Cup: 3,000 France and Belgium fans gather at Chijmes to cheer on their sides

Fans of Belgium and France at El Mero Mero at Chijmes watching the match. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

For at least 90 minutes on Wednesday morning, a part of Singapore was transformed into a mini European city as almost 3,000 people watched France beat Belgium 1-0 in the semi-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, during a screening at El Mero Mero in Chijmes.

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Singapore to offer programmes in climate change to Asean: Masagos

(From left) Malaysia's Acting High Commissioner to Singapore, Mr Jamal Sharifuddin Johan; Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli; and Brunei's Minister of Energy and Industry, Dato Paduka Mat Suny Mohd Hussein. ST PHOTO: ALVIN HO

Singapore has in place a comprehensive suite of measures to reduce its carbon emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change and from this year, it will offer a climate action package to Asean countries.

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Macau police verifying Malaysia's request to nab Jho Low over 1MDB scandal

Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is wanted in Malaysia for questioning relating to the huge scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Macau Judiciary Police are verifying an official request by the Malaysian police to send a team to Macau to arrest Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho.

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Ex-PM Najib's wife Rosmah denies buying jewellery from Lebanese firm

Global Royalty Trading SAL filed a suit against Rosmah Mansor, seeking a declaration that it is the rightful owner of the jewellery and for its return. PHOTO: REUTERS

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor has denied purchasing jewellery worth US$14.8 million (S$20 million) from a Lebanese jewellery firm.

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Football: Cristiano Ronaldo joins Juventus on a 4-year, €100m deal from Real Madrid; annual wages said to be €30m

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal. PHOTO: AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo has opted to leave Spanish giants Real Madrid for Italian champions Juventus for the next - and possibly final - chapter of one of the greatest careers the game has seen.

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