Top stories from The Straits Times on Wednesday, May 15

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, May 15.


Asia stocks set to climb after US stocks rebound as trade comments ease concerns

Investors monitor stock price movements at a securities company in Shanghai, on May 8, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

Asian stocks were poised to track the rebound in US equities as President Donald Trump said he had an ongoing dialogue with China, assuaging some concern about the deteriorating trade war.

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Sharp rise in dengue cases last week

It was the seventh consecutive week that infection numbers have risen. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Infections surged by more than 50 per cent to 294 cases last week, from 194 the week before.

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WhatsApp to refer security breach to US authorities

A WhatsApp spokesman said the attack was sophisticated and had all the hallmarks of a "private company working with governments on surveillance". PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Facebook's WhatsApp said a security breach on its messaging app had signs of coming from a private company working on surveillance.

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Generation Grit: Teen looked after dementia-stricken dad from the age of 14

Miss Melissa Chan started social enterprise Project We Forgot in 2015, after years of caring for her father who had dementia and who died of cancer in 2014. Besides forming a community of support, the social enterprise also runs online and offline seminars on topics related to dementia, among other things. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID

Melissa Chan shares her story in this series on millennials who inspire us.

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NUS Students' Union plans to have night patrols on campus

The university's students' union plans to organise and carry out night patrols to improve safety on campus. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

The move is in light of four reported cases of voyeurism on university campuses in the past three weeks.

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WHO issues first advice on dementia: exercise and don't smoke

Stopping smoking, a healthy diet and avoiding harmful use of alcohol were also among the recommendations of the WHO's report. PHOTO: ST FILE

Stopping smoking, a healthy diet and avoiding harmful use of alcohol were also among the recommendations of the WHO's report, entitled "Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia".

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China not blinking as it digs in for prolonged trade war

Just earlier this month, both sides had seemed headed for a deal that would end a trade war that has seen tariffs slapped on billions of dollars worth of goods from both sides. PHOTO: AFP

Beijing is counting on vast domestic market to help it weather the storm, say analysts.

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29 years' jail for father, 51, who sexually abused daughter since she was 5 and raped her at age 11

Six other charges of sexual offences were considered during sentencing by Judicial Commissioner Audrey Lim.

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Hyflux to lose control of Tuaspring integrated water and power plant

Hyflux said Maybank, its biggest secured creditor, has appointed receivers and managers from insolvency firm Ferrier Hodgson to take over the power plant. PHOTO: ST FILE

National water agency PUB will assume control of the desalination plant and shared infrastructure after the water purchase agreement with Hyflux terminates this week.

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Ian Fang and Carrie Wong apologise following leak of explicit private messages

The messages between Mediacorp stars Ian Fang and Carrie Wong included language that suggested a relationship of a physical nature between the two. PHOTOS: IAN_IANIZATION/INSTAGRAM, CARRIEWST/INSTAGRAM

It is not known how the messages were leaked but the two stars have confirmed that they are genuine.

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