What's News: July 21, 2016

Temasek Holdings is buying out troubled transport firm SMRT to allow the rail and bus operator greater flexibility to focus on its primary role of delivering safe and high-quality rail service, without facing short-term pressures of being a listed company.

A new rooftop laboratory will help the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) test new technology that enables buildings to produce more energy than they consume. The BCA SkyLab at the BCA Academy in Braddell makes a full rotation in 30 minutes and will enable research to be done in real climate conditions.

British Prime Minister Theresa May (above) was set to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on her first foreign visits as Premier. Mrs May was expected to start thrashing out the road map for Britain's exit from the European Union during her visit to Berlin yesterday and Paris today.

Protests have erupted in the Indian state of Gujarat after members of a so-called lower caste were beaten by Hindu vigilantes over the alleged skinning of a cow. The protests by Dalits have spread to several parts of the state, with two people dead and a spate of suicide attempts.

China seems to regard South-east Asia as the Nanyang of history, which was within its sphere of influence and paid tribute to the emperor, writes Derwin Pereira. But China's actions today will only push the Philippines closer to the United States, he says.

Daycare centres for dogs were put on high alert yesterday after the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority revealed a spike in cases of leptospirosis - a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can affect humans and animals.

Members of the California Fitness gym chain under receivership have been left high and dry with thousands facing losses from membership fees paid upfront.

Lawyers are pessimistic about customers getting their money back if the company is liquidated.

Sweeping reforms are on the table as part of moves to strengthen Singapore as a centre for debt restructuring. The Government, which wants Singapore to grab a bigger slice of the business, was handed a road map yesterday in the form of 17 recommendations from a review committee that started work in May.

Jurong Country Club captain Ross Tan, 59, is the new Singapore Golf Association president. He succeeds Mr Bob Tan, 63, after hot favourite and veteran sports administrator Low Teo Ping pulled out before last night's vote. Mr Low, 71, cited his heavy duties as the reason for his decision not to contest.

Singapore actress Julie Tan is settling just fine into her temporary new life in New York City, where she is attending the New York Film Academy. The 23-year-old says she is accustomed to cleaning up after herself after her mother asked her to move out of the family home in order to be independent.

Twitter has promised to strengthen its rules and procedures to curb targeted abuse against users, beginning with a ban on technology editor Milo Yiannopoulos, who is accused of leading an online campaign of racial and sexual taunts against Leslie Jones, star of the Ghostbusters remake.