What's News: April 30, 2016

Members of a police emergency response team. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

TOP OF THE NEWS

New police response teams

The police unveiled their new emergency response teams, which are designed to counter armed threats in Singapore, at their annual workplan seminar and exhibition yesterday. Each team will have four to five officers, who will be armed with sub-machine guns and trained in counter-assault skills. The teams will make their debut across the island by June.

TOP OF THE NEWS

New rail model yet to take off

A plan for the Government to take over ownership of rail assets has yet to be realised, nearly six years after it was first mooted. When asked yesterday, SMRT chief Desmond Kuek said talks with the authorities on this issue are "progressing".

Filipino soldiers waiting for orders during an offensive on Sulu island. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

WORLD

ISIS eyeing S-E Asia: Experts

As the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) loses its grip on territories in the Middle East, it is expected to look towards South-east Asia, including Singapore, to perpetuate its claims to a caliphate. Analysts said the region's long history of militancy makes it attractive for the extremist group.

WORLD

Australia to block land sale

Australia is set to block the A$371 million (S$380 million) sale of its biggest private landholding to a Chinese consortium amid concerns about sales of its farmland to foreign investors. The 101,000 sq km covers about 2.5 per cent of Australia's agricultural land.

OPINION

Keeping integrity of research

Research integrity and ethics are key to doing science right, writes Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) chairman Lim Chuan Poh. A code of research integrity is in place and A*Star will do more to harmonise policy and practices across the landscape.

HOME

Tower Transit buses soon

first buses under the inaugural government bus contract will hit the streets at the end of next month. Anglo-Australian company Tower Transit will operate a total of 26 services in western Singapore progressively from May 29.

HOME

Work on Tuas Terminal starts

The first moves to build a mega port in Tuas were made yesterday when Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Khaw Boon Wan sent a caisson out to sea on a floating dock. To be built in four phases over 30 years, the Tuas Terminal will be the home of Singapore's port activities.

BUSINESS

Factory bosses more upbeat

Firms across the manufacturing and service sectors are more upbeat about business prospects than they were three months ago. A weighted 15 per cent of factory bosses expect business conditions to improve over the next six months, compared with 7 per cent in January. A weighted 12 per cent of services firms were optimistic, up from 10 per cent.

VJC's Alexandra Wee leaves two Raffles Institution competitors behind on her way to winning the 800m final. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

SPORT

VJC girls run home with first A Div title in 21 years

Victoria Junior College (VJC) clinched its first A Division girls' title in 21 years at the Schools National Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium yesterday, edging Hwa Chong Institution by just eight points. Victory in the 800m final proved key for VJC.

PHOTO: PLAYPOINT (SINGAPORE

LIFE

Creative play in Yishun

A new play spot in Yishun Ring Road features hammocks, crooked houses and an interactive light installation which was showcased at last year's i Light Marina Bay. At the 480 sq m Yishun River Green playground, there are 16 light pads that light up and change colours when they are stepped on.

LIFE

Long queue for cheese tarts

Hundreds of people in Singapore queued up yesterday morning at the newly opened Bake Cheese Tart shop in Ion Orchard for the coveted tarts from Hokkaido, Japan, known for their mousse-like cream cheese filling and crisp pastry. Even after being told that the wait time would be over two hours, people kept joining the queue.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 30, 2016, with the headline What's News: April 30, 2016. Subscribe