What's News: June 2, 2017

A government soldier looks at a man holding a white flag who fled his home in Marawi City, Philippines on June 1, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS

TOP OF THE NEWS

Terror threat 'at highest level'

The terror threat facing Singapore is at its highest level in recent years, the Home Affairs Ministry said in its first Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report released yesterday. The ministry said the country was specifically targeted in the past year, and the regional threat had increased.

TOP OF THE NEWS

A president for all S'poreans

Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim called for candidates standing in the presidential election to see the office not as a job, but as a calling. He urged contenders to uphold multiracialism and to reach out to all Singaporeans. However, Dr Yaacob, who is eligible to stand for election, will not be running.

China has been building a modern navy capable of projecting force far away from home. PHOTO: XINHUA

WORLD

China's growing naval force

Ship by ship, port by port, China has over the past two decades been assembling one of the essential engines of global power: a modern navy capable of projecting force far from home. China's "blue water" navy will be on the minds of world leaders when they gather in Singapore this weekend for the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference.

WORLD

11 soldiers killed in Marawi

Eleven soldiers died in an air strike aimed at driving out Muslim militants still holding parts of southern Philippines' Marawi City, as the country's biggest internal security crisis in years deepens with no end in sight. A military spokesman said an aircraft missed its mark and dropped a bomb instead on ground troops.

OPINION

Post-US world order ahead

The time has come to recognise that the United States has changed, and is fundamentally changing before our very eyes, writes Ravi Velloor. Asia, get ready for a post-US world order.

HOME

Complaints against Misa

The consumers' association has received at least 17 complaints about Misa Travel since it closed on Wednesday, a day after its licence was revoked. About $18,000 had been paid by customers for services yet to be delivered. Misa closed after 23 years in operation.

HOME

Local leaders for faith groups

Faith groups are turning to local leaders instead of those from abroad to minister to believers, as they have a surer sense of local sensitivities. Invited foreign speakers are also scrutinised closely and briefed on Singapore's requirements.

BUSINESS

OCBC gets offers for UE stake

OCBC Bank and its Great Eastern Holdings insurance arm are evaluating offers of interest from several parties for their stakes in property group United Engineers (UE) and WBL Corp, they said yesterday. One interested party is Perennial Real Estate Holdings, which said it had submitted a bid for UE as part of a consortium.

SPORT

Young officials for SEA Games

Singapore will have two deputy chefs de mission for the first time at August's SEA Games in Malaysia. The Singapore National Olympic Council named former Olympians Mark Chay (swimming) and Lee Wung Yew (shooting) to assist chef de mission Milan Kwee as it continues to give younger officials exposure at major events.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF 222 QUEEN STREET

LIFE

Arts centre tenants' woes

Tenants occupying the premises of the former Catholic High School may have to move after their nine-year lease ends in August next year. They are mainly arts and heritage groups such as dance school Singapore Ballet Academy and music group The A Cappella Society, which are worried about having to move out of the vibrant Bras Basah-Bugis area.


VIDEO

Train hopping

Things to see and do at each of the 16 stations on Downtown Line 3. http://str.sg/4LT8


VIDEO

A taste of home

Apart from Old Chang Kee, which will open in London this year, several home-grown brands have also expanded overseas. http://str.sg/4LfQ

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 02, 2017, with the headline What's News: June 2, 2017. Subscribe