What's News: March 01, 2018

PHOTO: REUTERS
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOP OF THE NEWS

Higher fees at Changi Airport

From July 1, passengers flying out of Changi Airport will have to pay an extra $13.30 on top of the current $34. Transit passengers will pay $3 more for each flight.

Airlines will also have to pay more in aircraft parking and landing fees. The increases are to fund th e airport's expansion plans.

TOP OF THE NEWS

Curbs on massage parlours

Operators of massage parlours, including those unlicensed, face stiffer penalties from today under the new Massage Establishments Act, which was passed to crack down on vice activities.

Operating hours will also be cut, in most cases to end by 10.30pm.

WORLD

Anger over EU's Brexit draft

The European Union could maintain much of its sway in Northern Ireland after Brexit under a draft treaty published yesterday that caused anger in London and Belfast, as the EU warned time was running out for a deal.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will lay out her vision for a post-Brexit free trading relationship with the EU tomorrow.

WORLD

Ghani's peace offer to Taleban

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered recognition of the Taleban as a legitimate political group yesterday as part of a proposed process that could lead to talks aimed at ending more than 16 years of war. The offer adds to signals suggesting a greater willingness to consider dialogue.

OPINION

Streamlining care for seniors

Social and health support for the elderly will soon shift to the Health Ministry. This will help streamline delivery, but care must still be taken to ensure that services match the needs of the recipients, says Linette Lai.

HOME

More mediation in divorces

Mediation helped resolve seven out of 10 divorce cases last year, sparing the need to go to contested hearings. Support schemes, simplified processes as well as the efforts of family court staff and community partners helped to achieve the "encouraging results".

HOME

Accident numbers unveiled

Private-hire cars accounted for 9.4 per cent of 82,800 accidents reported, despite making up 4.9 per cent of the total vehicle population. Passenger cars, making up 59 per cent of vehicles, accounted for 49.5 per cent of accidents, and taxis, 13 per cent of accidents.

BUSINESS

Developers face rate hike

On the back of bullish land bids by land-hungry developers in the past six months, the Government has hiked development charge rates for non-landed residential use by 22.8 per cent on average. This is a steeper hike compared with the 13.8 per cent increase during the last revision six months ago and the biggest increase since September 2007, when the rate soared by an average of 57.8 per cent.

SPORT

New den for Lions

The Football Association of Singapore and the Singapore Sports Hub yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to make the National Stadium the "Home of the Lions". Seven to 10 football matches featuring either the various national teams or domestic clubs will be played at the venue every year for the next three years. To kick off the deal, four matches will be played at the National Stadium this month.

LIFE

Peele in the Oscar spotlight

The Oscars will see Jordan Peele become the first African American in the running for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for his movie Get Out.

The movie inspired numerous debates about the reality of race relations in America.


Straits Times Digital

VIDEO

No holding him back

An accident in 2013 left Wong Zi Heng paralysed from the chest down. But the 26-year-old has forged a new path for himself. http://str.sg/ziheng

INTERACTIVE

Hitting the jackpot

A jackpot of $12 million is up for grabs in the Toto Hongbao Draw tomorrow . A look at past lucky numbers and more. str.sg/hongbao2018

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 01, 2018, with the headline What's News: March 01, 2018. Subscribe