What's News: May 18, 2016

Thunder guard Russell Westbrook going up for a shot against the Golden State Warriors during Monday's game.
Thunder guard Russell Westbrook going up for a shot against the Golden State Warriors during Monday's game. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Mr Setya Novanto (above, left) has emerged as the new chief of Indonesia's second-largest party, Golkar. PHOTO: TEMPO
The HBO movie All The Way stars Bryan Cranston as US President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The HBO movie All The Way stars Bryan Cranston as US President Lyndon B. Johnson. PHOTO: HBO ASIA

TOP OF THE NEWS

One CEO for Scoot, Tigerair

Budget carriers Scoot and Tigerair will be run by one chief executive, possibly paving the way for their eventual merger. A holding company will likely be set up to house and run the two Singapore Airlines subsidiaries, sources said. Tigerair's current boss, Mr Lee Lik Hsin, is the prime candidate to helm the new entity, The Straits Times has learnt.


TOP OF THE NEWS

Inquest on student's death

A coroner's inquiry into the death of student Benjamin Lim Jun Hui began yesterday. Benjamin, 14, fell from the 14th-storey of his block in Yishun on Jan 26. He had been questioned by police earlier in the day at school.


WORLD

Golkar has a new leader

Mr Setya Novanto has emerged as the new chief of Indonesia's second-largest party, Golkar, as it attempts to move beyond a divisive leadership tussle that had lasted for more than a year. Mr Setya's victory marks a turnaround in his political career after he resigned as Speaker in December amid allegations of corruption.


SPORT

Oklahoma City score shock win over Golden State Warriors

Russell Westbrook (with the ball) scored 27 points to lead Oklahoma City Thunder to a shock road victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Western Conference finals opener on Monday. The 108-102 result was the reigning champions' first post-season defeat at home this season.


WORLD

Mahathir's campaign 'flawed'

De facto Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has urged his Parti Keadilan Rakyat to resist teaming up with influential Umno figures in a campaign to unseat Prime Minister Najib Razak. He also called former premier Mahathir Mohamad's campaign "flawed".


OPINION

S'pore's tough balancing act

The Panama Papers have thrust the issue of tax evasion and tax havens into the spotlight. As Singapore names and companies feature on the list, scrutiny has fallen on the Republic's position. Singapore has a tough balancing act, says Business editor Lee Su Shyan.


HOME

S'pore, China exchange views

Ministers and senior officials from Singapore and China met at the third Singapore-China Social Governance Forum yesterday. The biannual forum is a platform for both countries to exchange views on social policy and development.


HOME

Better accessibility in Bedok

Steps have been taken - literally - to improve accessibility in Bedok Centre. Wheelchair-friendly ramps have been installed along with new benches and lighting as part of the Housing Board's Remaking Our Heartland plans. Several estates around Singapore have been spruced up since 2007.


BUSINESS

Hyflux perpetuals to pay 6%

Water treatment firm Hyflux has launched an offer for up to $300 million in perpetual capital securities paying out 6 per cent a year. The bulk of the perpetuals - up to $230 million - will be offered to the public, said the group yesterday.


LIFE

Trump and political drama

Director Jay Roach, whose new political drama All The Way is about President Lyndon B. Johnson's passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, admits that he is mining the current electoral cycle in the United States for material. But he adds that it is so much of a show with front runner Donald Trump that a movie could not top that.


LIFE

JJ Lin jams with Apple boss

Singaporean Mandopop star JJ Lin jammed with Apple chief executive Tim Cook on the music app GarageBand in Beijing, in a video that was released yesterday to promote a China-friendly version of the application. Lin flew to Beijing for one day for the shoot.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 18, 2016, with the headline What's News: May 18, 2016. Subscribe