What's News: Sept 12, 2017

The Miami River overflowing as the storm passed through on Sunday.
The Miami River overflowing as the storm passed through on Sunday. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOP OF THE NEWS

Halimah gets green light

Madam Halimah Yacob was the only presidential hopeful who got the green light yesterday to contest the reserved presidential election. If all is in order after she files her nomination papers tomorrow, she will be declared president-elect soon after nominations close at noon.


TOP OF THE NEWS

Faulty train causes delays

A Circle Line train was rendered inoperable near Marymount station yesterday when emergency brakes were applied for an unknown reason. The fault, which occurred during the morning peak hours, delayed train journeys some time after 9am. The faulty train had to be pushed out of the way by another one.


WORLD

Hurricane Irma weakens

Hurricane Irma weakened as it moved past Tampa, Florida, yesterday, leaving in its wake a state that avoided the worst predictions of its destruction by sea and storm. Still, at least 5.6 million were without power, millions displaced and as much as 38cm of rain was forecast in what may yet go down as one of the worst storms in Florida's history.


WORLD

Activist admits to subversion

Taiwanese democracy activist Lee Ming-che has confessed to attempting to subvert the Chinese government in a trial slammed as a "sham" by human rights groups. Lee was accused of writing articles critical of the Chinese government, among other things.


OPINION

East Asia scaling uni rankings

Western universities dominate world rankings, but East Asia is moving up. India is conspicuous by its absence in the top tier; the Middle East, Africa and Latin America lag behind, Jean-Pierre Lehmann says on the university challenge.


HOME

Meeting heart donor's parents

The recipient of an organ transplant will be meeting the parents of the woman whose heart she received. Ms Serene Lee, 37, messaged Mr Mark Kok Wah on Facebook to tell him she received the heart of his only daughter, Carmen, who died two years ago.


HOME

Interactive Chinese lessons

The PAP Community Foundation will be rolling out new Chinese language programmes in the next two years for children under the age of three to learn the language through play and storytelling activities at PCF Sparkletots, the largest pre-school operator here.


BUSINESS

Four business parks acquired

Frasers Centrepoint has acquired four business parks in Britain for about £686 million (S$1.2 billion), marking its debut in a new market segment. They are located in Winnersh Triangle in Reading, Chineham Park in Basingstoke, Watchmoor Park in Camberley, and Hillington Park in Glasgow.


SPORT

S'pore a key race in F1 season

As the 10th edition of Formula One's iconic Singapore night race comes round this weekend, the title contenders will be acutely aware that the challenging Marina Bay Street Circuit is pivotal to their hopes. Seven of nine pole-sitters have won the race, while four of them would win the championship. And three title chasers used their race win here as a springboard to catapult them to the overall crown at the end of those seasons.


PHOTO: OPERA GALLERY

LIFE

Art galleries rev up for F1

Art galleries are gearing up for the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. Opera Gallery, for example, is working with the Singapore Tourism Board to present a showcase of Spanish artist Manolo Valdes' sculptures (above) along Orchard Road.


Straits Times Digital

VIDEO

Getai life for me

It is a hectic time for student Anderene Choo, 19, who has to juggle school and the stage as a getai singer. str.sg/getaiact

VIDEO

Opera's swan song?

Hokkien and Teochew opera troupes are facing dwindling audience numbers, lower earnings and a bleak future. str.sg/streetopera

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 12, 2017, with the headline What's News: Sept 12, 2017. Subscribe