What's News: December 19 2015

Spectators at the 2015 National Day Parade held at the Padang. PHOTO: ST FILE

TOP OF THE NEWS

NDP to be held at Stadium

The National Stadium will host next year's National Day Parade (NDP), after organisers and the Singapore Sports Hub reached an agreement on rental costs.

NDP 2016 will be the first to be held at the venue, 10 years after the last parade at the old National Stadium.The new 55,000-seat stadium has 30,000 more seats than the Float@ Marina Bay.


TOP OF THE NEWS

Big pay hikes unlikely in 2016

Tech firms are likely to give the biggest salary bumps next year, but other bosses are unlikely to give generous pay hikes. Even banks and financial institutions are likely to be cautious, with slow economic growth expected. The Singapore economy is tipped to grow between 1 per cent and 3 per cent next year, according to official forecasts.


PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WORLD

Why no US troops for Mid-East

US President Barack Obama (photo) acknowledged that Americans worried he was not doing enough to prevent terrorism, but he said the cost of sending ground troops to the Middle East was too high. As many as 100 US soldiers could die every month if he did so, the President said.


WORLD

New graft-busters approved

Indonesian lawmakers yesterday approved new leadership for the anti-corruption agency, amid doubts about their ability to rebuild the agency after a feud with police led to some of the old leaders being arrested this year. Mr Agus Raharjo is the new head of the KPK.


OPINION

Averting the Thucydides Trap

The Thucydides Trap predicts war when a rising superpower confronts an incumbent. But war between the US and China can be averted with wise leadership, given the shared opportunities and threats they face together, says Professor Chan Heng Chee.


HOME

Crossings at park connectors

Road crossings that give priority to cyclists and pedestrians have been rolled out at park connectors here.

The raised platforms will require motorists to slow down, while allowing cyclists and pedestrians to cross the road without stepping down from the pavement.


HOME

Death risk and living alone

Elderly Singaporeans who live on their own are 1.7 times more likely to die prematurely, compared with those who live with family or friends. The risk was higher especially for elderly men.


BUSINESS

Trying times for oil and gas

The slump in oil prices will continue to hurt local oil and gas companies, on the back of a growing oil glut, said analysts.

Many are selling non-core assets, diversifying into related businesses, or finding new customers in different regions to generate sufficient cash flows.


Under-pressure Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez (photo) has been reassured of his job by club president Florentino Perez. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SPORT

Benitez to stay as Real Madrid coach

Rafael Benitez's job is secure for now despite a poor run of results in La Liga, says Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

He also downplayed the possibility of any immediate return to the club for Jose Mourinho, who was sacked by Chelsea on Thursday.


LIFE

SAM director steps down

Singapore Art Museum director Susie Lingham (photo) is leaving the institution after more than two years at the helm. The museum said she will be stepping down on March 31 to "pursue personal projects as an artist, writer, educator and curator". The search for a new director will commence soon.


LIFE

Not-so-subtle inspectors

Michelin Guide inspectors might not be so anonymous after all. There have been several cases in Singapore of inspectors intro-ducing themselves to restaurant staff, asking to inspect kitchens and giving out business cards. Singapore's edition of the guide is expected to be launched in the second half of next year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 19, 2015, with the headline What's News: December 19 2015. Subscribe