What's News: October 18, 2016

TOP OF THE NEWS

18-hour anti-terror exercise

Officers from the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team were out in force across Singapore yesterday in the country's largest counter-terrorism exercise. The 18-hour operation involved over 3,200 officers, and aimed to test the combined response of security forces to a terror attack, and raise public awareness of the threat.


TOP OF THE NEWS

China detains casino staff

Australian casino giant Crown Resorts said yesterday that China had detained 18 of its employees - including Australia-based head of international VIP gambling Jason O'Connor - sending stocks of gaming firms tumbling on concerns about their strategy for luring Chinese gamblers.


PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang tabled the Private Member's Bill. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

WORLD

'Hudud Bill' may be up for vote

Malaysia's Parliament began its final sitting for the year yesterday with the "hudud Bill" put forward by Parti Islam SeMalaysia close to being put to a vote. The Private Member's Bill is aimed at expanding the powers of the country's Islamic courts, but the move has run into opposition from several quarters.


WORLD

Singapore-flagged ship held

Indonesia has detained a Singapore-flagged vessel and its crew for allegedly smuggling used television sets and other household items from the city state. The Toll Emperor, detained off Batam on Sunday, is registered under Toll Logistic, a Singapore-based firm.


A protest against international trade pacts, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in Brussels, Belgium, last month. PHOTO: REUTERS

OPINION

Pushing back against globalisation

An era of globalisation may be drawing to a close, warns RSIS Distinguished Fellow Barry Desker, who sees a rise in protectionist sentiment in various countries. Another stumbling block is the structure of the World Trade Organisation, which makes progress near impossible.


HOME

Jailed for money laundering

A company director was jailed for a total of 33 months after he laundered more than half a million dollars in stolen money. Widower Mohammad Haikal Abdullah, 56, claimed he was duped by a woman he met online and fell in love with.


HOME

MP's assurance on shelters

Hundreds of rescued dogs and cats cared for by welfare groups at Pasir Ris Farmway will not be stranded when their shelters are moved next year to make way for development. Volunteers were given the assurance by MP Louis Ng.


BUSINESS

Rise in private home demand

Demand for new private homes in Singapore recovered in September after a fall in August, though it did not come close to the one-year high reached in July. Developers sold 509 new units last month, up by 8.8 per cent from August's 468 units. Last month's sales were dwarfed by the 1,091 units moved in July.


SPORT

Seek help, ATP tells Kyrgios

Australia's Nick Kyrgios has been ordered by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to see a sports psychologist or face an eight-week ban after his on-court tantrum last week. The world body also added US$25,000 (S$34,700) to a US$16,500 penalty meted out last week. Kyrgios apologised, saying he would use the time to "improve on and off the court".


ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

LIFE

Red Sky in Singapore

Theatre director Nelson Chia (photo) gets to see a cherished dream come true on stage this week when his troupe Nine Years Theatre takes on Stan Lai's acclaimed play Red Sky. Nearly a decade ago, the Taiwanese dramatist turned down Chia's request to present the production about eight residents of an old folks' home.


LIFE

Jump into stand-up comedy

Comedian Suhaimi Yusof says that agreeing to be part of stand-up comedy show Happy Ever Laughter is exactly like taking a leap off a bridge. It is, he says, one of the craziest experiences in his life. He makes his first proper foray into stand-up comedy this month.

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