Monday #sgroundup: Hostage taking in Sydney cafe sparks fears of Islamist-linked attack
Hostage taking in Sydney cafe sparks fears of Islamist-linked attack
Australian police locked down the centre of the country's biggest city on Monday after an armed man walked into a downtown Sydney cafe, took hostages and forced them to display an Islamic flag, igniting fears of a jihadist attack.
Police said they knew of one armed assailant involved in the incident at the Lindt chocolate cafe in the heart of Sydney's financial district, but there could be more.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/hostages-held-sydney-cafe-forced-hold-islamic-flag-022551671.html
680 HDB blocks to get solar panels
The Housing Board plans to equip 680 HDB blocks and three of its commercial & industrial properties by end-2016 under its Solar Capability Building Programme, according to media reports.
Aside from the four towns -- Tampines, Sembawang, Jurong East and Marine Parade that will benefit from the latest round of solar panel installations, 200 HDB blocks across Singapore will be fitted with these energy savers by end-2014.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/680-hdb-blocks-solar-panels-030029609--sector.html?linkId=11154236
Hong Kong police close final protest site
Hong Kong police tore down barricades, folded up tents and arrested some protesters Monday at a third and final pro-democracy protest camp, ending demonstrations that blocked traffic in the southern Chinese city's streets for 2 1/2 months.
A police negotiator gave the 17 protesters one last chance to leave voluntarily from a short stretch of road in Causeway Bay before officers started taking them away one by one to a waiting bus.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/hong-kong-police-move-close-last-protest-020126411.html?linkId=11153176
Indonesian rupiah weakest since Asian financial crisis
The Indonesian rupiah Monday sank to its lowest level against the dollar since the Asian financial crisis 16 years ago, as emerging markets are hit hard by signs of recovery in the US.
The unit was down 1.8 percent in early afternoon trade, at 12,690 to the dollar, its lowest level since August 1998, around the time Southeast Asia's biggest economy was devastated by serious financial turmoil.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/indonesian-rupiah-weakest-since-asian-financial-crisis-083452255--finance.html
M1 chairman Teo Soon Hoe passes away aged 65
The chairman of M1, Teo Soon Hoe, passed away on Sunday, the Singapore telco announced on Monday.
In a Singapore Exchange (SGX) filing, as well as a statement shared with Yahoo Singapore, company secretary Foo Siang Larng said Teo has been part of M1’s board since May 1996, and was appointed as chairman since 2009.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/m1-chairman-teo-soon-hoe-passes-away-aged-65-082744851.html
