Friday*s #sgroundup: MDA drops planned self-regulation scheme after opposition

By Elizabeth Soh | What's buzzing? – 

Here are the top trending stories from today in case you might have missed them:

MDA drops planned self-regulation arts scheme after pushback from 45 groups

The MDA says it will drop a proposed self-regulation scheme for the arts industry, after facing strong opposition …
Singapore has scrapped plans to roll out a self-regulation scheme for the sector after an unprecedented mass pushback from arts groups.

The Media Development Authority (MDA) on Friday announced this on its website after the close of public consultations on several amendments to its Public Entertainments and Meetings Act.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mda-drops-planned-self-regulation-arts-scheme-after-pushback-from-45-groups-105909981.html

UN: death toll from Syrian civil war tops 191,000

Iraqi Yazidi refugees gather in a tent at Newroz camp in Hasaka province, north eastern Syria on August 14, 2014, …

The death toll from three years of Syria's civil war has risen to more than 191,000 people, the United Nations reported Friday.

The figure, covering the period from March 2011 to April 2014, is the first issued by the U.N.'s human rights office since July 2013, when it documented more than 100,000 killed.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/un-death-toll-syrian-civil-war-tops-191-084718973.html

Is Singapore driving away property investors?

A man walks on an observation deck overlooking private high-rise residential condominium properties in the prime …
Property plays are near and dear to Singapore's heart, but at least one manager doesn't think the city-state is particularly friendly to real-estate investors.

"For Singapore, which is one of the most business friendly countries in the world, it's possibly one of the least real estate investor friendly countries because of constant policy changes," said Andrew Jackson, head of real estate funds at Standard Life Investments (London Stock Exchange: SL.-GB), which has around $318 billion under management.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-driving-away-property-investors-025712174.html

In somber homecoming, Malaysia lays MH17 dead to rest

Soldiers carry a coffin with the remains of a Malaysian victim from Flight MH17 during a ceremony at Kuala Lumpur …

Millions of black-clad Malaysians fell silent Friday in tribute to their 43 countrymen killed in the MH17 disaster as the first remains were brought home and laid to rest amid deep sorrow and anger.

People across the country of 28 million observed a minute's silence at 10:55 am (0255 GMT), shortly after a Malaysia Airlines jet landed with the remains of 20 people killed when MH17 was blasted from the sky by a suspected surface-to-air missile over Ukraine.

https://my.news.yahoo.com/remains-mh17-dead-arrive-malaysia-023939364.html

England braced for Balotelli return

Italy striker Mario Balotelli warms up prior to a World Cup match between England and Italy at the Amazonia Arena …

Mario Balotelli was set for a shock move to Liverpool on Thursday as AC Milan acknowledged that the controversial Italy striker was on his way out.

The Milanese club have agreed to let the 24-year-old move to Anfield in a transfer worth 20 million euros (16 million pounds, $27 million), according to reports in England and Italy.

A Milan spokesman said he could not confirm any talks or deal. But the club's website reported that Balotelli had said his goodbyes to the Milan players and staff after training on Thursday morning, suggesting only personal terms remain to be finalised.

https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/super-mario-brink-shock-liverpool-move-113255053--spt.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/friday-s--sgroundup--mda-drops-planned-self-regulation-scheme-after-opposition-113844128.html