TOP OF THE NEWS

Malaysia nabs 7 for ISIS links

In the latest sign of the growing presence of militants in the region, Malaysian police have arrested a female immigration officer and six others linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The woman is said to have arranged for militants to travel without valid documents.

TOP OF THE NEWS

Founders' Memorial showcase

The Remembering Our Founders: The Making Of A Memorial event is open from today at Gardens by the Bay. It is the most elaborate event so far in a series of engagement sessions by the Founders' Memorial Committee, in the quest for a suitable memorial to honour the values of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his team.

WORLD

HK leader gets China post

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying has become the second Hong Kong leader to be made the vice-chairman of China's top advisory body, in what is being seen as a reward for his handling of pro-independence forces in the Chinese city. Mr Leung is also the first leader to have been made vice-chairman even before his term as chief executive ends.

WORLD

Tech benefits rural Chinese

The relentless pace of China's 4G Internet roll-out, combined with affordable phones, has bridged the gap between first-tier cities and the interior heartland. Chinese in rural areas now have greater access to goods and can communicate with faraway family members easily.

OPINION

Europe's relevance to Asia

Europe may once have felt a sense of civilisational superiority over Asia, but it is now increasingly irrelevant to this region, Jean-Pierre Lehmann says. Asia should not take European peace for granted and should invest energy into building solid regional and global institutions.

HOME

Schools practise mindfulness

In the past two years, at least nine primary and secondary schools have introduced "mindfulness" practices which, studies show, help children regulate their emotions. One pupil Solomon Lim, 10, said: "It helps me when I am stressed. I take deep breaths and cool down."

HOME

Do more to curb teen smoking

Experts say raising the legal smoking age is a good start but measures need to go further to stop young people from smoking. Though teens below 18 have been barred from smoking since 1993, the average age at which smokers take the first puff was 16 in 2013.

BUSINESS

Spotlight on pace of Fed hikes

The United States Federal Reserve will almost certainly raise interest rates at its meeting this week, and this has been priced into Singapore's stock market, analysts say.

But it remains to be seen if the Fed will signal a faster pace of rate increases at its meeting, which starts tomorrow morning. The rate hikes are usually seen as negative for Asian capital markets.

SPORT

Shining Son eases boss' pain

Tottenham striker Son Heung Min is hitting form at the right time, and manager Mauricio Pochettino sees him stepping up in the absence of Harry Kane, who may be out for the rest of the English football season with an ankle injury. The South Korean hit a hat-trick in the 6-0 demolition of Millwall in the FA Cup quarter-finals - the perfect answer to rival fans' racial abuse.