Duterte visiting Malaysia

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrives in Malaysia today for a two-day state visit. He will discuss with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak efforts to combat piracy in the Strait of Malacca and a plague of kidnappings by the Abu Sayyaf militant group. The two leaders are also expected to compare notes on their recent pro-China outreach that analysts say reinforce the regional narrative of China's rise and the United States' decline.

Recognition for excellent service

Service staff in hotels who went beyond the call of duty to create extraordinary experiences for their guests will be recognised at an awards ceremony today. Organised by the Singapore Kindness Movement and the Singapore Hotel Association, the ceremony also aims to promote gracious behaviour in the service industry. Close to 100 staff from 54 hotels will receive the Service Gold National Kindness Award.

EU economic forecasts

The European Commission is scheduled to release its autumn economic forecasts today. The commission had earlier forecast the euro area and the European Union (EU) to grow at 1.6 per cent and 1.8 per cent respectively this year, with growth in Europe expected to remain modest as the performance of key trading partners slowed and some of the supportive factors started to wane.