Top stories from The Straits Times on Saturday, Oct 28

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kickstart your Saturday, Oct 28.


VIDEO: Spain sacks Catalan government after independence declaration, calls snap election

Rajoy delivers a statement after an extraordinary Cabinet meeting in Madrid, Oct 27, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS

A new regional election will be held in Catalonia on Dec 21, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a televised address on a day of high drama.

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VIDEO: Maids seen doing work, balanced on scaffolding

Maids who are employed at a Cluny Park residence working on the facade of the two-storey house yesterday. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Sheltered from the rain by the roof ledge, the women were seen balancing gingerly on a narrow temporary scaffolding, while seemingly sanding the walls of a two-storey Cluny Park house without helmets, workboots and protective gear.

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Private home prices finally head north

The recent flurry of collective sales could eventually deliver an additional 9,300 units to the private residential market, said URA. PHOTO: ST FILE

The private residential market seems to have turned the corner in the third quarter, with prices heading higher after almost four years of decline.

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First of 12 new trains with LTA's black, red and green livery delivered to Jurong Port

The 12 trains are the final batch of 57 new trains that are being put into service progressively on Singapore's oldest and most heavily-used MRT lines, which are 30 years old. PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

The remaining six-car trains will progressively arrive here from now till the end of 2018. They will operate on the North-South-East-West Line (NSEWL).

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Myanmar detains Singapore, Malaysia journalists on assignment for Turkish state TV

The journalists, from Singapore and Malaysia, were detained for flying a drone near the parliament compound. PHOTO: AFP

The journalists were questioned at a police station in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw for flying a drone near the parliament compound.

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Commentary: The hoarder's anguish and inability to discard things

ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO

Hoarding is a condition that is difficult to treat, and the authorities often have no right to intervene, even if angry neighbours complain, since a man's home is his castle.

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New hotels by big chains opening in Singapore

Tepees (above) at the Andaz Singapore's rooftop bar, Mr Stork; a luxurious bathroom; and Bar Square at Alley on 25. ST PHOTO: SHARON LUM

It has been opening season here for hotels in the past month, in particular, for big chains.

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Singapore-founded gaming firm Razer to launch up to $750m HK IPO on Oct 30

Razer was founded in 2005 by Tan Min Liang and Robert Krakoff and has grown from producing a gaming mouse as its initial product to manufacturing laptops worth almost US$4,000. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

The company, which is based in Singapore and the United States, will offer shares in an indicative range of HK$2.93 (S$0.51) to HK$4 each, according to reports.

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Peep into Haw Par Villa's death museum

Journeys director Jeya Ayadurai in front of the 10 Courts of Hell at the Hell's Museum in Haw Par Villa. His team has plans to add multimedia elements to the museum and build mock tombs of different ethnic and religious groups to expose visitors to different forms of death architecture. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Singapore's first death museum is set to open its gates at theme park Haw Par Villa this weekend.

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VIDEO: Eleven and friends hang out at Toa Payoh's dragon playground in latest Stranger Things promo

Netflix Singapore shared this gritty photo of Eleven and her friends at the Toa Payoh dragon playground. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/NETFLIXSG

After teasing viewers with a clip of Yishun for the second season of its hit series Stranger Things in March, Netflix Singapore has returned with a gritty shot of Eleven and her friends at no less than the familiar Toa Payoh dragon playground.

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