TOP OF THE NEWS
More than three decades after absconding, former NTUC chairman Phey Yew Kok was jailed for five years yesterday. The 81-year-old pleaded guilty to criminal breach of trust and other offences. Judge Jennifer Marie said: "His remorse, belatedly, does not displace the serious and aggravating nature of his offences."
TOP OF THE NEWS
Singapore's manufacturing sector is expected to bear the brunt of the global economic downturn, the NTUC said yesterday. However, assistant secretary-general Cham Hui Fong added that the trend "could be cyclical" and "turn over quite quickly".
WORLD
The United States and China are bracing themselves for severe cold conditions over the weekend, which has led to flight cancellations and school closures. Five states in the US have declared a state of emergency, while China has issued a yellow alert - the third level in a four-tier system for severe weather.
WORLD
Spiralling mortgages brought about by surging property prices have left Australian households among the most indebted in the world, prompting concerns that the market is in a bubble. The market has begun to show signs of a long-awaited cooling period.
OPINION
South-east Asia was once a disaster zone, with the Vietnam War, massacres in Indonesia and the Khmer Rouge genocide. Today, it is a region of relative stability and wealth. The rest of Asia has much to learn from Asean, says Professor Jean-Pierre Lehmann.
HOME
An ailing couple in their 80s who have been separated for more than 30 years have gone to court to get divorced. However, a district judge says she believes the "prime movers" in the case are their children, who plan to claw back some of their father's assets.
HOME
The Singapore Civil Defence Force was trying to set up an air bag below a man on the 12th-floor ledge of a block of flats in Dover Crescent when he fell.
A query was posted on its Facebook page after a video of the man falling went online.
BUSINESS
After some of the bloodiest trading days since the 2008 financial crisis, investors finally had something to cheer about this year, with the benchmark Straits Times Index surging 1.75 per cent to 2,577.09 yesterday. Other Asian markets also staged a sharp rebound after central banks in Europe and Asia hinted at fresh stimulus.
SPORT
Blues aiming to outgun Gunners
Premier League leaders Arsenal have beaten Chelsea just six times in the last 28 games. The Blues might fancy their chances in tomorrow's clash at the Emirates Stadium, as interim boss Guus Hiddink has won his two previous Arsenal-Chelsea games by an aggregate score of 6-2. C20
LIFE
For the upcoming Chinese Year of the Monkey, nurseries are getting creative not with the types of plants on sale, but with playful plant decorations and interesting jars, such as monkey-shaped pots and cutesy monkey figures.
LIFE
US pop star Mariah Carey and Australian casino tycoon James Packer are engaged to be married. They have been dating for several months and celebrated New Year's Eve at billionaire Packer's Crown Casino in Melbourne, where Carey performed before an audience that included Packer's mother. Carey's engagement ring is said to weigh in at 35 carats.
