TOP OF THE NEWS
Malaysia yesterday indicated its reluctance to escalate tensions near the South China Sea over dozens of alleged Chinese fishing boats found in Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone. Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he is confident that, if the sightings are confirmed, the issue "can be resolved bilaterally" with China as the relationship is strong.
TOP OF THE NEWS
Civic District to get tree trail
The 3km-long Civic District Tree Trail will be launched by the National Parks Board in May. Stretching from the Istana to the Raffles' Landing Site, it will feature trees dating back as far as the 19th century. There will be monthly guided walks and markers at all 20 stops along the route.
WORLD
In Republican front runner Donald Trump's view, the US has become a diluted power, and the main method by which he would re-establish its central role in the world is economic bargaining. In an interview, he approached most international conflicts through the prism of a negotiation, even when he was not precise about strategic goals.
WORLD
Sidelined Umno leaders and Malaysian opposition politicians yesterday rallied together to ratchet up pressure on Prime Minister Najib Razak, after months of attacks over a funding scandal failed to substantially dent his support. The group will go around Malaysia until June to collect signatures from voters calling for Datuk Seri Najib to step down.
OPINION
A new Russian ideology that pits itself against Europe has been asserting itself, and the West should take note, says Europe Correspondent Jonathan Eyal.
HOME
Remnants of former psychiatric hospital to be preserved
A boundary wall and a group of graves from a former lunatic asylum are to be preserved after surviving almost 130 years. The remnants on the site of Singapore General Hospital (SGH) were rediscovered in 2014, and there were fears they could disappear when the Outram site is redeveloped. The Ministry of Health, however, has said it plans to "preserve its heritage features and structures as far as possible".
HOME
A diner at a basement restaurant in Punggol's new Waterway Point mall has complained that a rat fell from the ceiling before scurrying off towards a kitchen. The National Environment Agency is investigating the complaint.
BUSINESS
A string of recent announcements by banks here underlines the importance they attach to the small and medium-sized enterprise segment, even as SME loan demand looks set to moderate this year. SMEs are vital to the local economy, so any slowdown will only be temporary.
SPORT
The recent buzz in the S-League has extended to the women's game too. Last month's Women's Football Day drew more than 500 participants, and there are now three all-girls FAS training centres for the association's Cubs Programme. The Lionesses, too, are back in action, playing their first international game in two years in January, losing 0-1 to Sri Lanka.
LIFE
Actor not first choice for role
It might sound unthinkable to legions of swooning fans of Descendants Of The Sun across Asia, but Captain Yoo Si Jin did not exist in an early screenplay for the K-romance and actor Song Joong Ki was not the top choice for the role of the dashing soldier.
LIFE
More than two years after he was ordained as a monk, retired actor Xie Shaoguang, once Channel 8's biggest star, has hung up his Buddhist robes and is now a chef at a vegetarian eatery in Johor Baru.