Kerry meets Laotian leaders

US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane today. He will seek to bolster Asean unity and the bloc's resolve to stand up to China in the lead-up to a summit President Barack Obama has called with the bloc's leaders for Feb 15-16 in Sunnylands, California. Laos holds the Asean chairmanship this year.

Forum on intangible cultural heritage

The 3rd Heritage Science Conference opens today at Nanyang Technological University. The two-day conference focuses on key issues relating to the safeguarding and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.

Intangible cultural heritage includes traditions or living experiences inherited from one's ancestors. These can be social practices, rituals, as well as festive knowledge and events.

Singapore inflation figures

Singapore will likely end the year with negative inflation, and today's consumer price index report should confirm that.

With oil trading near 13-year lows and the global economy staying weak, it is unlikely that inflation will pick up any time soon.

Investors will also be watching oil prices and stock markets after a rally last Friday.