Thousands to march in KL rally

Thousands are expected to march in Kuala Lumpur today to demand that Prime Minister Najib Razak resign over his involvement in a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

The rally, organised by pro-democracy group Bersih, is expected to start from Jalan Bangsar and end around Dataran Merdeka, where police said some areas will be closed off.

Schooling is in town

Singapore's first Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling will attend a Make-A-Wish Foundation event today at Ngee Ann City, where he will interact with the charity's beneficiaries. It will be his first public function since returning to Singapore yesterday.

Later, he will be among Team Singapore's Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes attending a tea reception hosted by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana.

Rate hike timing: Speech may give clues

US Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president Robert Kaplan was scheduled to give a speech yesterday (2.30am today, Singapore time).

He said earlier this week that he believes the US economy will grow by about 2 per cent next year, and that it is "appropriate" for the Fed to raise interest rates "in the near future".

His comments, added to others given by other Fed officials, added to speculation that the US central bank will raise rates next month.