TOP OF THE NEWS
Stock markets up with oil deal
Oil prices rose more than 10 per cent to hit six-week highs while stock markets across the region soared yesterday, after Opec and Russia agreed to cut global crude oil production. Economists hope this may put a floor on oil prices, halting its drag on the Singapore economy, whose rig-building and oil and gas sectors were hit hard by the slump in oil prices over the past two years.
TOP OF THE NEWS
SMRT Trains, one of its directors and an engineer it sacked were charged yesterday over a track accident on March 22, which killed two workers. Investigations are still ongoing to determine if any other individuals should be held liable.
WORLD
Ringgit slide worries migrants
A sharp fall in the ringgit against the US dollar has migrant workers in Malaysia worried. The currency's 5.4 per cent slide against the greenback in the last one month is taking a toll on the economy, which is highly dependent on foreign labour. The ringgit has also lost ground to other currencies, slipping to an all-time low of 3.12 against the Singapore dollar.
WORLD
Mr Donald Trump's use of Twitter has left the US media scrambling to adjust to the President-elect's unconventional communications strategy. Since the Nov 8 election, Mr Trump has posted tweets at unexpected times and often on unexpected topics.
OPINION
What would Deng Xiaoping have thought of US President-elect Donald Trump, asks Kevin Lu. The pragmatic man who said he didn't care if a cat was white or black so long as it catches mice, might find in Mr Trump someone China can do business with.
HOME
Motorists who drink and drive could face stiffer penalties, as a review will be done on road traffic offences to clamp down on irresponsible road users. There have been 103 accidents related to drink driving so far this year.
HOME
A new exhibition on Myanmar's rich history was opened yesterday by the country's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Ms Suu Kyi- in town on a three-day visit that ends today - also met Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and called on Acting President J.Y. Pillay.
BUSINESS
Applications opened yesterday for the first issue of Singapore Savings Bonds for next year. Up to $2 billion of these bonds will be offered next year. The latest issue promises an average annual return of 2.18 per cent for those who hold the bonds for the full 10 years - the first time in the past few months such returns will exceed 2 per cent. C2
SPORT
LIFE
Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle, which draws long lines at Pek Kio Market and Food Centre, will open a restaurant at Esplanade Mall tomorrow. The 60-seat eatery, set up at a cost of $600,000, will sell the same big prawn noodles from $6. At Pek Kio, prices start at $5.
LIFE
Singaporean film to premiere at Sundance
Pop Aye, the debut feature from local film-maker Kirsten Tan, will premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival next year. It is the first time a Singaporean movie will compete at the largest indie film festival in the United States. Pop Aye follows a middle-aged architect and his elephant as they travel across Thailand in search of the farm they grew up on.