TOP OF THE NEWS
New flats in mature estates hot
Four-room flats in the mature estates of Bidadari and Kallang/Whampoa were the star attractions of the largest batch of Build-To-Order flats offered this year. By 5pm yesterday, there were 271 applicants vying for the 158 units in Kallang Residences and 481 applicants for 587 units in Bidadari.
TOP OF THE NEWS
With the Singapore Grand Prix coming up to its 10th year, any extension will be dependent on financial viability and long-term vision, say analysts and observers. And while attendance has fallen, it has been a huge advertisement.
WORLD
The Hong Kong government has laid out a plan to build one million flats to meet the demand of its growing population by 2046. But some lawmakers said the plan is unrealistic as the territory faces a low birth rate and an ageing population, and will not need so many flats. Also, they said the real issue is affordability, and not the lack of housing supply.
WORLD
A powerful earthquake rocked northern Japan yesterday, creating a small tsunami that hit the same Fukushima region devastated by a 2011 quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. The magnitude 7.4 quake sent thousands of residents fleeing for higher ground.
OPINION
Women here find it tough to climb to the top rungs of the corporate ladder. Culture is a factor, with one woman board director blaming the old boys' club, while another says women don't always help other women move up, writes Rachael Boon.
HOME
Fighting elder abuse with getai
The Centre for Promoting Alternatives to Violence is using getai performances to aid in the fight against elder abuse. Between 2011 and last year, the centre encountered 39 cases of abuse of victims over the age of 65.
HOME
Court on trafficker's execution
The Court of Appeal yesterday released the judgment grounds for the execution of convicted drug trafficker Chijioke Stephen Obioha. The Nigerian had launched a failed 11th-hour bid to stay the execution but the appeals court said he was given every chance to fight his death sentence.
BUSINESS
The spate of high-yield bond defaults that have hit investors here is a reminder that no investment is ever fail-safe, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said yesterday. The Singdollar bond market has suffered five defaults since November last year, representing $1.1 billion, or 0.74 per cent, of all bonds outstanding.
SPORT
Schooling buckles down for busy 2017
Singapore Olympic champion Joseph Schooling is as motivated as ever, raring to return to training for a packed 2017 that includes the World Championships and SEA Games. The social golfer yesterday helped the Singapore Swimming Association to raise more than $500,000.
LIFE
The career of Taiwanese actor Kai Ko was barrelling along at top speed when he was arrested in 2014 in Beijing for using marijuana. His first film since then is The Road To Mandalay, where he plays a migrant from Myanmar who sneaks into Thailand in search of a better life. The film will be screened on Dec 1 as part of the Singapore International Film Festival.
LIFE
British band Coldplay are aware of touts trying to profit from the resale of tickets to their upcoming National Stadium show on April 1, and have told the organiser to do something about it. Live Nation Lushington has taken steps to void some of the tickets resold online at inflated prices. About 40,000 tickets have been sold so far.
