TOP OF THE NEWS
The National Gallery Singapore makes history today as it opens its doors to the public. The $532 million museum, housed in the restored former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings, is the first museum of such scale in the world dedicated to the art of Singapore and South-east Asia. It was unveiled last night by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Belgian police made five more arrests yesterday as the dragnet widened to hunt down the mastermind of the Paris killings and a separate cell suspected of planning attacks in Brussels. Prime Minister Charles Michel warned the city was under a "serious and imminent" threat of attacks.
HOME
Kitty therapy for elderly patients
Forty patients at the Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital got to cuddle and play with gentle cats brought to them by Cat-Assisted Therapy Singapore and 15 staff volunteers from Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).
Cats are known to have a positive effect on elderly patients, and can even help them develop upper-body strength.
WORLD
Britain will invest an extra £12 billion (S$25.8 billion) in defence equipment over the next 10 years, including nine Boeing submarine-hunting aircraft, Prime Minister David Cameron (photo) was set to announce yesterday. He is expected to lay out a five-year defence and security plan to Parliament, focused on an effective response to terror threats.
'Umbrella soldiers' win in polls
Hong Kong's "umbrella soldiers", inspired by last year's Occupy movement, have roused the city's pro-democracy camp, as seven of the activists wrested seats in district council elections from far more experienced rivals from established political parties.
OPINION
Britons and many Europeans have entered a new phase in the way they see Asia and their role here. They are accommodating themselves to the idea of China as a regional leader and coming to accept that China will likely replace the US as Asia's primary power, writes Hugh White.
HOME
Three in four wealthy Singaporeans prefer to make purchases from physical stores, even though most also do their research online. A survey on the spending patterns of high-net-worth individuals also found that 60 per cent buy mainly while travelling.
Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong was on the Singapore Airlines flight held up for about two hours after landing at Changi on Sunday. He found out there had been a bomb threat after calling an airport colleague. The threat turned out to be a hoax.
BUSINESS
The creation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) will encourage some firms here to expand abroad in the near term, experts say. In the longer term, the Singapore economy is set to get a significant boost from the AEC, which officially comes into being on Dec 31, they added.
SPORT
Ready to give their all as hosts
Some 4,300 volunteers have been trained to play the role of hosts during next month's Asean Para Games in Singapore. From modifying podiums to enable easy access for disabled athletes during medal ceremonies to paying attention to the customs and traditions of foreign athletes, the volunteers are ready to roll out a warm Singapore welcome.
LIFE
Adele's highly anticipated new album, 25, is currently at the top of the album charts of Singapore's iTunes. It is now available in Singapore only through iTunes, which sells digital copies at $11.98. CDs are expected to hit stores only at the end of the month. The album also topped the iTunes album charts in 109 other countries.
