Iraq suspends foreign flights to Arbil

All foreign flights to and from the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Arbil will be suspended from this evening on Baghdad's orders, following a controversial independence referendum which delivered a resounding 92.73 per cent "yes" vote. A large number of foreigners working in Arbil left the city yesterday for fear of being stranded with only a visa issued by the Kurdish authorities and not recognised by Baghdad.

Novena Church reopens after revamp

One of Singapore's most popular and iconic Catholic churches, the Novena Church, reopens today for service after it was closed for nearly three years for a $54 million revamp.

The mass will be held at 6.30pm.

Key Japanese economic data out today

Japan will release a series of major data today, which could shed light on the state of the nation's economic strength. Officials will announce consumer inflation prices, industrial production figures as well as household spending and retail sales figures for last month.

Yesterday, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the country's economic expansion was broadening and likely to be highly sustainable.