TOP OF THE NEWS
Ten Asean leaders gathered in New Delhi to mark 25 years of Asean-India relations. They renewed their commitment to enhance the ties between Asean and the South Asian giant at a commemorative summit co-chaired by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
TOP OF THE NEWS
Next month's Budget will see spending on services for seniors being a "big item'', said Senior Minister of State for Finance Indranee Rajah, who spoke of the challenge of meeting the needs of Singapore's ageing population. According to feedback, senior citizens are concerned about matters from healthcare needs to loneliness and finance.
WORLD
South Korea demanded yesterday the "immediate closure" of a new Tokyo museum devoted to two sets of disputed islands. The museum, run by the Japanese government, displays documents and photographs defending Japan's claims over the islands, including ones contested by China.
WORLD
Indian protesters burned tyres and vandalised shops yesterday to oppose the release of a controversial Bollywood film, prompting cinema owners in several states to abandon plans for screenings. Critics of the film have accused its director of distorting history by portraying a Muslim ruler as the "lover" of Hindu queen Padmavati of the Rajput warrior clan.
OPINION
Cyber threats will prove a greater worry this year. Healthcare systems in particular are vulnerable, as the data stolen - such as medical histories - can be used for many fraudulent purposes.
HOME
Pre-schools offer Malay, Tamil
Some pre-school operators are opening Tamil and Malay classes, with plans to boost these areas of mother tongue teaching if demand increases. One of the operators, EtonHouse, started to offer Malay in 2016 and Tamil last year at one of its centres. Most pre-schools offer only Chinese as a second language.
HOME
The Singapore Flyer had to stop operations yesterday due to a "technical issue". All 61 passengers on board were "brought to ground safely when the incident occurred at about 9am", a spokesman said. It is unclear when the Flyer will reopen, but it is expected to stay closed today.
BUSINESS
The one-off financial penalty and related costs arising from the global resolution of Keppel Offshore & Marine's corruption scandal in Brazil has pushed parent Keppel Corporation into its first quarterly loss since 2013. Keppel Corp sank into the red, with a net loss of $495.8 million for the three months to Dec 31 last year, reversing from a profit of $143.1 million in the same period in 2016.
SPORT
There will be a new women's tennis Grand Slam winner, after world No. 1 Simona Halep and former top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki set up their Australian Open final clash in contrasting fashion yesterday.
The Romanian outlasted Angelique Kerber 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 in 2hr 20min, while the Dane survived a late scare to beat Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
LIFE
This year's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva attracted some 20,000 visitors, 4,000 more than last year. Pundits attribute this to a recovery in the industry. New timepieces unveiled include the Cartier Revelation d'une Panthere, which houses 900 gold beads forming the image of the brand's iconic panther.
VIDEO
Meal fit for a President
Singaporean cook Paul Simon's dream was to make lunch for President Halimah Yacob. On Wednesday, his wish came true. str.sg/oUNW
VIDEO
Mumbai makeover
Bhendi Bazaar is an over 200-year-old locality in south Mumbai. There are plans to replace 250 dilapidated buildings with 17 high-rise towers. str.sg/oU36
