TOP OF THE NEWS
Press N. Korea, Japan tells China
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono called on China to maintain pressure on Pyongyang to rein in North Korea's nuclear programme during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi yesterday. Mr Kono was on a two-day visit to China, which ended yesterday.
TOP OF THE NEWS
For the first time, Singapore's privacy watchdog has taken a "data monger" here to task for breaching the Personal Data Protection Act.
The Personal Data Protection Commission has fined a former telemarketer $6,000 for selling personal data without notifying the individuals involved or obtaining their consent.
WORLD
Ring of Fire activity 'normal'
The recent string of eruptions of volcanoes and earthquakes along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the world's most seismically active zone, is nothing to worry about and the level of activity is normal, say experts. The recent spurt in tectonic activity has caused some speculation about a potential "domino effect", but the experts say that there isn't necessarily a relation between the events.
WORLD
Russian opposition leader held
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested yesterday after appearing at a rally to urge voters to boycott what he said would be a rigged presidential election in March.
Protests were held across Russia yesterday in response to a call by Mr Navalny, but the turnout was lower than at past rallies.
OPINION
Russia has managed to enlarge its role in Syria and the Middle East using shrewd diplomacy and precise military aims. Watch out for similar tactics in Asia, says Europe correspondent Jonathan Eyal.
HOME
More tuition centres are including hands-on activities, such as games and experiments, to help pupils learn concepts in subjects such as science and mathematics.
Observers say more than 60 centres conduct such activities, up from about 30 five years ago.
HOME
Families of people facing jail will get more help under a new pilot project. From next month, Singapore After-Care Association volunteers will be stationed in the State Courts to answer questions and help families understand what happens when a loved one is jailed.
BUSINESS
The Asia-Pacific arm of UBS Wealth Management enjoyed a stellar 2017 as it notched up a record year of growth in assets. Invested assets rose 28 per cent to 373 billion Swiss francs (S$523 billion) last year, the strongest year since 2010, compared with 292 billion Swiss francs in 2016. Net new money surged by 37 per cent to 28.4 billion Swiss francs.
SPORT
Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) president Lee Kok Choy is planning to run for a third term as the national sports association's head this June. He was formerly the SSA's secretary-general and vice-president (diving), and took the top job in 2014. In 2016, he launched a five-year plan to propel Singapore to be among the top four aquatics nations in Asia.
LIFE
Architect Ole Scheeren, who is known for his unusual designs, says designing Duo in the Bugis area has also been about creating a "civic nucleus" with spaces the public can reclaim as their own. He adds: "The reason why my buildings may be different is not because I want them to look different, but because they do something different."
VIDEO
Age is no barrier
These aunties picked up parkour as a way to improve fitness and coordination. http://str.sg/oUX8
WEB SPECIAL
Citrus guide
Before the Chinese New Year, learn about mandarin oranges with our guide to 11 types of citrus fruit. http://str.sg/WDy
