TODAY’s brief, Wednesday, Dec 3

Ang Mo Kio double deaths

State Coroner Marvin Bay will today (Dec 3) deliver his findings for the joint inquiries into the AMK double deaths in June. Rosaline Lim, 75, had been found lying in a pool of blood in her home, with multiple stab wounds, and missing her eyeballs, and parts of her tongue and right lung. Her daughter Andrea Tay Su Lin, 51, was seen climbing through the kitchen window when police officers entered the unit that day. She plunged down six storeys to her death.

Cities get help to be more resilient

The Rockefeller Foundation will announce the new cities that will join its 100 Resilient Cities network — a US$100 million (S$131 million) grant it launched last year to help cities in Asia and the rest of the world become more resilient to environmental, social and economic challenges. It received applications from 331 cities from 94 countries to join the network. The first batch of 32 member cities included New York, London, Da Nang, Christchurch, Bangkok, Rome and Rio de Janeiro.

Studying ageing issues

Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Ageing Issues, Mr Gan Kim Yong, is in Hong Kong to study how it addresses the healthcare and ageing needs of its population. Singapore hopes to learn from Hong Kong’s experience in developing its aged care sector and elderly care policies, as well as policies pertaining to healthcare financing, said the MOH yesterday. Mr Gan, who is in Hong Kong until Friday, will visit healthcare facilities as well as community care providers that offer health and social care for seniors. Mr Gan and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man will sign a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate short term exchanges of health officials to learn from each other’s best practices in health.

Occupy Central founders to surrender

Three of the founders of Hong Kong’s Occupy Central protest movement are due to surrender to police today to take responsibility for the pro-democracy protests that have shut down parts of the Asian financial centre for more than two months. Their decision announced a day earlier comes as student leaders of the protests have started an indefinite hunger strike to press their demands for talks on electoral reforms. The trio have called on the student leaders to end their street protests. They now hope to continue the campaign through networking among civic groups, community organising and education in democracy and human rights.

South African President Jacob Zuma visits China

South African President Jacob Zuma is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a further sign of the strong Sino-American ties which have been recently boosted by Chinese investment in South Africa, the two will hold talks likely to focus on opportunities for trade and business. Mr Zuma will be accompanied by a delegation of ministers and businesses and will also meet with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang. The trip ends on Saturday.

Fight against Islamic State

Foreign ministers from up to 60 countries forming the United States-led coalition against Islamic State militants will hold their first meeting in Brussels, chaired by US Secretary of State John Kerry. The meeting is expected to review progress in the fight against Islamic State and to discuss how coalition members will coordinate politically in future. On Monday, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the Singapore Armed Forces will deploy about 50 to 60 personnel to support international efforts against the Islamic State group.

2014 Corruption Perceptions Index

The closely watched index by watchdog group Transparency International, which ranks countries in order of their tendency for graft, will be released today. Singapore was ranked the fifth least corrupt nation last year and in 2012. Last year, Denmark and New Zealand were both ranked first, and in 2012, Denmark and Finland were ranked first.

Ma Ying-jeou steps down as KMT chairman

Taiwan’s president will formally resign his position as chairman of the ruling Kuomintang during a central committee meeting today, after the party was trounced in local elections over the weekend.

International Premier Tennis League

The Singapore Slammers will be aiming to break their duck on Day 2 of the competition. The innovative competition seems to be catching on with fans with the players clearly enjoying themselves.

Wet weather in the morning

Showers are expected mainly over southern, eastern and western Singapore in the morning. Temperature is expected to be between 25°C and 32°C.