Daily Briefing: Malaysian airliner crashed in Ukraine war zone; Maid agencies warned against 'undignified' ads

And more Thai developers are tempting Singaporean buyers.

• A Malaysian airliner was brought down in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising the stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels that has set Russia and the West at daggers drawn. Read more here.
• Singapore has warned maid employment agencies in the city-state against "undignified" advertising following complaints by rights groups that domestic workers are being marketed as commodities. Find out more here.
• Two more Thailand projects will attempt to tempt Singapore property buyers and investors this weekend, underlining a marked resurgence in confidence since the coup of late May which initially forced investors to adopt a wait-and-see stance. Know more here.