Tillerson in Kuwait in bid to defuse crisis

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson travels to Kuwait today, where its government has unsuccessfully tried to mediate an end to the dispute between a Saudi-led bloc and Qatar, home to the largest United States military base in the region.

Mr Tillerson will spend the week talking to leaders of the gulf capitals, receiving them in Kuwait or shuttling among regional capitals, according to senior US officials.

Speak Mandarin Campaign starts today

The annual Speak Mandarin Campaign, which encourages the use and understanding of the language, is being launched today. In its 38th year, the nationwide campaign will feature activities such as public-speaking contests.

The campaign, first started in 1979, is run by the Promote Mandarin Council, which consists of representatives from both the private and public sectors.

Q2 growth estimates out on Friday

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will on Friday release advance estimates for Singapore's economic growth in the second quarter. The data is made up largely of the economy's performance in the first two months of the quarter - that is, April and May. The MTI expects growth to be above 2 per cent for the full year.