What's News: June 1, 2016

TOP OF THE NEWS

Flexible pay hike proposed

The National Wages Council (NWC) has recommended a pay hike of $50 to $65 this year for workers earning up to $1,100 a month. The council, which is recommending a range of increments for the first time instead of a minimum sum, said this is to give employers more flexibility amid tough economic times.

TOP OF THE NEWS

New 1MDB directors appointed

Malaysia's Finance Ministry yesterday announced a new board of directors for the scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), after the previous board was dissolved following a parliamentary inquiry into the state investment fund.

Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in a push on Sunday to retake ISIS-held areas. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WORLD

Fears for Fallujah civilians

Iraqi forces faced tough resistance from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group yesterday as they attempted to enter the centre of the city of Fallujah, where there were mounting fears over the safety of thousands of trapped civilians. There have been reports of hundreds of families being used as human shields and other civilians being forced to fight alongside the terrorists.

WORLD

France acts to calm unrest

The French government made moves to calm growing unrest against labour law reform by raising pay for teachers and pledging to speed up reorganisation talks for the national railways. In Belgium, public sector staff joined striking railway and prison workers.

OPINION

Invest in S'pore personality

Singapore needs to make the transition from being an ingenious whizz-kid to becoming a mature city with a distinct personality, writes Sanjeev Sanyal.

Its cultural mix may prove to be its single biggest strength.

HOME

ISPs eye StarHub customers

Internet service providers are eyeing StarHub's customer base of cable modem users as its network leasing agreement with Singtel comes to a close at the end of next year. It is understood that a decision has yet to be made on the lease.

HOME

IP students set sights higher

A study has found that students at Integrated Programme (IP) schools are more confident of attaining at least a university degree, compared with peers from other schools. Done by the Singapore Children's Society last year, the study aimed to find out if children from different types of schools had different aspirations.

BUSINESS

Create culture of innovation

Singapore must create a mindset and culture that embrace innovation in businesses and their staff in order to prepare for the economy of the future, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S. Iswaran told a forum yesterday.

Messi arriving at a Barcelona court in 2013, when allegations surfaced of tax fraud. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SPORT

Taxing times for Messi

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has not had a summer off since 2013 and now leads Argentina into the Copa America seeking its first major trophy in 23 years. Also, he and his father are due to testify at his tax fraud trial tomorrow.

Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke stars in Me Before You, a romantic drama based on a best-selling book of the same name. PHOTO: WARNER BROS

LIFE

Mother of Dragons goofs around

Actress Emilia Clarke, who plays the fearsome Mother of Dragons in Game Of Thrones, says she is much closer to her character in the new movie, Me Before You - a girl who likes to have fun, giggle and enjoy life. Me Before You opens in Singapore tomorrow.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 01, 2016, with the headline What's News: June 1, 2016. Subscribe