Top stories from The Straits Times on Wednesday, Oct 30

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Wednesday, Oct 30.

High awareness of race and religion sensitivities but fault lines on class, immigration and LGBTQ issues: IPS study

A photo taken on Oct 15 shows office workers near the Singapore River during lunch hour. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

These emerging issues, if mismanaged, are also seen to impact Singaporeans' trust in government the most, compared to race and religion.

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UK set for Dec 12 snap general election after MPs approve plan

Boris Johnson speaking in the House of Commons in London on Oct29, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

PM Boris Johnson's short Bill calling for a Dec 12 election was approved 438 to 20 in the House of Commons.

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Thai King fires more officials for 'extremely evil' conduct, poor performance

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn (above) has proved to be an assertive constitutional monarch. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Two palace officials, identified as bedroom guards, were fired for "extremely evil misconduct" and "adultery".

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Man filmed verbally abusing security officer at condo files police report alleging he was doxxed

A video of the man shouting and hurling vulgarities at his Whampoa condominium's security guards went viral over the weekend. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM YOUTUBE

The security officer has made a separate police report over the matter.

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Sentosa Golf Club named world's best

Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong course was named Singapore's best golf course at the World Golf Awards. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

While there was no award for Best Golf Club in previous years, the iconic St Andrews Links in Scotland had won the previous five World's Best Golf Course titles.

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Generation Grit: 'He would have been proud,' says 1st-class honours grad who stayed up nights to care for ailing dad

Inspired by her father's doctor, Maharah Abdul Mahid now hopes to pursue medicine. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Despite having to juggle school with caregiving duties for her father, Maharah Abdul Mahid graduated from university with first-class honours.

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Majority of Singaporeans uncomfortable with religious leaders speaking up on LGBT issues: IPS study

A photo taken on June 29 shows the Pink Dot SG event at Hong Lim Park. Respondents to the IPS study identified religion and LGBT issues as the fault lines most likely to lead to the polarisation of society. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Christian respondents were the most likely to be amenable to religious leaders being vocal about LGBT issues.

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Sharp jump in complaints about fire extinguisher salesmen

A photo from July 18, 2019, shows a housing unit in Bukit Batok damaged by a fire. Nearly two-thirds of complainants in the past three years have singled out Singapore Fire Prevention for being misleading and employing aggressive sales tactics. PHOTO: ST FILE

HDB residents say they were pressured to buy equipment and misled into overpaying

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Online firms on a roll to feed big appetite for on-demand food

The food delivery sector in South-east Asia could grow to US$20 billion by 2025, almost four times its current US$5.2 billion, according to a report released this month by Google, Temasek Holdings and Bain & Company. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

The market will eventually saturate and there is a need for players to expand to other services, said an expert.

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Wholesale electricity price a cheaper option for consumers? But experts say it depends on usage, market conditions

The wholesale electricity price is an alternative to the typical regulated tariff used by Singapore households which have not switched from SP to another retailer under the Open Electricity Market. PHOTO: ST FILE

Wholesale rates can allow consumers to pocket up to some 40 per cent savings.

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