TOP OF THE NEWS
The median pay of local workers went up 2.7 per cent in June this year for residents holding full-time jobs. This compares with 4.7 per cent in June last year.
The slower pace is because of the economy's tepid growth and economists do not see the situation improving next year.
TOP OF THE NEWS
The Group of Thirty, a prestigious global body of top financial experts, has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as its next chairman. G-30 members include influential economists such as Mr Paul Krugman and European Central Bank president Mario Draghi. Mr Tharman's term will begin on Jan 1 and run for five years.
WORLD
Umno wings rallied around Prime Minister Najib Razak (below) yesterday, calling on grassroots to show undivided loyalty to the party president ahead of upcoming elections. But about 3,000 delegates attending the youth, women's and Puteri (young women) wing annual assemblies insisted they had valid grouses against the government.
WORLD
South Korean opposition parties vowed yesterday to push ahead to try to impeach President Park Geun Hye, rejecting her offer to resign. They urged members of her Saenuri Party to join them. The three opposition parties said they would not negotiate with Ms Park's party on her proposal to step down.
OPINION
Gaps in special needs education
The new policy to make primary school compulsory for special needs children by 2019 is welcome in its inclusivity, but there are inconsistencies in areas of fees and teacher training that need to be addressed, writes Priscilla Goy.
HOME
Tuition centres are now helping with humanities subjects like literature and history, with students needing a good grade in these subjects to qualify for popular polytechnic courses or get into junior college. To do well, critical thinking skills are required.
HOME
The Personal Data Protection Commission has issued a warning to Jump Rope (Singapore), a non-profit group that promotes rope skipping in schools here. Jump Rope had sent an e-mail to 30 schools, naming and shaming an instructor whose services had been terminated.
BUSINESS
Singapore has been named the global leader in enabling cross-border trade, for the second year in a row, by the World Economic Forum. The Republic scored highly for its efficiency, predictability and transparency in border clearance processes, transport services and the overall operating environment.
SPORT
Barry Bennell, the 62-year-old former youth coach at the centre of a scandal rocking English football, was on Tuesday charged with eight counts of child abuse as police widened their investigations.
At least 20 players have come forward after former professional Andy Woodward claimed that he was molested by Bennell while at Crewe Alexandra.
LIFE
Writer's first novel bags prize
Research associate Nuraliah Nurasid's debut novel, The Gatekeeper, clinched the Epigram Books Fiction Prize, whose $25,000 cash advance makes it the richest literary prize here. The 30-year-old's work of speculative fiction blends Greek mythology with Malay folkloric elements.
LIFE
Swinging Swarovski chandeliers at museum
From today, visitors to the National Museum will get to see Wings Of A Rich Manoeuvre - a kinetic artwork that is the museum's latest permanent art installation. Created by Singaporean artist Suzann Victor using over 14,000 Swarovski crystals, the chandeliers are propelled by 12 magnets and will be in motion from 10am to 7pm daily.
