What's News: May 31, 2017

TOP OF THE NEWS

Wages hit as firms struggle

Fewer workers got a pay rise last year and more had their salaries cut, a Manpower Ministry survey released yesterday showed. Real total wages rose by 3.6 per cent last year, down from 5.4 per cent in 2015, as companies struggled to turn a profit in a slowing economy. The proportion of profitable firms dropped to 75.7 per cent last year from 78.5 per cent in 2015 .

TOP OF THE NEWS

Call to digitise patients' data

The private health sector is again being urged to speed up digitising patients' health records and be part of a national scheme to share patient information. "We need to go further and faster," said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, pushing for the private and charity sectors to "come on board" the National Electronic Health Records.

Part of a highway exit is flooded in a village in Matara, Sri Lanka, on Monday. PHOTO: REUTERS

WORLD

Risk of disease in Sri Lanka

Thousands of survivors of devastating floods and landslides in Sri Lanka are at risk of potentially fatal diseases such as dengue fever, charities warned as the death toll continued to rise. The floods have left 193 dead and tens of thousands without clean drinking water.

WORLD

BA faces passengers' wrath

British Airways' epic meltdown over a busy holiday weekend further fanned public outrage at an industry infamous for its focus on cost-cutting over customer service, leaving the airline scrambling to explain how a local computer outage could lead to the mayhem.

OPINION

Economic challenges remain

Thanks to trade growth, the Singapore economy has picked up steam but deeper structural issues may challenge a broader recovery, writes Economics Correspondent Chia Yan Min. That is reflected in a fragile labour market and shrinking consumption expenditure.

HOME

Local infant formula brand

A made-in-Singapore brand of infant milk powder will offer an affordable alternative to products on the shelves here. Einmilk, made by SMC Nutrition, ranges in price from $33 to $39 for an 800g tin, compared with the average price of about $56 for a 900g tin.

HOME

Security efforts for Pink Dot

The Pink Dot picnic at Speakers' Corner on July 1 will have barricades erected for security reasons, said the authorities. Entry points will also be manned by security officers, who will check the bags and identity cards of attendees.

BUSINESS

Street that never sleeps

Orchard Road should be the street that never sleeps, according to Mr David Tang, chief executive of Metro's retail business.

Having a "day Orchard" for shopping and "a night Orchard" with an emphasis on food and beverage can help the area come alive once the sun goes down, he noted.

SPORT

Support for sailing brothers

Budding sailors Muhammad Raihan Mohd Airudin, 12, and Razin, nine, are among the latest 335 student athletes to receive Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim scholarships. The brothers , whose finances are tight, will use the funds on much-needed new sails.

PHOTO: SHREY BHARGAVA/FACEBOOK

LIFE

Row over racism at audition

Indian Singaporean actor Shrey Bhargava alleged that in an audition for the upcoming Ah Boys To Men 4 film, he was asked to give an exaggerated and demeaning portrayal of an Indian character.

An e-mail statement from the producers said: "(Director) Jack Neo is acutely aware of race sensitivity and will be sensitive and careful when dealing with such a matter."


VIDEO

Day for dumplings

The pyramid-shaped steamed glutinous rice package has a long history and comes in many versions. Learn all about rice dumplings at str.sg/dumrice


VIDEO

First at Changi

"We had the whole sky to ourselves," says Captain Gan Kim Hock, first officer on Flight SQ101, on flying into Changi Airport on July 1, 1981. str.sg/firstchangi

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 31, 2017, with the headline What's News: May 31, 2017. Subscribe