Lazada has retrenched 5 per cent of its Southeast Asian workforce, including an undisclosed number of employees in Singapore.On Tuesday (June 23), a Lazada spokesperson told AsiaOne that the e-commerce platform is «reviewing selected roles across Southeast Asia». The company did not disclose which roles were affected in the exercise, but said the review is in line with its «continued effort to ensure the organisation remains focused, efficient, and aligned with current business needs».The cuts are not part of artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, Business Times reported.Lazada said it is «working closely with the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), an affiliate of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), to ensure the process is handled responsibly, and support is accorded to affected employees».It is also working with relevant government entities and agencies across other markets, where required, to «ensure the process is managed in accordance with local requirements and with due consideration for those impacted».

All civil servants in Singapore will receive a 0.45-month mid-year bonus, the Public Service Division (PSD) said on Tuesday (June 23).Those in grades equivalent to MX13(I) and MX14 will also receive an additional one-time sum of $250.Officers in grades equivalent to MX15 and MX16, or the Operations Support Scheme (OSS), will receive a higher one-time payment of $400, added PSD.«This mid-year payment takes into consideration Singapore's economic performance in the first quarter of 2026, and that the downside risks to Singapore's economic outlook remain significant,» it said in a statement on Tuesday.Despite the Middle East conflict, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has kept the GDP growth forecast of «2.0 per cent to 4.0 per cent» for 2026.PSD noted that the Ministry of Manpower's advance estimates for the labour market showed resilience in the first three months of the year, and the pace of employment growth has moderated compared to the last quarter of 2025.The bonus quantum was decided after close consultation with the public sector unions.

About 3,000 fines were issued for littering offences in the first quarter of 2026 as part of ongoing enforcement efforts to maintain public cleanliness and hygiene, said the National Environment Agency (NEA). In a statement on Tuesday (June 23), the agency said the fines were issued between January and March.In the same period, it conducted 24 enforcement operations at cleanliness hotspots identified through localised litter counts, public feedback and ground observations. At these locations, visible patrols, surveillance cameras, standees and ground engagements were deployed to deter littering.Additionally, NEA issued more than 150 corrective work orders, with offenders required to carry out corrective work at hotspot areas as a visible reminder of the consequences of littering.One such offender, Tang Bo Xiang, 43, was convicted on May 15 for throwing a cigarette butt in a public place. This was his 13th littering conviction since 2000.

SINGAPORE — A man who was released from prison in 2024 after serving a sentence for cheating returned to a life of crime later that year, working for an organised criminal group in Cambodia.While there, Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Rahman impersonated government officials in scam calls targeting Singapore residents. After returning to Singapore, he helped collect nearly $656,800 in total from at least 14 victims.On June 22, the 37-year-old Singaporean, who is now in remand, pleaded guilty to one count each of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct and being a member of a criminal group.Without revealing details, Deputy Public Prosecutor Xavier Tan told the court that Firdaus was convicted of cheating in November 2022 and was sentenced to two years and seven months’ jail.He was later released and put on a remission order, during which he was supposed to keep himself out of trouble from Sept 24, 2024, to Aug 3, 2025.But before October 2024, one of his friends, identified as Jackson Lim Soon Lai, told him about a “scam job” in Cambodia.

SINGAPORE — Singapore workers aged under 35 report lower engagement and more daily stress than their older colleagues.This group shows a generational engagement gap that is three times wider than the global average, according to the inaugural Singapore Workplace Report 2026 released on June 22. The report, produced by workplace consulting firm Gallup and the Singapore Institute of Directors, found that these younger employees record an engagement rate of just 10 per cent, compared with 16 per cent among those aged 35 and older.Overall, only 14 per cent of the Singapore workforce is engaged — a figure that has stagnated since 2019, and is below the South-east Asia regional average of 25 per cent and the global average of 20 per cent.Disengaged Singapore employees are also twice as likely to report daily stress as their engaged counterparts, and three times as likely to experience daily anger, according to the report.

Former PropertyLimBrothers' (PLB) Grayce Tan has joined real estate agency OrangeTee & Tie, according to records on the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA).Tan, who was previously the vice-president of strategy at PLB, registered with CEA under OrangeTee & Tie last Saturday (June 20).She was allegedly involved in an extra-marital affair with PLB chief executive officer Melvin Lim, which came to light in January this year, after which she became relatively inactive on social media.However, Tan started uploading videos to her Instagram page for real estate content, Homes with Grayce, since June 12. Prior to that, the last video she posted was on Dec 23, 2025.Her recent videos are clips of from her YouTube account, which appears to have been created on June 10.According to the channel's description, her channel aims to explain decisions made regarding real estate advice, delving into real estate investments in Singapore with «rigorous analysis».«Because real estate isn't just a home - it is the most powerful vehicle most Singaporeans will ever have to build real wealth and accumulate lasting equity,» she wrote.

A migrant worker was reportedly injured after three trees in a back alley near Jalan Sultan toppled as he was walking past, leaving him with little time to get out of the way.The incident occurred on Monday (June 22) at around 3pm within a cluster of shophouses opposite Textile Centre, reported Lianhe Zaobao. Witnesses told the Chinese newspaper that the injured man, a migrant worker in his 30s, was sitting on the ground, seemingly stunned by the incident. Another male passer-by reportedly approached the injured man and checked on him before driving him to the hospital. Liao Yong An (transliteration), 74, told Lianhe Zaobao that there were three trees — including a papaya tree and a jackfruit tree — all over 10 metres tall. Two trees were already leaning precariously, he said.Liao said that he had taken photos of those two trees, and reported it to the authorities last week. However, the incident occurred before he received a response. [[nid:737358]]esther.lam@asiaone.com 

A grandmother is facing online backlash after letting her grandson eat at an Ikea showroom dining table and defending the incident afterwards.Photos of the elderly woman accompanying a young child, with the latter eating, were shared on Complaint Singapore Facebook page on Sunday (June 21).They were sitting at a table in a mock-up dining room at the furniture store’s Tampines outlet and the photos were taken at around 11.20am, according to the caption.«Yumyum, who cares if I disturb other shoppers. I told the grandma this is not allowed in Singapore, she replied it's just a kid, so I took their photos,» according to Facebook user OrangeDragon3045, who captioned the post.Netizens express disapprovalMany netizens expressed their disapproval of such behaviour in public setting, with one saying: «Ikea is a good place to witness people at their worst behaviour especially during weekends ... unruly kids.»Another netizen shared they hate going to Ikea in Singapore as «each display set [in the showrooms] will have someone 'choping' the space».

A man said he lost $60,000 in what he believed was a genuine relationship with a masseuse from China, only to later realise the situation had taken a troubling turn.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 43-year-old logistics worker, who wished to be known only as Deng, said he met the 41-year-old woman surnamed Li at a massage parlour in Toa Payoh on December 27, 2025.According to Deng, he visited the parlour several times and gradually became close to Li, who frequently initiated conversations, expressed concern for his well-being and confided in him about her personal struggles.Although Deng was still married at the time, he said he and his wife had long been estranged and were no longer communicating despite living under the same roof.Deng added that in March, he noticed Li appeared increasingly troubled and, after repeatedly checking in on her, she eventually told him she was burdened by debt.

Seven drivers were nabbed for offering illegal rides across the Singapore-Malaysia border, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Monday (June 22).The errant drivers were caught in enforcement operations conducted by the authority, which receives tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and National Taxi Association.All the seven vehicles have been impounded, said LTA in a Facebook post on Monday night.Based on the photographs shared by the authority, areas which the drivers were caught include Pioneer and Changi Airport.Since July 2025, over 5,000 vehicles have been checked as part of a clampdown on unlicensed cross-border rides.For providing illegal ride-hailing services, drivers could be fined up to $3,000 and/or face six months' jail time, and their vehicle may be forfeited.LTA reminded members of the public to only engage Grab's licensed cross-border ride-hailing service or a Singapore-registered cross-border taxi for personal safety.

An old scam variant involving the impersonation of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has re-emerged, the police said on Monday (June 22).At least 13 cases have been reported since June 1, with losses amounting to at least $74,000.Victims would receive text messages purportedly from LTA, urging them to settle their outstanding Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) fees by clicking on a link provided.They are urged to do so to «avoid additional charges», compelling victims to act. Those who click the link would be directed to a phishing website which resembles the official LTA or OneMotoring website, where the victims would then be prompted to enter their vehicle number and personal information, including banking and card details.The victims would only realise they had been scammed after they discover unauthorised transactions in their bank accounts.Police urged members of the public not to click on such links as messages from LTA on unpaid fees or road tax bills do not contain payment links to the OneMotoring website or to payment portals.

Some hawkers at Chinatown Complex have raised concerns after facing issues with a malfunctioning exhaust hood system which they say has affected their businesses, citing poor ventilation and potential fire safety risks.The issue reportedly began on June 17 and 18, affecting a number of stalls at the hawker centre. Speaking to AsiaOne, Dominic Neo, 52, who operates Liang Ji Char Kway Teow, said he had been experiencing problems with the exhaust hood at his stall recently, with the system not able to draw smoke away effectively.«As the exhaust hood was not working properly, it was really difficult for me — it was almost suffocating,» said Neo, who has been operating his stall for more than 25 years.«When I fry noodles, there is a lot of smoke because I use high heat, and it really affects my productivity.»He said he understands that there is no immediate solution to it and that the matter involves mutiple parties.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is taking time off work to «touch grass», as the internet slang goes.Leaning fully into the social media game, he announced his week-long leave with a photograph of the legendary 'magic cup', perched on a rock with lush greenery forming the backdrop.The phrase «touch grass» is used to tell someone to log off from the online world, and instead spend time on physical activities and reconnect with reality.And that is what SM Lee will be doing until June 28, he quipped in a Facebook post on Monday (June 22).«Do share your own photos of time well spent outdoors,» he requested. «Logging off for now.»While he might have wished for pictures of the world's landscapes in the comments section, netizens zeroed in on the appearance of the 'magic cup' with apparent glee.

The Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) has stepped in to assist the more than 100 migrant workers, who turned up at the Ministry of Manpower Services Centre on Monday (June 22) morning, over claims of unpaid wages.In a media statement, the centre stated that it has taken «immediate action» to meet and help the affected workers from KPA Engineering and SK Industries.Michael Lim, director of migrant workers segment at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said that many of the workers had little or no money for food or transportation.«MWC stepped in swiftly to take care of their immediate needs, arranging for food and transportation assistance,» Lim added.The centre, a bipartite initiative of NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation, said it will also provide temporary shelter and assistance for the workers who need a change of employment.As part of its engagements, MWC also visited the dormitory of the affected workers, and met with over 300 workers to hear their concerns and offer them assurance and assistance. 

A 70-year-old woman in Johor Bahru became the unintended victim of a loan shark's debt collection tactics after her home was mistakenly set on fire over a neighbour's unpaid debt.The victim, Lin Xiuyu (transliteration), was on a family trip to Penang when the incident occurred in the early hours of June 11, reported Malaysian news outlet Sin Chew Daily.According to her daughter, Chen Lifen (transliteration), 44, the family received a call from a neighbour at about 5am informing them that their house had been set ablaze.«The problem is that we don't owe anyone any money and have never borrowed from loansharks,» said Chen, adding that a debt collection note was also left behind at the scene, containing a Singapore phone number. Upon returning from their trip, the family spoke to a neighbour who admitted to borrowing money from a loan shark but said he was unable to keep up with repayments after his bank account was frozen, reported Sin Chew Daily. 

In celebration of Father's Day, the Bishan-Toa Payoh town council shared a tribute on Saturday (June 20) featuring fathers and sons sending heartfelt messages to their families, with some becoming emotional. The two-minute video showcased several employees — many of whom have left their homes and families to work in Singapore — as well as town council staff including supervisors, executive and officers. The post aimed to honour the men who «keep our estate running» — rain or shine, day and night, and noted that they are fathers and sons bound by «hard work, sacrifice and mutual respect».According to the post, some of those featured are separated from their children, working to support families back home while others juggle long hours as they raise their kids in Singapore. One employee, who goes by the name Salim, whose father recently died said: «Dad, I love you. I miss you so much, Dad.» Another employee Shamin, promised his son Ibrahim that he would surely meet him when he returns home next year. He added: «I will come for you and for my father. I will come for all of you. I will see you then.»

Five people were evacuated from a condo in Geylang after a charging power-assisted bicycle (PAB) caught fire on Sunday (June 21).In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it was alerted to the incident at Block 9 Lorong 26 Geylang at around 5.35pm that Sunday.Checks by AsiaOne show that the address corresponds to Casa Aerata condominium.Based on preliminary investigations, the fire was caused by a PAB battery that was left charging in the living room of a unit on the seventh floor.SCDF personnel managed to extinguish the fire using a hosereel and a compressed air foam backpack.Five people from neighbouring units were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precautionary measure and no injuries were reported.Cai Yinzhou, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, made a Facebook post on the same day, saying that he visited the condo after noticing the sound of sirens and smoke.He added that the area below the burning unit was cleared in anticipation of the window, which eventually smashed from the heat.

SINGAPORE — After inroads were made in reducing Singaporeans’ sugar and saturated fat intake, a drive to reduce sodium consumption here is also gaining momentum.Efforts include an upcoming campaign by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in the last quarter of 2026 that seeks to normalise the behaviour of consumers asking for less salt and sauces.The campaign also seeks to encourage consumers to choose lower-sodium options.“We need to have this ‘normalising ask’, and when more people ask for it, maybe (at) some point in future, we can do low sodium by default,” said HPB chief executive Tay Choon Hong in an interview with The Straits Times.Coupled with the Nutri-Grade labelling scheme introduced in end-2022 for pre-packaged beverages, and subsequently expanded to include freshly prepared beverages a year later, more consumers have shifted towards healthier drinks.Under the scheme, drinks with less sugar content and/or lower saturated fat are graded A and B, and may voluntarily carry the Healthier Choice Symbol.Drinks that exceed a specific threshold are graded C and D, with an advertising ban for those graded D.

Three seconds may be all you need to pick up fallen food, but any kind of contamination requires far less.The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has rubbished the urban legend of the «three-second rule» in a Linkedin post on Sunday (June 21) - a common myth claiming that food dropped is still safe to eat if it is picked up within that time frame.The agency was responding to a viral video shared on TikTok by user Rina57521 on May 27 showing a diner pick up noodles dropped on a coffeeshop table and eating them.In the video, the diner uses chopsticks to pick at a few strands of noodles on a table, accidentally dropping it in an attempt to scoop them up.Undaunted, the diner picks up the noodles in a second, more successful attempt, putting the noodles in their mouth.«Come on, please don't do this,» SFA wrote in their post.«Once food is dropped on an unclean tabletop, the surface of the food item would have been contaminated by bacteria.»And there is no such thing as the «three second rule» either…"Online, users also seemed to agree with SFA's perspective on the matter.

Up to 10,000 free tickets to selected exhibitions at IMBA Theatre will be made available to families who attend certain events and workshops organised by Families for Life (FFL) and the People's Association (PA).The initiative, which is one of two by Gardens by the Bay, is a «precursor» to a larger effort to spur organisations and individuals to help Singapore better support families, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah on June 20.Speaking to an audience that included 20 families from Fei Yue Family Service Centre who were being hosted at the new immersive art theatre, she said the Government has received feedback that going out with children can be expensive.«We do get feedback from families that, in some cases, depending on the activity, going out with children can be expensive. We therefore want to encourage more accessible and affordable activities for children and families.»So, when I shared this feedback with IMBA and Gardens, they said they would be happy to extend complimentary tickets to IMBA Theatre so families can enjoy exhibitions together," said Indranee, who chairs the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup.

A petrol kiosk attendant in Malaysia was seen in a video stopping the driver of a Singapore-registered vehicle from pumping subsidised RON95 petrol.The incident allegedly took place at a petrol kiosk in Klang, Selangor, on Saturday (June 20), according to a video posted by Facebook group named Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers.In the video, an Audi bearing a Singapore licence plate can be seen parked at a fuel pump while a man believed to be the driver can be seen standing beside the vehicle.Halfway through the clip, a station attendant approaches the car and appears to speak to the driver before removing the fuel nozzle from the car's filler neck.The yellow nozzle revealed the driver was dispensing RON95 petrol, which is subsidised by the Malaysian government and reserved for Malaysia-registered vehicles.The driver was then seen looking through his wallet as the attendant gestured.It is unclear from the video whether any fuel had been dispensed before the attendant intervened.

A part-time maid was caught nicking cash from a homeowner in Bedok, who had specially set up a «trap» after suspecting that the helper had previously stolen from her.Myanmar national Nant Aye Thandar Soe, 30, was sentenced to two weeks' jail after she pleaded guilty to the theft on June 15.Court documents seen by AsiaOne stated that the woman had stolen three $50 banknotes in a Bedok HDB flat on May 28.According to Shin Min Daily News, Nant Aye Thandar Soe worked as a part-time maid with home services company Helpling Singapore, and has been cleaning the victim's home since September 2025.The helper arrived at the Bedok flat for the usual weekly cleaning on May 28, and noticed an unzipped bag in one of the rooms.She went through the bag, and took $150 from a wallet left inside.About an hour later, her employer checked her belongings and discovered some money had gone missing.$50 notes planted in walletNant Aye Thandar Soe presented four $50 banknotes from her pocket, three of which the homeowner recognised as hers through the serial numbers on the notes. 

A boy was taken to hospital on Saturday (June 20) morning after a food court signboard at Rivervale Mall fell on him.A video of the incident first surfaced on a one-day-old TikTok account within an hour of the occurrence. The incident took place at about 10.30am at Food Junction's Rivervale Mall outlet, as independently verified by AsiaOne.The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), responding to AsiaOne's queries, confirmed that they received a call for assistance at the said location and a person was taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.AsiaOne understands that the injured person is a boy.

A 36-year-old male car driver was taken to a hospital in the early hours of Saturday (June 20) morning after his car overturned in an accident along Serangoon Central. The accident, involving three taxis and a car, happened around midnight off the drop-off point outside NEX shopping mall. Map showing where the four-vehicle accident happened on Saturday (June 20) morning. GRAPHIC: Google Maps, Facebook Photographs posted on Singapura Channel's Facebook page show a white Citroen car overturned on the rightmost of two lanes.A taxi was stopped ahead of the car in the same line, while two other taxis were stopped on the leftmost lane.

A Singaporean family is requesting for eyewitnesses after their son allegedly got into an accident with a buggy at Incheon Airport, Seoul, on Wednesday (June 17).Khoo Boon Wee, a father of three, alleged that their son, Kyle, was returning from the toilet when he was struck by an airport buggy, according to his Facebook post on Thursday.As they were caring for their other children, Kyle was returning alone and they did not see the incident happen themselves, Khoo stated.The accident purportedly left Kyle with injuries including concussion and facial injuries including a fracture of his right orbital roof, which is a fracture at the top of his right eye socket.Although Korean Air staff were prompt to offer assistance — including following the family to the hospital and arranging accommodation and an alternative flight — they insisted on not providing an accident report on record, he alleged.Moreover, Khoo also claimed that staff told him their liability «is limited to their goodwill gesture in Korea» but they «cannot be liable for the expenses in Singapore».

SINGAPORE - Around December 2025, administrative assistant Luke (not his real name), who is single, was told that there were photos of him with a woman claiming to be his fiancee and the baby they supposedly had together.In the months that followed, more manipulated images with the same woman popped up.There were also doctored images of him and his sister's children, with the woman pretending to have taken the photos of the toddlers.Luke realised he was being targeted by an online stalker.He said he was alerted to the photos by his sister. She told The Straits Times that it was one of her friends, who also knew Luke, who first became aware of the images.The friend knew Luke is not in a relationship or married, and had no children. Luke's sister said she tried to get in touch with the woman.She told the woman to remove the images, especially since her then 6-month-old son's photo was used in the fake images. She did not receive a response.

Singapore badminton player Yeo Jia Min and ex national swimmer Pang Sheng Jun got hitched in a sweet church ceremony on Saturday (June 20).Over 200 guests, including present and former national athletes, turned up at Living Hope Methodist Church for the wedding solemnisation, reported The Straits Times.Videos of the occasion reposted by the newlyweds on their Instagram Stories show them entering the venue, to the applause of attendees, and sharing a wedding kiss after being pronounced husband and wife.In one clip, Pang is seen dabbing away tears as Yeo was walked down the aisle by her father.At the ceremony, Yeo reportedly told her husband that «I fell for your heart», and that he is «sweet with your words, but even more with your actions».«I love how we show up for each other without expecting anything in return. With each obstacle, we overcame, our love, understanding, and respect for each other only grew.»Pang said to his wife that she gave him a safe space to express himself, according to The Straits Times.

SINGAPORE – HarbourFront Centre will cease operations on July 27, the shopping mall announced in a Facebook post on June 19.The Singapore Cruise Centre will be relocated to 5 HarbourFront Avenue with effect from July 15, it added.The new location is just 70m from the existing terminal located within HarbourFront Centre.Batam Fast Ferry will be the first operator to start operations from the new terminal on July 7, with all other ferry operators and cruise operations to follow suit from July 15.No changes will be made to ferry routes, destinations served and scheduling as a result of the move, the Singapore Cruise Centre said in a statement on June 15.[[nid:724557]]The international terminal has been operating from HarbourFront Centre since 1992.Ferry services to Indonesian destinations including Batam Centre, Harbour Bay, Sekupang, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Gold Coast and Nirup Island, as well as international cruise operations, will continue as usual, it said.

Good news for those keen on watching Chinese film Dear You in original Teochew dialogue, there will be eight more screenings for the rest of June.Cinema chain Golden Village (GV) and film distributor Clover Films said on Saturday (June 20) that the screenings were added due to «overwhelming demand».While its Mandarin-dubbed version will be available for general viewing, the screenings in Teochew dialogue were meant to only run from June 18 to 21. Tickets to the latter sold out.The additional screenings will take place at GVmax and GV VivoCity from June 25 to 29, with tickets priced at $18.50 for the public and $16.50 for GV Movie Club members.The movie, which stars Li Sitong and Wang Yantong, tells a moving story that spans generations, exploring family bonds, sacrifice and the enduring legacy of qiaopi — historical letters and remittances sent home by overseas Chinese migrants to their families.

Three Malaysian men, aged between 22 and 24, will be charged in court on Saturday (June 20) for their alleged involvement in scams.Police said in a news release on Friday that the trio had allegedly entered Singapore on an assignment by scam syndicates to collect cash and gold bars from victims in Singapore.Acting on information received on a 23-year-old Malaysian man, officers from the Anti-Scam Command as well as the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority went on to identify two male accomplices who had entered Singapore with him. All three men were arrested within six hours of entering Singapore.Preliminary investigations revealed that the trio had received instructions from a scam syndicate based in Malaysia to perform ATM withdrawals across different locations in Singapore.During the operation, officers found and seized 69 bank cards which were used to withdraw monies amounting to around $200,000 in scam losses across more than 20 cases.If found guilty of assisting others to retain criminal proceeds, the 23-year-old man could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.

A Malaysian single mum recently bid a tearful farewell to her son after making the difficult decision to leave him in a children's shelter.Kong Xiuping (transliteration), 26, is moving to Singapore to work and provide her son Peiming (transliteration) a better future, reported Orient Daily on Tuesday (June 16).She had given birth to Peiming when she was only 18, but the boy was raised by an aunt who can no longer look after him due to rising living costs.Kong remarried and had two more children, but her marriage broke down and she is currently in the middle of a divorce.The atmosphere was solemn before mum and son left their home in Selangor to travel to Jaz Home in Perak, according to the Malaysian publication.The seven-year-old gave his mother a cup of water, saying: «Mum, drink some water» and bringing her to tears.As she dropped him off at the shelter, she could be heard telling him:  «You must study well,» «Be obedient,» «Be well-behaved,» and «Don't be naughty.»In brighter spiritsThe story of the boy and his mum touched hearts online, and Jaz Home has since provided an update on the young boy.

SINGAPORE - Electrical appliances chain Gain City was hit by a flurry of one-star reviews on Google over the last two weeks, with offers to help coming soon after from people believed to be conmen.The messages, sent to Gain City employees, arrived on the heels of the spike in negative reviews and offered to remove the one-star reviews.Responding to queries, Gain City spokeswoman Candy Cao said the first suspicious inquiry was reported by a showroom manager in early April, after which the retailer started to monitor the situation.Gain City has attracted negative reviews in the past, but they were isolated incidents, she added. In the last two weeks, however, the retailer noticed an increase in suspicious one-star reviews, she said.Screenshots provided by Gain City show numerous one-star reviews, with no additional comments.Cao said: «Legitimate reviews typically contain details relating to actual customer experiences, products, services or interactions with our staff.»

Homebuyers will have nearly 8,000 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to choose from in October 2026, as the Housing & Development Board (HDB) rolls out its final sales exercise of the year.Around 7,970 flats will be offered across Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh and Yishun. Notably, more than half of these flats will be located in mature estates, continuing HDB's efforts to increase public housing supply in established locations where resale prices have climbed over the years.The upcoming exercise offers a broad mix of projects that cater to different groups of buyers. While some projects are expected to appeal to those who prioritise transport connectivity and mature estate amenities, others may attract buyers looking for more affordable homes, larger unit types, or long-term growth potential in newer neighbourhoods.

SINGAPORE – The recent decision to screen the Mandarin-dubbed version of Chinese movie Dear You (2026) for general release here has become a hot topic of discussion among Singaporeans, with several film-makers weighing in on the issue.On June 19, The Straits Times published a letter from film-makers Eric Khoo, 61, and Jack Neo, 66. They hoped the authorities would set out a new direction “beneficial to the stakeholders” in Singapore’s film industry.The indie work’s original Teochew version premiered on June 17 at Sands Theatre and will be made available for subsequent festival and niche screenings.The Infocomm Media Development Authority has said these moves are in line with the current approach to support the bilingual policy, which aims to promote Mandarin as the main language among Chinese Singaporeans. Full dialect films can be screened at festival or niche events to provide access to such content for those who wish to view the film in its original language.

Two men, aged 30 and 42, were arrested on Friday (June 19) for allegedly stealing a diamond worth more than $235,000 from a jewellery store in Chinatown.In a news release on Saturday, the olice said they received a report at about 3.40pm from a jewellery store along Kreta Ayer Road.Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo pretended to show interest in purchasing the diamond. While «examining» the diamond, they replaced it with a fake one.They then left the shop without making any purchases, arousing the shop assistant's suspicion. He later discovered that the genuine diamond had been replaced with a fake after conducting a check.