SINGAPORE — Ten former employees of renovation firm Interior Times (Kings') have alleged that they have been owed over $118,000 in commissions since August, and have since lodged employment dispute reports with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).Nine of the employees are interior designers who said they'd left the firm, a branch of Interior Times, in July and August. They claimed they were each owed between $2,600 and $30,700 for at least 10 projects.The firm's director, Jason Wang, disputed the commission amounts and said he has been attending mediation sessions with TADM.He claimed the amounts said to be owed to the IDs were for projects that his firm is still finalising payments for.In response to queries, a TADM spokesman confirmed it is assisting 10 people in their claims for unpaid salaries or commissions from Interior Times (Kings').One former employee has received payment following mediation, while the remaining nine cases are awaiting mediation, the spokesman said on Sept 4.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has shared how he regularly looks out for ways to improve the interface of the websites of various government services.Speaking to 800 students and academics during the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum on Tuesday (Sept 9), SM Lee said that he becomes a “mystery shopper on behalf of the government” when “getting things done”.“I need to go to MOM (Ministry of Manpower) to do something on their website [and] CPF to check my account,” he said at the University Cultural Centre in the National University of Singapore. “And I look at the interface and say, ‘Surely we can do better’.””So I send them a suggestion and tell them, ‘This is just a suggestion. Please take it seriously, but think about the best way to make things better’.”SM Lee said government services will improve when Singapore has a more involved and engaged population who would feel that “if they think something can be better, they can do something about it”.“The most Singaporean thing about you SM,” quipped the forum’s moderator, NUS Associate Professor Leong Ching, “is that you complain to the different agencies.”

Israel's recent airstrikes on Doha are a «blatant violation of the sovereignty of Qatar», said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sept 10. The ministry deemed the airstrikes on Sept 9 an «egregious and dangerous action» that poses a threat to ongoing negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.Israel had attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday (Sept 9), Reuters reported. Qatar has been acting as a mediator alongside Egypt in talks between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza. MFA said that Singapore stands in solidarity with Qatar.Separately, the Singapore Embassy in Doha issued a notice on Wednesday, advising Singaporeans in Doha to «to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel and crowded areas, and follow the instructions of the local authorities».They also encouraged Singaporeans to e-register with MFA so that they can be contacted in event of an emergency. 

A macaque has been found dead, entangled in a fishing net while hanging from a tree in Pulau Ubin.In a post shared to Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings, on Sunday (Sept 7), photos of the monkey's carcass showed it entangled in a fishing net, as it hung from a tree. A user who uploaded the photos to the group commented that a foul smell was present, with flies buzzing around. 

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) will be acquiring four new Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft to replace its ageing Fokker 50s which have been in service since 1993. Singapore acquired nine Fokker 50s in 1993. Four of the nine were designated utility transport aircraft, while the remaining five were assigned as maritime patrol aircraft (seen in picture). PHOTO: AsiaOne/Darren Wong This was announced by Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing during his meeting with United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Wednesday (Sept 10). Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, is in the US for his introductory visit as Defence Minister from Sept 9 to 13. 

Families with three or more children aged between one and six years of age will receive $1,000 LifeSG Credits (LFLC) from Thursday (Sept 10), according to the Ministry of Social and Family Development.These credits are part of the Large Families Scheme announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at Budget 2025, which will see eligible parents receive a $5,000 increase in Child Development Account First Step Grant (CDA FSG) for each third and subsequent child born on or after Feb 18.They will also receive $5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant (LFMG) and $1,000 each year in Large Family LifeSG Credits per third and subsequent child.Subsequent disbursements every AprilLarge families will receive the $1,000 in LFLC from Sept 10, while subsequent disbursements will be made in April annually beginning in April 2026 for children born between 2020 to 2025, the ministry said. The CDA trustee of each eligible child will receive the credits automatically and trustees will be notified via SMS after the amount has been credited to their digital wallet. No application is needed.