Ang Mo Kio Library and Queenstown Library will be temporarily closed in the coming months for renovation and upgrading, said the National Library Board (NLB).In an Facebook post on Monday (June 22), NLB said that Ang Mo Kio Library's last day of operations will be on July 31.It will be relocating to AMK Hub and is slated to reopen on Nov 20, 2026, with patrons being able to enjoy «greater connectivity and a refreshed library experience inspired by the green spaces and landmarks iconic to the neighbourhood», the board said.During the relocation, patrons can visit the self-service Browse-n-Borrow kiosk and Sit-n-Read Node located at level 4 of AMK Hub.Alternatively, they can visit nearby libraries at Bishan, Yishun and Toa Payoh.Queenstown Library will be closing down on Aug 30 to make way for extensive upgrading and is expected to reopen in late-2028.

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.