SINGAPORE — There is a high risk of severe haze blanketing the region in the second half of the year, due to the return of El Nino, as well as increased deforestation spurred by biofuel demand.The warming El Nino climate phenomenon is expected to create a longer and stronger dry season at a time when fire readiness could be compromised by economic uncertainty and budget pressures, said the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) in its annual haze outlook report.This is the second time since its annual outlooks began in 2019 that the think-tank has put out a red alert. The first was in 2023, also an El Nino year when Singapore experienced haze over a weekend in October.El Nino refers to the warming of the sea surface over the eastern Pacific, leading to hotter and drier weather over the region. Scientists predict that this cycle could be a super El Nino, putting 2026 and 2027 on track for exceptionally sizzling years.At the same time, another climate phenomenon called the positive Indian Ocean Dipole is expected to develop in July or August. 

SINGAPORE - The full Economic Strategy Review Final Report was released on Wednesday (June 24), with further details of the 32 recommendations that were released with an executive summary on May 13.These include specific new proposals such as reviewing Singapore’s taxation framework to help startups attract foreign talent, and expanding the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme to cover more workers.The government will study the recommendations and work with industry partners and unions to translate them into action, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information said in a statement.The report sets out the country’s strategy to secure growth and create good jobs for Singaporeans in a “fundamentally changed global environment”.Its 32 recommendations fall across eight focus areas – four aimed at securing economic growth, three at creating good jobs and one on resilience.Seven recommendations were first unveiled in January at the ESR’s midterm update, before the full slate was presented at the Singapore Business Federation’s Future Economy Conference in May.

Some 22,634 applications for the Build-To-Order (BTO) flats launched in the latest June sales exercise have been submitted to HDB as at 5pm on Wednesday (June 24).This is about three times the total number of units available — 6,952 — across seven projects.According to data published on the HDB website, the Prime projects in Bishan's Lakeview estate and Bukit Merah's Berlayar neighbourhood garnered the most interest.Lakeview Cascadia, which is the first BTO project in the Lakeview and Shunfu neighbourhood in over 40 years, saw 2,046 applicants for 476 2-room Flexi flats.The 745 4-room units for sale is oversubscribed by about five times, with the application rate for first-timer families at 3.7 and the rate for second-timer families being 17.2.[[nid:729212]]For the Berlayar Rise project, 3,224 applications have been submitted for 816 2-room Flexi flats.There were 577 applicants for the 172 3-room units, and 5,023 applicants for the 988 4-room flats.

An elderly woman was filled with «immense joy» after volunteers found buckets of coins and her long-lost gold chains worth thousands while cleaning and decluttering her three-room HDB flat in Bedok. The 70-year-old newspaper vendor, who declined to be named, said she and her sister continued living in the unit after their mother died more than a decade ago.And over the years, items gradually accumulated, reported Shin Min Daily News on Tuesday (June 23).Over time, the unit became packed with plastic bags and miscellaneous items, leaving only a narrow walkway from the living room to the kitchen and toilet.Michael Sim, founder of ground-up community initiative AMKSS Social Move, posted on Facebook about the clean up in June, saying that he led over 30 volunteers from Ang Mo Kio Secondary School and the East Coast Town Council to assist in the clearing operation.During the clean-up — which lasted from 9am to 5pm — volunteers reportedly found a large number of coins, which were stored in a large plastic box. It was so heavy it needed more than two men to carry the box. 

Some 40 construction firms have stepped in to offer 150 jobs to the migrant workers caught in a wage dispute with an air-con servicing company, said The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on Wednesday (June 24).In a doorstop visit at Tuas View Dormitory on Wednesday, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said that they have been working with their employer partners to facilitate job matching and placements for the affected migrant workers.«As of this morning, we have 40 [construction] firms stepping forward [with] 150 vacancies to hopefully be able to match these migrant workers into new jobs as quickly as possible,» shared Ng.He stressed that job placement is «more critical» for these migrant workers as they owe agency fees and some of them are struggling with debts.This comes after over 100 migrant workers gathered at the MOM headquarters in Bendemeer on Monday over alleged unpaid wages.

Former PwC Singapore executive chairman Yeoh Oon Jin will take over as chairman of Singapore Pools from July 1, the city state's sole legal lottery and sports betting operator announced on Wednesday (June 24).He takes over from Kaikhushru Nargolwala, who became Singapore Pools' board chairman in 2021.Yeoh, 65, handed over his role at PwC Singapore in 2021 when he retired. He currently serves on the boards of Singapore Exchange, Singapore Airlines, Trust Bank, SingHealth and Wing Tai Holdings.He is also the chairman of the the Singapore Institute of Directors and had previously served on the boards of the Singapore Land Authority, Jurong Town Corporation, Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and the National Arts Council.In a statement issued by the operator, Yeoh said he is honoured to take on the role and to contribute to an organisation that combines operational excellence with a strong social purpose.He also thanked his predecessor for the strong foundation he has left behind.

A 19-year-old student was given a restriction order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after being self-radicalised by a myriad of violent extremist ideologies, including anti-LGBTQ and anti-Western beliefs.In a press release on Wednesday (June 24), the Internal Security Department (ISD) said that Cyrus Dzulqarnain Al-Shahriar was issued the order in March, along with 30-year-old Singaporean, Tarmizi bin Mohd Taha, who was issued an order of detention.ISD added that Tarmizi and Cyrus are the seventh and eighth Singaporeans dealt with under the ISA, whose radicalisation was triggered or accelerated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since its re-escalation in 2023.Pro-Hamas, violent incel ideologiesAccording to ISD, Cyrus was exposed to anti-Western and anti-LGBTQ content after joining several online groups to learn more about Islam in 2022.He was further exposed to pro-Hamas narratives online after Hamas' attacks on Israel in 2023, which prompted him to consider joining Hamas to take up arms against Israelis on the frontlines of the conflict in Gaza a year later.

The inaugural board for the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) — a new statutory board under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — will be appointed for a two-year term on July 1, the manpower ministry announced on Wednesday (June 24).SWDA is a merger between SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG).During the debate on the SWDA Bill in May this year, Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng said the move will combine the strengths of both agencies, funnelling them into a «single upgraded engine for skills and workforce development» that is «ready to support Singaporeans and employers to navigate an age of unprecedented change».Deputy chairman of SIA Engineering Lim Sim Seng will be the inaugural board's first chairman.The 67-year-old is a veteran banker formerly with DBS. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Raffles Medical Group, independent non-executive director of IO Properties Group, and Singapore's non-resident high commissioner to Nigeria. 

Five people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a landed home off Whitley Road in the early hours of Wednesday (June 24).In a Facebook post on the same day, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) wrote that they were alerted at about 3:30am to a fire at 9, Tan Sim Boh Road. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the first and second floors of the three-storey semi-detached house were on fire. The third floor was also affected and the house was filled with smoke.A total of seven people were rescued — two from the first floor and five from the second floor balcony with a rescue ladder. Five of them were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation while the two others declined to be taken to the hospital, the post added.Damping down of the affected area — the use of water to wet burnt surfaces and prevent any potential reignition after a fire is extinguished — is ongoing.The cause of the fire is under investigation.

SINGAPORE — Those setting sail from Singapore on board the Genting Dream, Star Navigator or Star Voyager cruises will no longer have to pay a fuel surcharge for trips departing from June 26 onwards.Cruise operator StarDream Cruises said in a statement on June 23 that guests sailing from Singapore and Malaysia will enjoy a full waiver of the fuel surcharge, which was introduced earlier in March.The fuel surcharge will be halved for guests sailing from Taiwan and Hong Kong, it added.The updated fuel surcharge waiver and reduction apply to passengers of cruises departing from June 26 onwards.In March, StarCruises and Dream Cruises rolled out a fuel surcharge of $15 a person for each night for some sailings as a result of rising fuel costs amid the Middle East conflict.The surcharge applied to Genting Dream sailings from Singapore and neighbouring home ports and to Star Voyager sailings from Singapore and Port Klang, Malaysia. It was applicable to new bookings made on or after March 20 for guests aged two and above.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Monday (June 22) for allegedly stealing $50,000 from a victim who had arranged to purchase US Dollar Tether (USDT) amounting to $100,000 from him.Police stated in a news release on Tuesday night that they were alerted to the incident along New Upper Changi Road at 11.55pm on Sunday.Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was preparing to hand over cash in exchange for the cryptocurrency and had placed a portion of it on the bench. The 25-year-old then grabbed the money and fled the scene.Officers from Bedok Police Division identified the man through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras and closed circuit television (CCTV).He was arrested within a day of the report and cash amounting to $7,450 was recovered.The man will be charged in court on Wednesday for theft, an offence which carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both.[[nid:738730]]editor@asiaone.com

The police are investigating two Chinese nationals, who are believed to be associates of alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi, over alleged money laundering offences.In an update on Tuesday (June 23) night, police said they are investigating the duo as part of ongoing investigations into the Prince Holding Group, its founder and chairman, Chen Zhi, his associates and related companies.Hu Xiaowei, 44, purportedly holds passports issued by Cyprus, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Hong Kong. His assets held across banks and securities accounts in Singapore were seized in January this year.As part of ongoing probes into associates linked to the Prince Holding Group, the police said they have also been working actively with international law enforcement partners, including US agencies.This led to the investigation of another Chinese national, 38-year-old Qiu Wei Ren, who allegedly holds passports issued by Cambodia and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

SINGAPORE — Durian prices in Malaysia may have plummeted to rare lows of just a few ringgit per fruit for popular varieties amid a bumper harvest, but sellers in Singapore do not expect their prices to fall as sharply.They told The Straits Times that although prices here have dipped significantly over the past few days, the decline is likely to be more tempered.The price of Mao Shan Wang, a popular variety among Singaporeans, has fallen from a peak of around $28 per kg in March to $20 per kg as at June 23. Less premium varieties like Red Prawn have dropped from about $14 per kg to $12 per kg.Sellers expect the price of Mao Shan Wang to bottom out at around $18 per kg — on a par with the price in December 2025, when Malaysian durian farms last experienced a glut of the fruit.“This is the cheapest it’s been in the last five years,” said Kelvin Tan, co-founder of 99 Old Trees, a durian dessert and fruit shop in Outram Park.

A 16-year-old teenager will be charged in court on Wednesday (June 24) after he allegedly attempted to evade a police roadblock and collided into two enforcement officers stationed there.The police said in a statement that officers from the traffic police and Land Transport Authority (TPA) had set up a joint roadblock along Commonwealth Avenue West towards Commonwealth Avenue on March 21.When he approached the roadblock, he rode at high speed on his unregistered vehicle hitting a traffic police officer and an LTA officer.The 28-year-old traffic police officer sustained injuries including a head haematoma (blood clot in the skull), abrasions and hip pain.The 44-year-old male LTA officer was severely hurt, suffering a brain injury, knee fracture, muscle tear and a sprained ligament.Both officers and the teen rider were conscious when taken to the hospital.The teen will be charged with offences including evading a police roadblock, reckless driving causing hurt and grievous hurt, and driving underage.

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.