President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday (June 24) conveyed Singapore's condolences to Timor-Leste after the passing of its former president Francisco Guterres. The 71-year-old served as Timor-Leste's president from 2017 to 2022, following decades of political and armed struggle that led to the nation's independence from Indonesia in May 2002.He won the 2017 presidential election to become the nation's sixth president, but was defeated in a run-off by Nobel laureate Ramos-Horta, when he ran for re-election in 2022.In his letter on behalf of Singaporeans, President Tharman said Guterres devoted his life to Timor-Leste.«In the struggle for independence and later as president, he played a crucial role in strengthening Timor-Leste's democratic institutions and fostering national unity,» President Tharman wrote.He added that Guterres' commitment and contributions towards the building of a sovereign and independent Timor-Leste will long be remembered.

For one former domestic helper, the bond she formed with a Singapore family endured long after her years of service.Five years after Marilou Serrano Galindo, 54, returned home to the Philippines, she reunited with her former employer Tan Teck Lee, who had taken his wife, three daughters and son-in-law to Maddela, Quirino province to visit her.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 63-year-old Tan said Marilou remained in close contact with his family throughout the years.Their trip to her hometown, which lasted from June 8 to 16, began with about 11 hours of travel, including a flight to Manila, a domestic flight and a two-hour car ride.«We went boating, enjoyed the scenery, ate local food, celebrated Marilou's birthday together and took many photos, creating happy memories,» said Tan, adding that the trip felt like a large family gathering.In a Facebook post shared on Wednesday (June 17), Marilou's family recounted her difficult early years working in Singapore. 

Two Singaporean men were charged by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (June 25) for harbouring and employing immigration offenders.In a news release on the same day, ICA listed 62-year-old Kamarulzaman Yahaya and 27-year-old Mohamad Elfie Hakim Bin Lokman as the two charged.Kamarulzaman is accused of harbouring a 54-year-old Filipina who had remained unlawfully in Singapore after her visit pass expired on April 28, 2003.The woman, Leonardo Federigan Leonora, was subsequently found guilty, sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $2,000. She has since completed her sentence, deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.Investigations revealed that Kamarulzaman had allowed Leonara to live in his Bedok unit for 22 years — from March 2004 to March 20206 — despite knowing that she had overstayed in Singapore.In the second case, Elfie was charged for employing a 26-year-old Indian national who had remained unlawfully in Singapore after his visit pass expired on June 17, 2025.Kakadiya Avanit Rajubhai was later fined $4,000. He has since been deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.

A 25-year-old male motorcyclist and a 21-year-old woman riding pillon died in the wee hours of Thursday (June 25) after their bike skidded in Yio Chu Kang.Responding to media queries, the police said they were alerted to the accident along Yio Chu Kang Road at about 3.35am.The motorcycle is believed to have skidded, the police said.Paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force pronounced the duo dead at the scene.A video posted on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu show two blue police tents on the left-most lane, which had been cordoned off.A toppled motorcycle is seen slightly ahead.At least three police vehicles and about 10 officers are seen at the accident site.The deceased were believed to be a couple, reported Shin Min Daily News.Police investigations are ongoing.[[nid:738811]]lim.kewei@asiaone.com

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 12-year-old teenage girl, Koon Hui Lin, who was last seen in Ang Mo Kio.Police said in a news release on Thursday (June 25) that Hui Lin was last seen at about 10am on Wednesday at Block 131 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, wearing a black t-shirt and grey pants.The address is in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Town Garden and the popular Ang Mo Kio Park McDonald's. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.All information will be kept strictly confidential.[[nid:735166]]editor@asiaone.com 

Having recently fallen victim to a scam, a Singaporean mother nearly dismissed a call she thought was another fraud attempt — only to discover she had won $10,000 prize in a Sheng Siong-Foodpanda launch campaign.To mark their partnership, the two companies launched a campaign from June 22 to July 19 offering customers who order Sheng Siong via Foodpanda a chance to win $10,000 in cash, with one winner announced daily. Nabeelah was named the campaign's first winner on Tuesday (June 23). The 31-year-old told AsiaOne that she had just woken up when the call came through on Tuesday. Believing it might be a hoax, she remained cautious and said it took a while for the reality of her win to sink in.«Once I realised it was genuine, I was shocked and excited… it honestly felt like a dream,» she described, adding that it was a big surprise for her and her husband.

A floating fish farm along the waterways near Pulau Ubin caught fire on Wednesday (June 24) night.The fire started after lightning struck moored fishing boats in the area, engulfing them in flames, reported 8world.It then spread to at least two neighbouring floating fish farms in the vicinity, with operators estimating huge financial losses due to the incident.The fire reportedly went on for two hours, with four police boats, two SCDF vessels and a tugboat spotted at the scene attempting to extinguish the blaze.Nobody was in the affected farm when the fire occurred, 8world reported, adding that other workers in the neighbouring fish farms had assisted in containing the fire.The Fish Farmers Association of Singapore (FFAS) stated that at least two fish farms were damaged in the fire, and estimated that the financial losses were rather substantial.FFAS chairman Daniel Tay said that the association had met with the owners of the affected fish farms, who were all «frustrated» at the incident.«We usually farm sea bass, snappers and groupers in this area, and these are all high-value fishes,» he said.

Two individuals, including a 17-year-old, were caught for vaping and underage smoking during enforcement operations carried out by the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) last week.In a media statement on Thursday (June 25), HSA said the duo were caught during operations conducted at Bugis, Somerset and Yishun between June 18 and 20.During its operations, HSA officers detected a 44-year-old man vaping, and seized his vaporiser. He was issued a fine on the spot.Meanwhile, a 17-year-old male teen was caught for underage smoking and referred to the Health Promotion Board for cessation counselling.HSA stated that such operations are part of its ongoing enforcement patrols to detect vape-related offences.

Singapore's port has been named best globally at the Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards 2026 on Wednesday (June 24).The annual awards are organised by Asia Cargo News, a fortnightly logistics and supply chains publication to recognise leading logistics and supply chain service providers.In a media release on Thursday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said this is the fifth time the Port of Singapore has been named «Best Global Seaport».It was also awarded the same accolade in 2025.MPA chief executive Ang Wee Keong said the award reflects the collective efforts of the entire maritime community in strengthening Singapore's position as a leading global hub port.«As supply chains evolve and new challenges emerge, we will continue to invest in innovation, infrastructure, and talent to keep Singapore resilient, connected, and future-ready,» he added.According to AFLAS, winners are determined from over 15,000 readers who nominate and vote across 49 award categories

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.

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.