Platform workers air concerns to labour chief Ng Chee Meng; Wala Wala to remain in Holland Village: Singapore live news

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• Platform workers air concerns to labour chief Ng Chee Meng

  

  Ng Chee Meng met with platform workers who raised concerns on issues such as unclear fares and incentives as well as unfair competition from illegal operators. (Photo: Ng Chee Meng/FB)

  National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said some licensed cross-border drivers have seen their earnings go up after recent enforcement efforts on illegal operators which have "already made a difference."

  "Taxi drivers, particularly those operating cross-border between Singapore and Malaysia, have seen earnings improve by up to 30 per cent. In the ride-hailing space, drivers have reported up to 15 per cent higher earnings," Ng said in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening (26 August).

  The labour chief has previously held dialogue with platform workers to hear their concerns, and this continued on Tuesday when he met a group of over 60 workers at Fernvale Community Club.

  One of the issues raised by drivers, as reported by CNA, was "unfair competition" from those offering illegal "hitch" rides on apps like Telegram.

  Delivery riders have also been impacted by unfair competition. The government recently conducted islandwide checks on more than 370 delivery workers – and arrested three foreigners for working illegally.

  You can read more on Ng Chee Meng's dialogue with platform workers at Fernvale Community Club in ST's report in the link.

• Wala Wala to remain in Holland Village after landlord revised terms

  

  Wala Wala Cafe Bar announced it will remain in Holland Village after reversing its decision to close. (Photo: WalaWala.sg)

  Wala Wala Cafe Bar, an integral fixture of Holland Village’s iconic nightlife scene, has reversed its decision to wind down operations at the location after more than three decades.

  In a social media post on Tuesday (26 August), the restaurant-bar said it was "heartened to share that Wala Wala Cafe Bar will remain in Holland Village."

  Wala Wala added: "This is possible only because of the generosity and understanding of our landlord, who has kindly offered revised terms that make it feasible for us to stay. It is also because of you – our patrons – whose encouragement gave us reason to believe the story is not yet over."

  Owner Stanley Yeo told The Business Times in June that they were preparing to shut as the lease for the 1,700-square-foot ground-floor space on Lorong Mambong ends this year.

• 

  Tue, 26 August 2025 at 10:01 pm GMT-4

  Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged

  

  Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. (Photo: Taylor Swift/IG)

  Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged.

  The happy couple announced the news on 26 August via a joint-Instagram post containing several snapshots showing Kelce and Swift standing in a garden after he popped the question. The caption reads: "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” followed by a firecracker emoji.

  The snaps also gave everyone a close-up of Swift's ring, which is reportedly designed by Kindred Lubeck of New York-based Artifex Fine Jewelry.

  The Hollywood Reporter interviewed a trio of jewellery experts who agreed the following details: "Swift’s ring in 18-karat yellow gold appears to showcase an antique elongated, cushion-shaped diamond in a brilliant cut, weighing roughly 10 carats and set with both four prongs at the corners and a low-profile bezel. Below the center stone, the sides feature a design that may include carvings that likewise play into the ring’s vintage vibe and are embellished with smaller diamonds."

  

  The ring is reportedly designed by Kindred Lubeck of New York-based Artifex Fine Jewelry. (Photo: Taylor Swift/IG)

  Frank Everett, vice chairman for jewelry at auction house Sotheby, was asked about the value of the ring and said: "If you’re looking at a 10-carat diamond with outstanding color and clarity, that could be a million-dollar stone."