In a significant move, logistics firm Ninja Van has announced the layoff of approximately 12% of its workforce in Singapore. This decision follows two previous rounds of job cuts earlier this year, making it clear that the company is strategically reshaping its operations.

A spokesperson for Ninja Van confirmed the layoffs on August 12, emphasizing that this step is essential for reinforcing their business model. While the company remains tight-lipped about the current size of its Singapore workforce or any future layoffs, they reassured that the decision was made with careful consideration.

The spokesperson stated, "By streamlining our headquarters functions, we are aligning resources to support critical growth areas such as tech-enabled business-to-business restock and cold chain logistics, ensuring seamless operations across all services." Despite these cuts, Ninja Van's careers page still lists over ten job vacancies across various sectors, indicating ongoing opportunities.

Earlier this year, Ninja Van had already trimmed its tech team by 10% in April and conducted another round of layoffs affecting 5% of its staff in July 2024. The number of employees at their Singapore headquarters was around 450 before these cuts.

In related news, StarHub's full acquisition of MyRepublic has left many customers anxious about potential changes to service quality. Since its inception in 2011, MyRepublic has built a strong reputation with a "no throttling" policy, ensuring high-speed internet access without restrictions.

With StarHub acquiring the remaining 49.9% stake in MyRepublic, customers like Chia Ying Ying and IT engineer Phua K. have voiced their concerns about possible compromises to both pricing and speed. StarHub, however, maintains its commitment to fair network management during peak times, but it remains to be seen if similar policies will apply to MyRepublic.

On a somber note, a tragic traffic accident occurred on August 12, resulting in the death of an off-duty Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer. The incident involved a motorcycle and two vans at the junction of Punggol Way and Sumang Link. The officer, a 50-year-old male, was declared dead at the scene, while his 15-year-old pillion rider was taken to the hospital.

In brighter news, local actor Zheng Geping has received the prestigious Public Service Medal for his impressive 15 years of volunteer work with the Woodlands Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC). At 61 years old, Zheng is among 7,210 recipients honored on the National Day Awards list.

Zheng learned about his recognition from MP Mariam Jaafar and emphasized his modesty in regard to his contributions. Inspired by a friend's encouragement, he has been actively involved in various community efforts, from distributing essentials to fundraising and community performances, finding great fulfillment in giving back to the community.