Tsutomu Ogura steps down as Singapore Lions head coach; Job market cools, but engineers still in demand: Singapore live news

Yahoo

24-06-2025

Singapore football head coach Tsutomu Ogura has resigned due to personal reasons, ending his tenure just 17 months into a two-year contract. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said Ogura needed to return to Japan for pressing matters and that efforts to retain him were unsuccessful.
Ogura, who took over in February 2024, led the Lions to the ASEAN Championship semi-finals and recent wins in Asian Cup qualifiers. Former Tampines Rover coach Gavin Lee has been appointed interim head coach while FAS searches for a permanent replacement. Ogura's departure leaves the Lions at a pivotal moment in their rebuild.
Singapore's job market has cooled for the fifth straight month, but demand for technical talent remains strong, according to job site and hiring platform Indeed. Civil engineering job postings surged 19 per cent since February, with mechanical and industrial roles also rising. Childcare, sports, and data analytics jobs are growing, while healthcare-related roles saw steep declines.
Despite the slowdown, job postings remain 40 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, and unemployment is low at 2.1 per cent. Experts say the labour market remains tight, with employers still struggling to fill skilled roles amid global uncertainty.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
Singapore has clinched the No 3 spot in a global ranking of 'magnetic cities', where residents are most likely to stay long-term. The Gensler City Pulse 2025 report surveyed over 33,000 people across 65 cities to find out where people feel most rooted.
With 59 per cent of respondents saying they're 'unlikely' to move, Singapore trails only Taipei (64 per cent) and Ho Chi Minh City (61 per cent) in the international rankings. Emotional connection, safety, and satisfaction with city life were key drivers.
The report highlights that Singapore's compact size, strong infrastructure, and high quality of life contribute to its 'stickiness.' In fact, 77 per cent of residents said they were satisfied with life in the city – above the global average.
Other cities in the top 10 include Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. These urban hubs combine economic opportunity with a strong sense of belonging.
In an era where one in three city dwellers is considering a move, Singapore's magnetic pull is clearly holding strong.
Singapore's job market is showing signs of fatigue, with job postings down 0.9 per cent in May, the fifth consecutive monthly dip, according to job site and hiring platform Indeed. But demand for skilled professionals remains strong.
Job postings remain 40 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, and technical roles are leading the charge.
Civil engineering jobs jumped nearly 19 per cent since February, outpacing mechanical (+14 per cent) and industrial (+6.5 per cent) roles. Analysts say this may be tied to major infrastructure projects like Changi Airport Terminal 5.
Other bright spots include childcare (+13 per cent), sports (+12 per cent), and data analytics (+5.6 per cent). Software development saw a modest 0.9 per cent rise, though its share of total postings dipped slightly.
Healthcare roles, however, are in retreat. Pharmacy (-45 per cent), veterinary (-19 per cent), and physician/surgeon (-19 per cent) postings all saw sharp drops.
With unemployment at 2.1 per cent, Indeed's Senior Economist Callam Pickering says the labour market remains tight, as employers battle skill shortages despite global uncertainty.
Singapore's national football team is once again in search of a head coach. Tsutomu Ogura has stepped down from the role, citing personal reasons that require his return to Japan, according to local media reports. His resignation comes just 17 months into a two-year contract.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said it had explored options to retain Ogura, but the nature of his personal matters made it untenable. The 61-year-old had informed FAS of his decision weeks earlier.
Ogura, who replaced Takayuki Nishigaya in February 2024, was the third consecutive Japanese coach to lead the Lions. He brought with him a wealth of experience, including stints with the Japanese national and Olympic teams.
Under his leadership, the Lions reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ASEAN Championship and recently secured wins over the Maldives and Bangladesh in Asian Cup qualifiers.
FAS has appointed former Tampines Rovers coach Gavin Lee as interim head coach while a global search for a permanent replacement is underway.
OCBC has declared it will not make another offer to acquire the remaining shares of Great Eastern Holdings (GEH), even if its current delisting proposal fails. The bank also confirmed it has no intention of converting its Class C non-voting shares into ordinary shares when they become eligible in five years.
The statement comes ahead of GEH's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 8 July, where minority shareholders will vote on OCBC's $900 million exit offer at $30.15 per share for the 6.28 per cent stake it doesn't already own.
OCBC currently holds 93.72 per cent of GEH and says it is satisfied with its economic interest, regardless of the vote's outcome. The bank emphasised that its offer is final and will not be revised.
The Independent Financial Adviser (IFA), Ernst & Young, has deemed the offer 'fair and reasonable', and GEH's independent directors have recommended shareholders vote in favor of the delisting.
If the resolution fails, GEH will propose a bonus issue to restore its free float and resume trading – OCBC will support this by opting for non-voting Class C shares.
Read on OCBC's final offer for Great Eastern here.
The UK Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales has made its first formal port call in the region, docking at Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre on Monday (23 June). The visit is part of Operation Highmast, an eight-month global deployment aimed at strengthening defence and diplomatic ties in the Indo-Pacific.
The 65,000-tonne carrier leads a multinational strike group and will host a flurry of activities, including a defence industry expo, a science symposium, and even an esports tournament featuring UK and Singaporean military personnel.
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of UK-Singapore diplomatic relations, adding symbolic weight to the carrier's arrival. High-ranking UK officials are also in town to reinforce bilateral cooperation.
Operation Highmast spans 30 countries and includes joint exercises with regional partners. After Singapore, the carrier heads to Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre.
The ship will return in November for Exercise Bersama Lima under the Five Power Defence Arrangements, reaffirming the UK's long-term commitment to regional stability.
Read on the historic visit of HMS Prince of Wales to Singapore here.
US President Donald Trump announced a 'complete and total' ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday (23 June), hours after Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid US air base in Qatar. The phased ceasefire, he said, would begin within six hours and conclude with an 'official end' to what he dubbed 'The 12 Day War'.
According to Trump's post on Truth Social, Iran would begin the ceasefire first, followed by Israel 12 hours later. After 24 hours, the war would be considered over. He praised both nations for their 'stamina, courage, and intelligence.'
The announcement came just hours after Iran launched 14 missiles at the US base in Qatar, most of which were intercepted, in retaliation of the US raid of its nuclear sites. No casualties were reported, and Trump thanked Iran for giving early notice.
Despite Trump's optimism, neither Israel nor Iran has officially confirmed the ceasefire. Israeli strikes reportedly continued in Tehran and other cities after the announcement.
The international community remains cautious, with analysts warning that the situation could still unravel if either side resumes hostilities.
Singapore has clinched the No 3 spot in a global ranking of 'magnetic cities', where residents are most likely to stay long-term. The Gensler City Pulse 2025 report surveyed over 33,000 people across 65 cities to find out where people feel most rooted.
With 59 per cent of respondents saying they're 'unlikely' to move, Singapore trails only Taipei (64 per cent) and Ho Chi Minh City (61 per cent) in the international rankings. Emotional connection, safety, and satisfaction with city life were key drivers.
The report highlights that Singapore's compact size, strong infrastructure, and high quality of life contribute to its 'stickiness.' In fact, 77 per cent of residents said they were satisfied with life in the city – above the global average.
Other cities in the top 10 include Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. These urban hubs combine economic opportunity with a strong sense of belonging.
In an era where one in three city dwellers is considering a move, Singapore's magnetic pull is clearly holding strong.
Singapore's job market is showing signs of fatigue, with job postings down 0.9 per cent in May, the fifth consecutive monthly dip, according to job site and hiring platform Indeed. But demand for skilled professionals remains strong.
Job postings remain 40 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, and technical roles are leading the charge.
Civil engineering jobs jumped nearly 19 per cent since February, outpacing mechanical (+14 per cent) and industrial (+6.5 per cent) roles. Analysts say this may be tied to major infrastructure projects like Changi Airport Terminal 5.
Other bright spots include childcare (+13 per cent), sports (+12 per cent), and data analytics (+5.6 per cent). Software development saw a modest 0.9 per cent rise, though its share of total postings dipped slightly.
Healthcare roles, however, are in retreat. Pharmacy (-45 per cent), veterinary (-19 per cent), and physician/surgeon (-19 per cent) postings all saw sharp drops.
With unemployment at 2.1 per cent, Indeed's Senior Economist Callam Pickering says the labour market remains tight, as employers battle skill shortages despite global uncertainty.
Singapore's national football team is once again in search of a head coach. Tsutomu Ogura has stepped down from the role, citing personal reasons that require his return to Japan, according to local media reports. His resignation comes just 17 months into a two-year contract.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said it had explored options to retain Ogura, but the nature of his personal matters made it untenable. The 61-year-old had informed FAS of his decision weeks earlier.
Ogura, who replaced Takayuki Nishigaya in February 2024, was the third consecutive Japanese coach to lead the Lions. He brought with him a wealth of experience, including stints with the Japanese national and Olympic teams.
Under his leadership, the Lions reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ASEAN Championship and recently secured wins over the Maldives and Bangladesh in Asian Cup qualifiers.
FAS has appointed former Tampines Rovers coach Gavin Lee as interim head coach while a global search for a permanent replacement is underway.
OCBC has declared it will not make another offer to acquire the remaining shares of Great Eastern Holdings (GEH), even if its current delisting proposal fails. The bank also confirmed it has no intention of converting its Class C non-voting shares into ordinary shares when they become eligible in five years.
The statement comes ahead of GEH's extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on 8 July, where minority shareholders will vote on OCBC's $900 million exit offer at $30.15 per share for the 6.28 per cent stake it doesn't already own.
OCBC currently holds 93.72 per cent of GEH and says it is satisfied with its economic interest, regardless of the vote's outcome. The bank emphasised that its offer is final and will not be revised.
The Independent Financial Adviser (IFA), Ernst & Young, has deemed the offer 'fair and reasonable', and GEH's independent directors have recommended shareholders vote in favor of the delisting.
If the resolution fails, GEH will propose a bonus issue to restore its free float and resume trading – OCBC will support this by opting for non-voting Class C shares.
Read on OCBC's final offer for Great Eastern here.
The UK Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales has made its first formal port call in the region, docking at Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre on Monday (23 June). The visit is part of Operation Highmast, an eight-month global deployment aimed at strengthening defence and diplomatic ties in the Indo-Pacific.
The 65,000-tonne carrier leads a multinational strike group and will host a flurry of activities, including a defence industry expo, a science symposium, and even an esports tournament featuring UK and Singaporean military personnel.
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of UK-Singapore diplomatic relations, adding symbolic weight to the carrier's arrival. High-ranking UK officials are also in town to reinforce bilateral cooperation.
Operation Highmast spans 30 countries and includes joint exercises with regional partners. After Singapore, the carrier heads to Australia for Exercise Talisman Sabre.
The ship will return in November for Exercise Bersama Lima under the Five Power Defence Arrangements, reaffirming the UK's long-term commitment to regional stability.
Read on the historic visit of HMS Prince of Wales to Singapore here.
US President Donald Trump announced a 'complete and total' ceasefire between Israel and Iran on Monday (23 June), hours after Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid US air base in Qatar. The phased ceasefire, he said, would begin within six hours and conclude with an 'official end' to what he dubbed 'The 12 Day War'.
According to Trump's post on Truth Social, Iran would begin the ceasefire first, followed by Israel 12 hours later. After 24 hours, the war would be considered over. He praised both nations for their 'stamina, courage, and intelligence.'
The announcement came just hours after Iran launched 14 missiles at the US base in Qatar, most of which were intercepted, in retaliation of the US raid of its nuclear sites. No casualties were reported, and Trump thanked Iran for giving early notice.
Despite Trump's optimism, neither Israel nor Iran has officially confirmed the ceasefire. Israeli strikes reportedly continued in Tehran and other cities after the announcement.
The international community remains cautious, with analysts warning that the situation could still unravel if either side resumes hostilities.