Foodpanda said on Wednesday (Nov 20) it will offer refunds to those who recently signed up for the Pandapro plan. The spokesperson told AsiaOne that the food delivery platform will contact all affected subscribers to offer refunds on a no-questions-asked basis.   This comes after the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) issued the food delivery platform a warning for its misleading advertisement.  Foodpanda's campaign, which ran from July 1 to Sept 30, promised «unlimited free delivery on all restaurants» to those who purchased a Pandapro subscription, which starts from $4.99 a month.  The advertisement was displayed across multiple platforms, including the company's Instagram page, its in-app marketing as well as billboards and signages at public areas, said CCCS. The lack of qualifiers in the campaign could mislead consumers into thinking that Pandapro subscribers would enjoy free delivery on all restaurants available on the app, the commission added. However, Pandapro subscribers only received a $3 discount for all restaurants, or a discount of up to $6 for selected restaurants. 

SINGAPORE — National sports agency Sport Singapore (SportSG) has dismissed allegations against former national table tennis player Feng Tianwei over «claims of misappropriation of public funds» by an individual claiming to be her former physical trainer. A person purporting to be Zhou Xiang recently levelled numerous accusations at the Olympic medallist via a dossier containing over 100 pages. The printed documents were sent to The Straits Times two weeks ago, and an anonymous e-mail carrying similar content was also sent to SportSG, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the media on Nov 10. The dispute involving the individual claiming to be Zhou and Feng, who retired in 2022 and is now an assistant director at SportSG and principal of the ActiveSG Table Tennis Academy, is allegedly financial in nature, among other matters. Responding to ST's queries, a SportSG spokesman said on Nov 19: "SportSG is aware of recent allegations stemming from a personal arrangement between retired paddler Feng Tianwei and her former personal fitness coach.

SINGAPORE – In a case involving the first prosecution under a new law aimed at addressing risks relating to money laundering, a business called Kim Heng Jewellers and Goldsmiths was fined $35,000 on Nov 19. Two employees of the store, located at People’s Park Complex in Park Road, sold valuables worth more than $313,000 in total to customers, and over $140,000 of that amount was later traced to two Singaporean victims of a malware scam. The women, who were working for the store at the time, had processed the payments without conducting the necessary checks, despite having reasons to suspect that the funds were linked to money laundering activities. The business was convicted of one charge, involving more than $173,000, under the Precious Stones and Precious Metals (Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act. Two other similar charges linked to the remaining amount were considered during sentencing.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Singapore has to be realistic and adapt to the current shape of global trade, as it continues to work with like-minded countries to strengthen support for multilateralism, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Nov 19). This means bringing Asean countries closer together and linking up with other regional groups, such as the Mercosur bloc in Latin America, he told reporters on the last day of the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. «The reality is that trade is continuing, but it is being reconfigured,» PM Wong said in an interview to wrap up his trip, where he spoke on the impact of changes to global trade flows and why the Republic's participation at international meetings like the G-20 Summit makes a difference. Singapore is not a member of the G-20, which comprises 19 major and emerging economies, along with the European Union and African Union. However, it is regularly invited to take part in the group's meetings.

A Singaporean woman's solo trip in Japan turned sour when a local man started heckling her and behaved aggressively. Stomp contributor Jann said the incident took place at Hakone Shrine on the morning of Nov 19, when she was posing for photos at the iconic spot, being «very mindful of the three-minute rule». She was referring to a rule about how visitors are allowed up to three minutes to take pictures at the shrine. Jann, who is in her 50s, explained: «There is a signboard placed prominently next to the queue for the shrine. From what I could see, everyone was abiding by the rule — tourists and locals alike. »I had asked a solo traveller (a PhD student from China) queuing in front of me to take my pics and I would take his. «It is possible the Japanese man thought we were together in a group and therefore should take three minutes in total. Even then, I am sure the two of us took three minutes or less. There was a line of visitors since it's a famous spot, so both of us were very mindful. »This Japanese guy was heckling me in the background, saying, «Chinese go home.»

A stall in Dunman Food Centre has received five bids in October, with the highest nearly hitting the $7,000 mark, 8world reported on Monday (Nov 18). The $6,929 offer was from the son of a hawker who runs a stall in the same row. If he wins the tender, he intends to open a third drink stall. While they find the $7,000 rent too steep, some hawkers told 8world that they believe there will be fairer competition once the revised rental renewal policy kicks in this month. «This rental price is a bit ridiculous,» one hawker said. Another stated: «We can accept the market price the government gives us now. But if it goes up, we'll have a harder time.» Worried about the trickle-down effects on customers, a drinks vendor said: «The lower the tender bid, the better… If we set our prices too high, customers will walk away after asking for our prices.» Record-high prices in Toa Payoh Meanwhile, a food stall in Toa Payoh's Lorong 8 Food Centre received four bids, with the highest bid at $6,508. This marks a record-high since 2021, 8world reported.

Two taxi passengers, a 31-year-old woman and a two-year-old boy, were rushed to hospital after an accident involving two cars and a taxi on the Central Expressway (CTE) last Sunday (Nov 17). The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the police said they were alerted to the accident, which occurred in the direction of the Seletar Expressway after Cairnhill Road exit, at about 8.35pm that night.  Three others were assessed for minor injuries but declined to be taken to hospital, said the SCDF. One of them, a 27-year-old driver, is assisting with investigations.  In a video shared on SG Road Vigilante's Facebook page, the Trans-Cab taxi is seen driving in the rightmost lane of the four-lane CTE tunnel moments before getting rear-ended by a red car that cut across two lanes. 

SINGAPORE — Resort World Sentosa's (RWS) casino licence has been renewed for two years, instead of three, after its tourism performance was deemed unsatisfactory by the authorities. In a statement on Nov 18, the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) said the renewal will take effect from Feb 6, 2025. In deciding the new licence period, the agency said it took into account RWS' ability to «develop, maintain, and promote its integrated resort as a compelling tourist destination that meets prevailing market demand and industry standards», among other factors. An evaluation panel, appointed by the Minister for Trade and Industry, found that RWS' tourism performance between 2021 and 2023 was «unsatisfactory», and added that there were a number of areas that require «rectification and substantial improvement». GRA said it also considered the views of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC). The panel recommended that the next evaluation of RWS should take place in 2026, said the statement.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Countries can fight poverty by sustaining economic growth through open trade and investments, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Nov 18. Growth and trade remain one of the best ways to create jobs, he told Group of 20 (G-20) leaders at a discussion on poverty and hunger at the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. «Jobs, in turn, are the most direct way to reduce poverty,» he said, adding that this is because they provide a path to dignity, stability and self-reliance. This is why efforts to reform and strengthen the World Trade Organisation are so important, PM Wong said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva launched a global alliance against hunger and poverty on day one of the G-20 Summit. More than 80 countries, including Singapore, have agreed to back it. In his speech, PM Wong said the most direct way to tackle hunger and poverty is to stop conflicts and wars, and provide assistance to conflict zones where needs are greatest. Singapore is doing its part where possible, including providing several rounds of humanitarian aid for people in Gaza, he added.

A hotel in Johor Bahru has apologised and offered a guest a full refund after a male staff member «accidentally» opened her room door. In a now-deleted post to Facebook page Complaint Singapore on Nov 13, a woman from Singapore recounted «numerous issues» she faced during her two-night stay at Hako Hotel Mount Austin with three other friends. She said the bathrooms would flood whenever they showered, and they had to open the drain covers to drain the water as «nothing was done» to solve the issue despite them informing the hotel's reception. The woman added that the soundproofing in the hotel was poor, and that a male staff member had opened the door of the room her female friend was staying in. The friend in question, surnamed Lin, told Shin Min Daily News that their group of four had stayed in two separate rooms from Nov 8 to 10. «I had just taken a shower and finished changing when a male employee suddenly pushed open the door. I was shocked and yelled at him to get out,» she said. Lin, 33, told her friend in the next room about what had happened, and the pair reported the incident to the front desk.

The eldest son of the Yakult auntie who died a week after she was punched on the job revealed that his mother had previously wished for a peaceful death. The 43-year-old man, who did not want to be named, told Shin Min Daily News that his family had to make the difficult decision to pull his mother off life support after learning that she was in a critical condition.  After being punched in the right side of the face on Oct 29, the elderly woman, surnamed Au, was rushed to the hospital, where she was found to be severely injured. Her attacker, 30-year-old Lim Chuan Xun, was charged in court on Nov 15 for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the elderly woman.  Doctors told her family then that she would become paralysed or bedridden.  "We called the doctor several times about whether [my mother] should undergo surgery. My younger sister wanted her to go for it, and our relatives were pressuring us. 

SINGAPORE — With just over three weeks to go before their Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship opener, the Lions flunked their final rehearsal at the National Stadium as they lost 3-2 to Chinese Taipei on Nov 18. The defeat by the world No. 168 side, who are six places behind Singapore, left the home faithful among the 6,764 fans visibly deflated. It was a far cry from the euphoria that had greeted the Lions when they staged a late comeback to beat Myanmar 3-2 at the same venue just four days earlier. This time, the hosts failed to sparkle at both ends, struggling to create much in attack from open play while displaying lackadaisical defending which the visitors took advantage of. In search of a perfect tune-up to the biennial championship, the Lions ended up cooling hopes of making it a tournament to remember. Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura shuffled his pack after the win over Myanmar — his first international victory in charge — as he made nine changes to the starting XI and deployed an experimental 3-4-2-1 set-up instead of the previous 4-2-3-1.

SINGAPORE – Five Labubu dolls worth about $300 were reported stolen in Yishun after three boys were seen tilting a claw machine on the morning of Nov 18. In response to The Straits Times’ queries, the police confirmed they were informed and are investigating the incident that took place outside a pet shop at Block 930 Yishun Central 1. Mr Derrick He, who owns Little Pets Kingdom and the claw machine, said he noticed that the wires above the machine were dislodged from the beam above when he arrived at work at 9.30am. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that five of the 11 Labubu dolls from “The Monsters Tasty Macarons Series” were missing from the machine. CCTV camera footage seen by ST shows three boys playing with the claw machine at around 6.30am, with no luck at winning the dolls. Two of them are later seen grabbing the claw machine from opposite sides and trying to tilt it. In another attempt at around 7am, the two boys can be seen tilting the machine to one side, while the third boy lifts it slightly off the ground.

SINGAPORE — Hin Leong founder Lim Oon Kuin was sentenced on Monday (Nov 18) to 17 years and six months jail for three charges of cheating and forgery in what prosecutors described as «one of the most serious cases of trade financing fraud that have ever been prosecuted in Singapore». The prosecution on Oct 15 sought a maximum sentence of 20 years for the 82-year-old better known as O.K. Lim, whose offences «affected the delivery of financial services in Singapore, and tarnished Singapore's hard-earned reputation as Asia's leading oil trading hub». Following a 62-day criminal trial, Lim, a legend in Singapore's oil industry, was convicted in May of two cheating charges and one count of instigating forgery for the purpose of cheating. His bail of $4 million had been extended. The former oil tycoon was found guilty of cheating HSBC through employees of his «family business», by claiming that Hin Leong had entered into two contracts to sell oil to China Aviation Oil (Singapore) and Unipec Singapore, and then applying for discounting of these purported transactions.

A tuition centre located at NEWest Mall in West Coast is offering parents free Coach bags - provided their children have attended classes with the centre for four years, Shin Min Daily News reported on Sunday (Nov 17). The Chinese Language Centre (CLC) outlet in that mall put up a sign outside their centre in October, indicating that they would be giving out these Coach bags. «In order to thank you for your support, if your same child has been studying in our centre for four years… you will get a brand-name Coach bag,» the sign reads. «Thank you for your support and trust in the past four years.» Speaking with Shin Min, a centre representative surnamed Zhang (transliteration) said that their centre was established in 2020 and the intention was to thank parents for their support. He declined to share details on the cost of each bag, how many bags they have prepared to give out and how many parents are eligible for the giveaway. Less is more? Reactions from parents about the giveaway have been mixed.

The peace at Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West was shattered when a loud blast rocked the car park at 11am. Sensing that his presence was discovered, a «suicide bomber» detonated his backpack containing an improvised explosive device, injuring six students who were heading to class. Shortly after the «attack», several students, who are Civil Defence Lionhearters, rushed to the scene and tended to the wounded. Trained in improvised first aid and emergency skills by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), they used items such as belts and ties to stop the bleeding before SCDF officers arrived. The Singapore Police Force's (SPF) Ground Response Force and the Emergency Response Team from Jurong Police Division were also activated to the scene. The drama on Monday (Nov 18) was part of the counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness exercise code-named Exercise Heartbeat. The exercise was organised by the SPF, supported by SCDF, in collaboration with ITE College West and Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Management, which is the premise owner of ITE College West campus. 

A 70-year-old Yakult delivery woman died a week after she was attacked by a man.  She was making a delivery at Block 272B Sengkang Central on Oct 29 when he punched her on the right side of her face, reported Shin Min Daily News. The attacker, 30-year-old Lim Chuan Xun, had also allegedly hurled vulgarities at the elderly woman.  Despite bleeding from her head, she tried to contact the customers living at the next block to collect their drinks, the woman's daughter told Mothership. Noticing her bloodied shirt and swollen forehead, some passers-by called the police and an ambulance.  The elderly woman was rushed to Sengkang General Hospital. While en route to hospital, she was still able to give her statement to the police. Upon reaching the hospital, however, she felt dizzy and nauseous.  A brain scan revealed the severity of her injuries — she could become paralysed or bedridden, doctors told her family members. The elderly woman fell into a coma and stayed in the intensive care unit for about a week.  On Nov 6, she died after developing a fever as well as breathing difficulties. 

Many people are creatures of habit - just like how saving lives is this man's second nature. A doctor from the Republic of Singapore Air Force has resuscitated a man in Hougang who lost consciousness from a cardiac arrest, according to a post on the RSAF's Facebook page on Saturday (Nov 16). Captain (Dr) Tan Yu Xiang of the 1st Medical Squadron was on his way home along Block 205, Hougang Street 21 when he found a man unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse. «My training kicked in and I immediately responded,» Tan said. As he began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), other members of the public stepped in to assist. «One brought an automated external defibrillator (AED), another fetched a medical kit,» he recalled.  «As his pulse stabilised, we transferred him into the care of Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics.» Tan, a Search and Rescue Medical Officer, has been taught to handle challenging conditions - training that allowed him to respond effectively to this situation, he said. He added that «every member of the public who helped that evening »played a key role".

Tensions between two warring neighbours in Toa Payoh came to a head when a fight between them left one with a gash on the head. The altercation occurred at Blk 34 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh at about 3pm on Saturday (Nov 16), reported Shin Min Daily News. The 70-year-old man injured in the brawl, surnamed Pan, told the Chinese evening daily that he has not been on good terms with the male neighbour due to a previous conflict. «At that time, he had scolded a cleaner disposing of garbage while he was eating, I couldn't look past [his words] so I retorted on behalf of the cleaner, which may have invoked his displeasure,» he explained. 'Go home and take a knife!' On Saturday, Pan was retrieving items from his sister-in-law, who lives on the same floor as him. The neighbour, who lives in the adjacent unit, allegedly spat in Pan's direction and started provoking him. Enraged, Pan reportedly demanded the neighbour to step out of his flat to explain himself and for a 'one-on-one' fight. «Go home and take a knife!» The latter replied, before rushing towards Pan with a piece of plastic measuring 30cm long.

SINGAPORE - All her life, 42-year-old Janet Yee has lived in a two-room rental flat on the 15th floor of Block 91 Henderson Road. The home is filled with family pictures, Buddhist figurines that belonged to her parents, and old furniture such as two cupboards that store the clothes and bedsheets of Ms Yee, her Malaysian husband, and two children, aged five and nine, in their bedroom. But Ms Yee never intended to live there forever. «I had always wanted to buy my own flat so that my kids have more certainty and security than I did. When you live in a rental flat, you never know when you might be asked to move,» said the senior kitchen leader at a Japanese pizza restaurant. Her fears came true earlier in 2024 when she was told by the Housing Board that her family had until the end of September 2025 to move out. Her family is among 675 households living in two-room rental flats at Henderson Heights - which comprises Blocks 91, 92 and 93 - that are being relocated.

A car caught fire in an open car park in Bukit Batok on Sunday afternoon (Nov 17), with the incident captured in photos and a video shared on the Complaint Singapore Facebook group. The car park is located at Block 239, Bukit Batok East Avenue 5. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they were alerted to the incident at around 12.30pm. They arrived to the scene and extinguished the blaze with a water jet. «The fire involved the engine compartment of a parked car,» said SCDF. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation. PHOTO: Facebook/Fuad Odem The car was severely damaged from the fire. In a separate post, the car is seen severely wrecked from the fire with various components from the bonnet spilling out onto the ground.