5 months ago
Singapore influencer Genie Yamaguchi and her friend stole more than $600 worth of products from Don Don Donki at Orchard Central in August last year, according to multiple reports.
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng has held dialogues with platform workers who have shared concerns on issues such as unfair competition from illegal operators.
Wala Wala Cafe Bar has reversed its decision to wind down operations at its iconic Holland Village location. The restaurant-bar confirmed the news on social media yesterday, revealing that it was due to "the generosity and understanding" of the landlord, who had offered revised terms of the lease.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
Live6 updates
Singaporean influencer and friend steals over $600 worth of Don Don Donki products
More than $600 worth of products were stolen from Don Don Donki at Orchard Central. (Photo: DonDonDonki.com/sg)
Genie Yamaguchi – a 30-year-old Singaporean influencer – has pled guilty to charges linked to items stolen from Don Don Donki at Orchard Central, reports Shin Min Daily News.
According to Mothership, Yamaguchi and her friend, Lee Suet Keay stole a total of 27 items from the Japanese supermarket in August last year. More than $600 worth of products were said to have been stolen – most were makeup and skincare related.
The pair had put the items in their cart and left without paying. A staff member later alerted his manager who reviewed CCTV footage to confirm the theft.
Yamaguchi has almost 15,000 followers on Instagram and you can read more about this case in Mothership's report, including more information on her friend Lee.
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.
Tue, 26 August 2025 at 10:45 pm GMT-4
NEA investigating potential source of water discolouration in Yishun Close canal
The public can report issues like discolouration of canal water through the OneService app. (Photo: ST)
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has identified a potential source of the water discolouration in a canal in Yishun Close, according to Nee Soon GRC MP Jackson Lam.
"Through surveillance and inspections, NEA officers have traced the affected canal and identified a potential source of the discolouration. Investigations are ongoing," said Lam in a Facebook post on 26 August. "Your vigilance in reporting issues like this helps keep our waterways clean."
Lam also urged residents to report such issues through the OneService app to keep Singapore’s waterways clean.
Tue, 26 August 2025 at 10:23 pm GMT-4
PHOTOS: SM Lee attends SG60 celebrations in Japan with 600 overseas Singaporeans
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong joined 600 overseas Singaporeans in Tokyo, Japan for SG60 celebrations. He shared some pictures of the event on Facebook which you can view below.
Captions are all from SM Lee.
Thank you everyone for taking the time to join us in Tokyo. Hope you enjoyed having a taste of home at the reception! (MDDI Photo by Betty Chua via Lee Hsien Loong/FB)
Always heartwarming to recite the Pledge and sing the National Anthem together with fellow Singaporeans, especially while abroad. (MDDI Photo by Betty Chua via Lee Hsien Loong/FB)
No birthday celebration is complete without a cake and cake cutting! (MDDI Photo by Betty Chua via Lee Hsien Loong/FB)
Met some of the staff and chefs who prepared the food for the reception. They are from SATS-TFK, which is part of the SATS Group. Thank you for serving up such a wonderful selection of Singaporean food! (MDDI Photo by Betty Chua via Lee Hsien Loong/FB)
Met some of our youngsters who are pursuing their studies here in Japan. They are part of the SSAJ - Singapore Students' Association Japan, which looks after the welfare of Singaporean students here. (MDDI Photo by Betty Chua via Lee Hsien Loong/FB)
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."
Tue, 26 August 2025 at 9:27 pm GMT-4
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.
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