The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be revoking the licence of a nursing home in Siglap from Nov. 23 due to "serious and systemic" lapses in the safety and care of its residents.

LC Nursing Home currently has 78 residents, who will be taken care of by an interim team deployed there until they are transferred to other homes.

MOH announced this on Jun. 29, less than two weeks after saying it would be revoking the licence of Windsor Convalescent Home over similar concerns.

These actions followed a series of audits by MOH at selected nursing homes to gauge compliance with infection and prevention control practices, and basic custodial and nursing care.

Persistent non-compliances

The ministry conducted multiple audits at LC Nursing Home.

Initially, in November and December 2025, MOH informed the home that they found serious and systemic non-compliance with requirements under the Healthcare Services Act.

It gave the home an opportunity to make improvements while MOH enforced stricter and closer monitoring.

When it conducted a further audit in April 2026, MOH found that LC Nursing Home did not fully implement certain rectifications or sustain rectification of the identified lapses.

There were also new and repeated non-compliances with HCSA requirements.

The lapses

Lapses found at the home include inadequate clinical and nursing care, inadequate infection prevention and control practices, and not ensuring a safe environment for the residents.

The following are some examples provided by MOH:

• Failure to conduct appropriate reviews or monitoring for residents in multiple aspects including falls, restraint practices and pressure injuries
• Failure to adhere to wound care protocols
• Poor medication management such as presence of poorly maintained medication stock, medication errors, and administration of medication by care staff without suitable credentials
• Failure to adhere to food hygiene practices and implement safe food processes with regard to meal preparation for residents
• Failure to implement infection prevention and control measures
• Failure to ensure environmental hygiene, and suboptimal pest control
• Poorly maintained infrastructure and environment, with multiple hazards posing injury risks to both residents and staff

Acknowledged the findings

After MOH sent a notice to LC Nursing Home about the intention to revoke its licence on Jun. 2, the home submitted representations.

They acknowledged MOH’s findings, and did not provide any explanations to refute the non-compliances.

The home assured the ministry they would take remedial actions, but the plan provided was "very brief, without clear milestones set, and did not provide sufficient assurance", MOH said.

Thus, the ministry assessed the home was not able to continue providing nursing home services safely.

Founder's past misconduct

According to LC Nursing Home's website, the home was established in 1994 by Chia Yang Pong and his wife.

The website said that Chia has 30 years of experience in the nursing home and eldercare industry.

Also listed as the home's CEO, he had his name struck off the Singapore medical register in 2004 after being convicted on 80 charges of professional misconduct.

According to the judgement on that case, he used to be the sole licensee of a chain of seven medical clinics known as Grace Polyclinic.

MOH conducted investigations at all branches of Grace Polyclinic in November 2002, which revealed that benzodiazepines had been improperly prescribed for a number of patients.

There was also no proper record of these patients' symptoms and conditions.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Singapore Medical Council accused Chia of "freely dispensing the hypnotic drugs...without any regard to their medical conditions, health, interest or the harm that might come to them", as quoted by The Straits Times.

Though he pleaded guilty, he appealed for the fine imposed on him to be reduced from S$65,000 to $10,000, which the council granted.

According to Zaobao, Chia was once the director at 11 different companies that were in the nursing home and medical industry. Of these 11 companies, six have since been shut down.

414 student-athletes from 119 schools across 41 sports in Singapore have been awarded a total of S$1.115 million in cash scholarships by the Singapore Olympic Foundation - Peter Lim Scholarship on Jun. 30.

Held at the Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre at ITE Headquarters and College Central, the ceremony was attended by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister of State for Education, David Neo.

Other attendees included SOF's chairman Ng Ser Miang and Singapore's sprint queen Shanti Pereira, who was a recipient in 2014 and 2015.

The scholarships were awarded to 414 student-athletes, including 75 High Performance Under-18 (HPU18) athletes.

Three new sports were also introduced to the scholarship roster: esports (Tertiary category), cricket, and water ski (HPU18).

The scholarship was established in 2010, with entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Lim donating S$10 million to the Singapore Olympic Foundation.

In 2019, Lim donated an additional S$10 million, extending the scholarship through to 2030.

The release noted that they have awarded more than 5,000 scholarships since their inception in 2011.

KF Seetoh's Urban Hawker, a Singapore-style food hall in New York, will close on Jul. 17.

The food hall opened in September 2022 and sells popular hawker fare from Singapore.

It is the first of its kind in New York.

In a Jun. 30 Facebook post, Seetoh said the building owners had sold the property for redevelopment.

They had first been alerted to the potential sale a year ago, he added.

"It has been a great four-year run on West 50th St, Manhattan, and it was an exciting step into the NYC market. We are truly grateful for your support all this while," he said.

Future plans

He added that while it may be "curtains down" for Urban Hawker, it is not the end of the road for Singapore fare in New York.

"We are also looking for a spot to house a few more dynamic hawkers in perhaps a kopitiam concept space... NYC and the U.S. is a dynamic and meaningful market for us."

Seetoh's Hainan Jones chicken rice outlet at the DeKalb Market in Brooklyn remains open for business.

The Makansutra founder noted that a few Singapore hawkers have already opened other outlets in New York, with plans to expand further.

Singapore hawkers

At its launch, Urban Hawker had 200 seats and 17 stalls, 11 of which were from Singapore.

Notable names included White Restaurant and Kopifellas.

It made headlines for high prices, including a bowl of prawn noodles priced at US$18 (S$26 at the time).

Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Maliki Osman also visited the food hall in 2023 and praised the "incredible" Singaporean cuisine.

A Ferrari supercar worth 3.6 million Yuan (S$686,000) was left with multiple scratches and damage after four children were caught on CCTV using it as a slide in Kunming, China.

According to Sin Chew Daily News, the children climbed onto the roof and bonnet of the car while no adults were watching, with some sliding down the bonnet and others repeatedly stepping on the roof to play.

Owner was away when it happened

The car owner was out of town on a business trip when the incident occurred. His car had been parked in its usual spot, and he discovered the damage upon returning home.

After inspecting the vehicle and finding clear scratches and damage across multiple areas, he made a police report. Citing the high cost of repainting and repairing Ferrari parts, he is seeking compensation from the children's parents based on the actual repair costs.

Compensation dispute

According to Sin Chew, local police have arranged two rounds of mediation between both parties, but no agreement on compensation has been reached.

The parents initially offered only a few hundred yuan, later raising it to CN¥5,000 (S$953), but say this remains below the professionally estimated repair cost of around CN¥29,000 (S$5,527).

The owner maintained that he was not deliberately seeking an inflated payout, but wanted the car restored to its original condition through official or professional repair assessment.

He also said that even though the children are young, parents are still responsible for supervising and guiding them, so that their playfulness doesn't end up damaging other people's property or putting themselves at risk while climbing on vehicles.

He added that parents should be responsible for supervising and guiding young children, since their playfulness can end up damaging another person's property, or put themselves at risk while climbing on vehicles.

A Ferrari worth 3.6 million yuan (US$500K) in Kunming was allegedly used as a slide by four children, leaving scratches and a cracked bumper. Their parents first offered a few hundred yuan, then raised it to 5,000 yuan (US$700). pic.twitter.com/AqRXNrOdfm

— VOC (@VoiceOfChina_) June 30, 2026

Netizens weigh in

The incident sparked discussion online after the CCTV footage went viral, with some calling the scene exaggerated.

Others said parents should not use "the kids didn't know better" as an excuse to avoid responsibility, and should instead address the issue of financial loss and parenting responsibility directly.

The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) has declared two websites linked to local independent media platform The Online Citizen (TOC) as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) under Section 32 of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (POFMA).

The two websites are TOC's alternate website and Heidoh's website, MDDI said in a statement on Jun. 30.

Existing DOL declaration

TOC’s primary website, alongside its Facebook, Instagram and X pages, were declared as DOLs in June 2025 for repeatedly communicating falsehoods.

It marked the second time TOC's website, Facebook and X pages had been designated as DOLs.

The declaration took effect on Jul. 22, 2025, and remains in force for two years till Jul. 21, 2027.

During this period, each of TOC’s DOLs must display a notice informing platform users that the platform:

• Has been declared as a DOL;
• Has communicated multiple falsehoods; and
• Should be approached with caution when used as a source of information.

The operator of the declared online locations is also prohibited from receiving financial or other material benefits from operating the platforms.

Set up alternate websites

According to MDDI, following the initial declaration of TOC's primary website as a DOL in 2025, the platform's operator set up alternative online locations to publish content.

As the new websites use different Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), they are not automatically subject to the existing DOL declaration.

According to the ministry, this has enabled the operator to continue receiving financial benefits from the sites through paid content, including online advertisements.

TOC's alternate website

MDDI said TOC's alternate website is hosted on the same domain as its primary website and closely mirrors its branding and appearance.

Since May this year, visitors to TOC's primary website have also been redirected to the alternate website through links on its homepage.

Heidoh's website

Heidoh is an alternative news site set up by TOC’s operator in 2025, which republished content carried on TOC's websites for a period in 2026.

MDDI added that TOC's operator continues to communicate falsehoods to readers in Singapore through both websites.

In March 2026, both websites were issued two POFMA Correction Directions each over falsehoods relating to:

• The re-appointment of Attorney-General Lucien Wong; and
• The reply by the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs to Parliamentary Questions on Singaporeans allegedly serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.

One was issued on Mar. 23 after TOC published an article on Wong's reappointment.

According to MDDI, the article falsely alleged that:

1. Wong has not recused himself from matters pertaining to the compulsory acquisition of 38 Oxley Road, the home of Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
2. Workers' Party chair Sylvia Lim was not allowed to ask follow-up questions during a parliamentary debate on the attorney-general's reappointment process
3. The Constitution provides for the Attorney-General to retire at age 60 without any qualification or proviso, but has appointed Wong until he is 75.

The second Correction Direction was issued after TOC published an article about Shanmugam's parliamentary reply on Singaporeans allegedly serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.

According to MDDI, the article falsely alleged that Shanmugam had deliberately provided incomplete answers and suggested that the government possessed sufficient information to take action.

Alternate sites declared as DOLs

MDDI said it has decided to declare both websites as DOLs as TOC had continued communicating falsehoods through the alternate platforms while attempting to circumvent the requirements imposed on its existing DOLs.

"This ensures that Singaporeans visiting these sites are alerted to their record of communicating falsehoods, and prevents TOC’s operator from continuing to profit from the harmful act of spreading online falsehoods in Singapore," said the ministry.

The declaration will take effect on Jul. 1, 2026, and will remain in force for two years, till Jun. 30, 2028 at noon.

The conditions of the new declaration are the same as those applying to TOC's existing declared online locations.

According to the ministry, the declaration does not require the websites to cease operations.

However, digital advertising agencies and other service providers must take reasonable steps to ensure that paid content placed on the two websites is not communicated in Singapore.

Individuals and companies are also not allowed to provide financial support to the declared online locations to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore.

The Japanese national football team and their fans were left in tears after the country's World Cup exit in the 2-1 defeat to Brazil on Jun. 29.

Japan was just one step away from progressing past the knockout stage, only for Brazil to steal the win with a goal in stoppage time.

This is Japan's third consecutive time Japan has had the lead in the knockout round and lost, ESPN reported.

This also marks the fifth time Japan has been eliminated in the first round of the World Cup knockout rounds, 8world wrote.

Japan's dream dashed

After the final whistle, Brazil narrowly advanced to the Round of 16, with the stadium celebrating in cheers and hollers.

On the other end, several Japanese players were spotted immediately crying, collapsing on the grass, visibly unable to get up.

In the stands, Japanese fans were equally grief-stricken.

One 55-year-old fan said, "There was still a chance, so to have that chance snuffed out is frustrating," reported France 24.

One fan was caught on broadcast shouting and venting his emotions as he watched his team's elimination.

Despite their win, several Brazilian fans around him tried to comfort him, which many netizens called "true sportsmanship".

Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha was also seen breaking away from his teammates' celebrations to comfort the heartbroken Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka.

Despite another painful exit, ESPN reported that Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu remained optimistic about the team's progress against the football powerhouse.

"The gap between us is closing now."

Ryan Mendes, the 36-year-old football team captain for Cape Verde for the 2026 World Cup, has been accused of raping the team’s translator.

The assault allegedly occurred at a hotel in Auckland, where the team stayed during a trip to New Zealand in March 2026, Globo reported.

The translator’s identity was not disclosed.

Assault

The translator told Globo that the team had hired her to work during the Fifa series, an invitational association football tournament, in New Zealand.

She was apparently invited to a meeting in a hotel room following a match against Chile on Mar. 27.

Upon arrival, the translator reportedly realised it was a social gathering rather than an official team meeting.

She then returned to her room but was allegedly followed by Mendes, who knocked on her door.

When the translator opened the door, Mendes purportedly forced his way into the room and assaulted her.

He reportedly choked, punched, bit and raped her.

Report

The translator reported the incident to the New Zealand police.

She apparently sought treatment at a clinic for survivors of sexual violence and was given a forensic exam.

According to medical reports, she suffered multiple bruises on her breasts, neck, lips and injuries to her scalp.

An examination of her genitals also revealed "two circular lesions, painful to the touch”.

The translator sent this information to the New Zealand police on Apr. 10.

On May 10, she and her husband also lodged complaints to Fifa and the Cape Verdean Football Federation.

They requested that Mendes be barred from participation in the World Cup, alleging rape and citing evidence.

According to the translator, the Cape Verdean Football Federation apparently said this issue was Mendes’ personal problem.

“The Cape Verde Football Federation does not approve of this type of behaviour anywhere. But it remains Ryan's personal problem," an official reportedly said.

She has not received a response from Fifa.

Fifa

According to The Independent, a Fifa spokesperson confirmed that it is "in contact with the New Zealand authorities", but "cannot comment further at this stage".

“Fifa takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident," the spokesperson said.

This comes after Cape Verde’s notable performances in the World Cup.

The team held Spain to a 0-0 draw in its opening match and became the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup’s knockout stage.

A doctor employed by a subsidiary of Singapore Medical Group (SMG) has been fined S$120,000 for insider trading in the group's shares.

The fine was imposed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as a civil penalty, according to a joint statement by MAS and the police on Jun. 30.

Kenneth Chua Han Boon admitted to the offence and paid MAS the civil penalty without court action.

Privatisation deal

At the time of the offence, SMG was listed on the Singapore Exchange, and Chua was a shareholder.

On Sep. 13, 2022, SMG announced that it had received a voluntary conditional general offer from a company to privatise the group.

Chua was one of the few shareholders approached by the offeror before this announcement, and was asked to sign an irrevocable undertaking in favour of the offer.

He was thus informed in advance of this privatisation plan and the intention to expand SMG's operations.

With this information that was not yet publicly available, Chua bought a total of 210,000 SMG shares on Sep. 6 and 7, 2022, at a cumulative cost of S$67,200.

Penalty

MAS and the Commercial Affairs Department of the police launched a joint investigation into the case following a referral from Singapore Exchange Regulation Private Limited.

Apart from paying the civil penalty, Chua also gave a voluntary undertaking not to be a company director or be involved in the management of a company for two years.

Preparatory works for 'Long Island', the country's large-scale coastal protection project, is set to commence from the end of 2026.

The project is a key coastal protection measure aimed at mitigating the risks of rising sea levels and protecting low-lying coastal areas.

Singapore's Housing and Development Board (HDB), the appointed reclamation agent for the project, will implement mitigation measures based on findings from an Environmental Study to minimise the impact of the preparatory works on the environment and community.

The government also remains committed to engaging stakeholders on the planning and design of 'Long Island' before reclamation plans are finalised, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Works to be carried out in phases

In a joint press release on Jun. 30, HDB and URA said preparatory works are necessary to lay the groundwork for future land reclamation, given the scale of the project.

The works will also support the swift implementation of 'Long Island' to strengthen Singapore's resilience against climate change and meet the country's needs.

The preparatory works will take place in waters off the East Coast, at least 130m away from the shoreline, reported CNA.

It will mainly involve removing seabed obstructions, followed by the construction of temporary sand bunds and sand infilling.

The work areas will be located at least 130m from the shoreline and will be clearly demarcated with silt screens or floating barriers.

There will be two phases of preparatory works.

The first phase, scheduled to begin at the end of this year, will cover waters west of Bedok Jetty across an area of approximately 570 ha.

It will span around 7km in length and up to 1km in width.

The second phase, covering around 155 ha east of Bedok Jetty, will commence only after major sporting events such as the 2029 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games have concluded.

While preparatory works are ongoing, the beaches along East Coast Park will remain open to the public.

Visitors can continue to access the beaches for near-shore swimming, while jogging and cycling paths will remain open.

However, sea users are advised to keep a safe distance from marine vessels and designated work areas, which will be cordoned off for safety.

Safety advisories will be displayed at East Coast Park and on agencies' websites.

Environmental study

A study on the potential impact of preparatory works on the environment and the community was commissioned by HDB and began in February 2025.

Conducted by DHI Water & Environment, the study found that the works are not expected to cause significant changes to water quality, which is projected to continue meeting Singapore's prevailing marine water quality standards, CNA reported.

Nature groups were consulted, with their feedback used to refine the study's scope.

Some of the key findings and mitigation measures include:

• Slight localised changes to currents and waves are expected near Bedok Jetty, but will have minimal impact on existing water-based activities;
• Near-shore activities, including swimming, can continue along the entire stretch of the East Coast;
• Sand infilling may result in intermittent sediment plumes and dust, leading to minor visual and air quality impacts. Silt screens will be deployed to contain sediment, while dust levels will be closely monitored; and
• Some coral and seagrass beds near the work site may experience temporary and localised impacts from increased sediment. However, most coral reefs and seagrass habitats in the surrounding area, including those at Sisters' Islands Marine Park, are expected to remain largely unaffected.

According to CNA, HDB said seagrass habitats are generally resilient to temporary increases in water turbidity and are expected to recover without long-term degradation.

HDB further added that there are no sensitive coral communities or intertidal habitats within the preparatory works footprint, and mobile marine species like fish are expected to move away from active work areas.

Macrobenthic communities, including seabed-dwelling organisms such as worms, marine snails and clams, will be displaced within the sand infilling areas.

However, the affected area is relatively small compared to similar habitats in surrounding waters, and recovery is expected outside the work footprint, said HDB and URA.

The agencies also said turtle nesting activities at East Coast Park may be affected, though the nesting grounds east of Bedok Jetty will remain accessible during the first phase.

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The National Parks Board's (NParks) ongoing turtle egg relocation programme to Sisters' Islands is expected to support hatchling survival over the longer term.

Some sea sports users affected

According to the joint release, some sea sports users will be affected due to a temporary reduction in available sea space along East Coast.

The agencies said kiteboarding will experience the greatest impact, while other water sports are expected to face minor to moderate disruptions.

Speaking to CNA, Sport Singapore (SportSG) said East Coast Park remains an "important recreational space with shared memories".

It added that agencies will continue working closely with affected groups to identify alternative locations for their sport activities, including waters east of Bedok Jetty during the interim period, as well as other sites around Singapore.

In the long term, SportSG said the future reservoir and Long Island coastline could potentially accommodate a range of water sports and recreational activities, though this is subject to ongoing technical studies.

An Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan will also be implemented throughout the preparatory works to monitor water quality, suspended sediment levels, noise and dust.

The full Environmental Study report will be available for public feedback for four weeks from Jun. 30.

Detailed design and plans still being refined

HDB and URA emphasised that the areas designated for the preparatory works do not represent the final land profile of Long Island.

Detailed planning for the project, including its final reclamation profile, will continue to evolve through ongoing technical studies and future public consultations, they said.

The main reclamation works will only begin after the relevant studies have been completed, mitigation measures finalised, and feedback from public engagements incorporated into the plans.

Agencies will also continue to engage Singaporeans and stakeholders on the project's planning and design over the next few decades.

Building on ideas gathered from more than 14,000 participants so far, the next phase of public engagement will begin from the end of 2026.

The discussions will focus on strengthening Singapore's flood resilience, supporting sustainable development, as well as ensuring Long Island remains adaptable to the evolving needs of future generations.

Singaporeans will also be invited to share their views on potential recreational uses for the future coastline and reservoir as part of efforts to "shape a shared vision" for Long Island.

Singapore households can expect a 17 per cent increase in electricity tariff from July to September 2026, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) said in a Jun. 30 statement.

The higher prices are due to increased prices of natural gas amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Town gas tariff will also go up by 7.1 per cent.

This was after natural gas prices have gone up sharply since end-February 2026.

It remained elevated throughout April to June, leading to higher costs of producing electricity and town gas, EMA said.

SP Group statement

Grid operator SP Group also said in a statement on Tuesday that electricity prices for homes will go up to 31.91 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) before goods and services tax (GST) — up by 4.64 cents per kWh — from the previous quarter.

A four-room flat household is likely to pay S$17.14 more for its average monthly electricity bill, before GST.

The overall electricity tariff will rise by 17.5 per cent or 4.66 cents per kWh on average, compared with the previous quarter.

This applies to non-households as well.

City Energy statement

City Energy, a piped town gas provider, said separately the gas tariff for households will increase by 1.56 cents per kWh from the previous quarter, to 23.48 cents per KWh, before GST.

Guidelines

EMA, which is the regulator, provides guidelines.

SP Group and City Energy review the electricity and gas tariffs every quarter based on the guidelines.

Electricity and gas tariffs can fluctuate from quarter to quarter, as they are determined based on gas prices in the first 2.5 months of the preceding quarter.

Changes in fuel prices will only show up in the electricity tariffs in the next quarter.

EMA added that consumers on electricity retail contracts may see higher prices at the point of contract renewal during this elevated fuel prices period.

Fuel prices may fall if the situation improves in the Middle East, EMA noted, which results in lower electricity and town gas tariffs in the fourth quarter of the year.