It’s already November, which means only one thing: Christmas decorations popping up everywhere around the streets of Singapore.

But knowing that still didn’t prepare me for running into a giant red cup outside Bugis Junction Fountain Square.

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As it turns out, the giant cup at Bugis Junction Fountain Square was part of CapitaLand Malls' newest Christmas collaboration with Starbucks.

From now till Dec. 31, Starbucks lovers and shoppers can look forward to Singapore's largest Starbucks holiday takeover, with exclusive drinks, interactive experiences, and festive rewards at 16 CapitaLand malls and multiple workspace properties islandwide.

So who is that bear peeking out from behind the cup at Bugis Junction?

Meet the Bearistas

Bringing the festive cheer to the city this year are the five Starbucks Bearistas – from left to right below, they are Brewster, Snowmallow, Star, Jam, and Dasha.

You’ll see the adorable bears popping up across the 16 different malls and with Bearista-themed displays, inflatables, and coffee-inspired installations bringing the holiday joy.

Each Bearista brings its own charm to a different spot.

Shoppers can meet the adventurous Brewster at Bugis Junction and CQ @ Clarke Quay, while Dasha, the spirited one, is just across at Bugis+ and Funan.

And the cheerful Star brings the Christmas joy to Raffles City, making an appearance at a whopping eight metres tall.

At the other participating CapitaLand malls, you’ll also spot classic Starbucks Bearistas donning their signature black caps and festive red aprons.

These cozy holiday-themed displays make for the perfect photo spot to capture the festive joy, like snuggling up with a warm cup of coffee. You can also share your merry moments on social media for a chance to win exciting prizes!

The Bearista Holiday Experience

From Nov. 11 to 22 at Raffles City, things will be taken up a notch with The Bearista Holiday Experience, a full-fledged Starbucks pop-up that will then make its way to Bugis+ from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6.

Hoping to meet all five Bearistas under one roof? At the pop-up, you can do all of that and more – from beautifully curated photo walls to cosy marshmallow-themed décor and plenty of festive moments to discover.

Get up and close with Star, Jam, Brewster, Snowmallow and Dasha, and strike a pose with them at the adorable-yet-festive photo spots.

There will even be a feature wall built from Starbucks’ iconic festive red and white cups, each bearing real stories shared by customers about their favourite Starbucks moments.

Created in celebration of Starbucks’ 30th anniversary, the installation is a tribute to years of shared moments, meaningful connections and cherished memories for communities across Singapore.

Key in the reward code <BEARISTA> on the CapitaStar app to gain access to the Bearista Holiday Experience.

Apart from the Bearistas and photo spots, you can discover Starbucks’ first Create-Your-Own Cold Foam Beverage Bar in Singapore, where you can customize your drinks with exclusive cold foam flavours like Hojicha, Matcha, and Strawberry.

If you’re like me and enjoy a local twist in your coffee, you’ll also love the Kaya Toast Cold Foam served with Buttery Croutons, available exclusively at the Raffles City pop-up from Nov. 11 to 22.

Or for a more traditionally festive mood, try the Chocolate Chip Cookie: Cookie Dough Cold Foam topped with Dark Chocolate Shavings, which will be available only at the Experience at Bugis+ from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6.

Discover the magic of coffee

There’s plenty for curious minds too, with Coffee Discovery Stations at Raffles City and Bugis+ offering a closer look at all things coffee.  

At Raffles City, the Starbucks Roast Spectrum lets you discover how different roast profiles shape flavour, aroma, and character. 

Here, you can enjoy a guided tasting of the seasonal Starbucks Christmas Blend Blonde roast and Dark Roast alongside Starbucks Colombia, paired with a lemon loaf, cookie and cheesecake to highlight each coffee’s unique flavour notes and how the roast changes the coffee experience.

And if tantalising the nose and tastebuds wasn’t enough, visitors get to make their own coffee scrub using repurposed spent coffee grounds.

Meanwhile, at Bugis+, The Art of Aroma - A Coffee Journey Across Origins takes visitors on an interactive exploration of the distinctive flavours and aromas of coffees from Latin America, Africa and Indonesia through an interactive coffee exploration experience.

The Coffee Workshop at Bugis+ also brings geography to the table, where you can compare different aromas from beans across Latin America, Africa and Indonesia, and discover the distinctive flavours characteristic of each region.

As an added bonus, you’ll get to upcycle a used Starbucks paper bag into your very own wallet.

Bearista's Little Wardrobe

Try your hand at the Bearista’s Little Wardrobe and Dress-a-Bearista in a style that’s uniquely yours, exclusive to The Bearista Holiday Experience. You can start off with the Gingerbread Bearista, then personalise it with an additional outfit that best reflects your style.

You will also be able to bring home an exclusive little piece of the festive joy with a specially curated collection of seasonal favourites, and limited-edition collectibles.

And for the quiz lovers, there’s even a Bearista personality quiz where you can discover which Bearista shares your unique charm and your go-to Starbucks drink!

Score limited-edition Bearista stickers from now till Dec. 6,  while stocks last.

Starbucks Rewards Members can also enjoy 10 per cent off Starbucks merchandise with a minimum spend of S$80 at The Bearista Holiday Experience at Raffles City Singapore and Bugis+.

Every merchandise transaction also nets you a buy-one-get-one-free Venti beverage voucher valid at nine participating Starbucks stores in CapitaLand malls, and every S$100 spent wins you an event-exclusive Bearista pin set while stocks last.

Something for everyone

The celebrations don’t just end there.   

You can also look forward to the CapitaLand Malls Exclusive Starbucks Iced Hazelnut Bianco Latte, available at participating CapitaLand malls from Nov. 11 to Dec. 31.

Available in a grande size (for S$8.60), it brings together a smooth blend of hazelnut, milk, white chocolate, and espresso for the ultimate holiday kick.

At participating CapitaLand malls, shoppers can also enjoy up to an eCapitaVoucher of up to S$25 with a minimum spend on weekdays from Nov. 11 to Dec. 24.

Through The Bearista Holiday Experience, shoppers can collect Starbucks Bearista Stamps to fill their festive progress bar by completing a series of activities on the CapitaStar app. 

Those who complete the stamp collection with 30 Starbucks Bearista stamps will stand a chance to win prizes of up to 100,000 STAR$ and exclusive Starbucks merchandise.

There’s even more in store at various CapitaLand malls islandwide, featuring special holiday events and activations over the next few months.

Whether you’re a dedicated coffee lover, a CapitaStar rewards collector, or just looking to enjoy the holidays, this holiday season is looking to be beary delightful.

This branded article by CapitaLand made this writer want to get all caffeinated with his favourite Starbucks cuppa.

Cover photo courtesy of CapitaLand

A Teochew porridge business in Singapore has apologised after its staff at its Katong outlet could not provide a customer with an itemised receipt for a S$180 supper.

In a Facebook post on Nov. 9, Heng Long Teochew Porridge Group said it apologises for the "recent service lapse and dispute over an itemised bill” at its Katong 240 outlet.

Supper

A customer, Martin Ng, posted on Instagram about the dispute on Oct. 28, when he visited the eatery with nine other people for supper.

Ng ordered nine dishes and 12 bowls of porridge, Shin Min Daily News reported.

"When we ordered, we only knew that one fish cost S$20 and the other was S$23," Ng said.

He was apparently told the meal cost more than S$180, but the eatery charged him S$180 when he went to pay.

Ng then asked for an itemised receipt with a cost breakdown as he “just want to understand” how the sum was calculated.

The staff apparently refused, explaining they were unable to provide an itemised receipt.

They then printed a receipt for S$180.

Point of sale

In its apology, the business said “no overcharging took place”.

“We take full responsibility for our inability to promptly provide a detailed breakdown,” the business said.

It also added that it is “actively upgrading” its system and “strengthening training for new staff”.

They attached an image of the updated S$180 receipt, which listed a breakdown of each item and its cost.

“We sincerely apologise to the customer involved and to all of our customers. Thank you for your continued support of Heng Long Teochew Porridge,” the business concluded.

The father of "I Not Stupid" actor Joshua Ang recently passed away.

The 37-year-old actor paid tribute to his father on an Instagram Story on Nov. 10, according to Zaobao.

Ang shared a wedding photo of his parents on his Instagram story and wrote: "Thank you for being my heroes, my guide, my parents. Some love stories never end. They just continue in Heaven."

The actor had shared about a week earlier on Nov. 4 that his father's health had taken a turn for the worse and that doctors had informed the family to be prepared.

He also advised those who knew his father to make their last visits.

Ang's mother had passed in 2009 at the age of 49, 8world reported.

Ang was 20 at the time.

The Singapore police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of 14-year-old boy, Lim Hao Dee.

He was last seen near Block 18 Ghim Moh Road on Nov. 8.

Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-Witness.

All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Grab CEO and co-founder Anthony Tan has been conferred the Datuk title by the Sultan of Selangor.

Tan received the Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS) title from Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Nov. 7, Bernama reported.

The investiture was held at Istana Alam Shah in Klang, as part of celebrations marking 25 years of the Sultan’s reign.

Tan was one of eight DPMS recipients and one of 19 people honoured that day.

He attended the ceremony with his wife, Chloe Tong.

Who gets to be Datuk?

The Datuk honorific is a Malaysian federal title conferred upon individuals of great distinction.

The DPMS, in particular, is conferred by the Sultan of Selangor.

Male recipients are styled Datuk, and female recipients Datin Paduka.

Tan was born in Malaysia in 1982.

His family owns Tan Chong Motor.

He co-founded Singapore-based ride-hailing and delivery start-up Grab in 2012 with co-founder Tan Hooi Ling in Kuala Lumpur.

He later became a Singapore citizen in 2016.

A 26-year-old police officer had his right hand severed by a foreign man after responding to a disturbance at an apartment complex.

The suspect had attacked him using two machetes before escaping from the police.

He was later shot dead.

Attacked

On Nov. 11, the Malaysian police were alerted to a disturbance in an apartment complex in Desa Aman Puri, Kepong at around 7pm.

When they arrived, a foreign man attacked police officers, firefighters and health ministry staff with machetes, resulting in a 26-year-old officer’s right hand being severed.

He also sustained serious injuries to his head and body.

The suspect ran away but was soon found near a playground.

After the suspect attempted to attack the police officers again, he was shot in self-defence.

He was rushed to the hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, South China Morning Post reported.

The injured police officer has since undergone surgery at Kuala Lumpur Hospital and is in stable condition.

A later China Press report stated that he had successfully reattached his hand.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has condemned the attack, wishing the officer a speedy recovery.

He said that all forms of crime and violence, particularly those targeting enforcement personnel entrusted with protecting public safety, were unacceptable.

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has called on Israel to "fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in" to Gaza.

Hamilton, 41, was visiting El Arish, a northern city in Egypt that borders Gaza on Nov. 10 to see first-hand efforts obtaining aid headed for the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera reported that he was welcomed by North Sinai Governor Khaled Megawer and shown aid warehouses.

'Injustice' to be denied freedom

Hamilton later said in a Nov. 12 Facebook post that the "past three years of Israel's genocide in Gaza is appalling".

"It's an injustice for people to being denied their freedom, their safety and their dignity," he said.

"No human being should be treated as though their life matters less."

Israel has strongly denied genocide accusations, arguing that its military operation in Gaza was out of self-defence and to target Hamas militants, Reuters previously reported.

Hamilton added that he saw "walls stretching for miles, built to keep them in".

Noting that he stood outside what felt like an open-air prison, he said all he could think about was getting in to help.

"At Rafah border, I saw food trucks lined up ready to go, but they're regularly not allowed in or face major delays," said Hamilton.

He said that the first driver in line had supposedly been waiting for over 12 hours.

'No excuse'

"At the nearby logistics centre, I saw the hard work of the aid workers, but I also saw what gets rejected for crazy reasons," he added.

Hamilton noted that the items rejected apparently included sleeping bags, first aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs, and even footballs for children.

He said: "Israel needs to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire and let the aid trucks in. No excuse."

"I know so many people feel that same helplessness. That same need to do something rather than just watch. I don't want us to get used to their suffering. I don't want us to look away."

A known advocate for humanitarian causes, Hamilton had previously founded Mission 44 in 2021, Al Jazeera reported.

The charity organisation supports young people's access to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

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Indonesia vice-president Gibran Rakabuming Raka formally submitted his resignation on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, amid growing scrutiny over his educational qualifications following recent court rulings, reported AP news.

Under Indonesia’s constitution, a vice-president who leaves office is not replaced through a public election.

Instead, the president nominates two candidates, and the People’s Consultative Assembly must choose a replacement within 60 days.

Controversy over Gibran's educational qualifications

The controversy centres on whether his overseas education met Indonesia's requirement for vice-presidential candidates to have completed senior high school or an equivalent qualification.

In October, the Constitutional Court found insufficient evidence of an equivalent qualification, but dismissed a petition to remove him.

The Supreme Court subsequently invalidated the education equivalency certificate he used to contest the 2024 election.

The rulings sparked calls for his resignation and impeachment, with more than 100 lawmakers signing a petition challenging his eligibility to remain in office.

Gibran has defended his qualifications and said he would continue pursuing legal action.

Under Indonesia's constitution, President Prabowo Subianto must nominate two candidates, from whom the People's Consultative Assembly will elect a replacement within 60 days of the vice-presidency becoming vacant.

Wheelock Place in Singapore has been renamed as Landmark Orchard.

This was announced by Hongkong Land, a listed property development, investment and management group, on Nov. 12, 2026.

The 21-storey property, which has been in Orchard for more than three decades, was acquired for US$1 billion (S$1.28 billion) by Hongkong Land's Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF) in August 2026.

It is the fund's first acquisition since its establishment in February 2026.

The introduction of Landmark Orchard marks the first use of the "Landmark" name beyond Hong Kong.

Hongkong Land will look to enhance Landmark Orchard, drawing on its experience investing in and managing premium commercial properties across Asia, the press release said.

Landmark Orchard is a mixed-use commercial property comprising office and retail space, with direct connectivity to Orchard MRT station.

It will continue to serve its existing office and retail community under its new name from Nov. 12, the release added.

More than three million DBS PayLah! users can now make QR code payments at over 100 million Alipay and Weixin Pay partner merchants across China after a cross-border expansion by DBS Bank.

Enabled through new partnerships with Ant International and TenPay Global, the feature supports two-way QR functionality—allowing PayLah! users to either scan a merchant's QR code or present their own app-generated QR code to be scanned at checkout.

To scan Alipay+ and Weixin Pay QR codes with DBS PayLah!:

To allow a merchant to scan your DBS PayLah! QR code:

Transactions carry no additional fees and utilise competitive foreign exchange rates.

To ensure full cost transparency before checkout, the PayLah! app displays the exact purchase amount in Chinese Yuan (CNY), the applicable exchange rate, and the final Singapore Dollar (SGD) equivalent prior to user confirmation.

To access the new payment capabilities in China, users need to update their DBS PayLah! app to the latest version.