South African comedian Trevor Noah recently concluded his three-day show in Singapore, held from Nov. 3 to 5.

In addition to cracking jokes on stage, Noah also spent some time at The Sports Arina, a pickleball court at Singapore Expo.

He played among local pickleball enthusiasts, including Singaporean actress Jaime Teo.

In an Instagram post from Nov. 5, Teo described Noah as a "very encouraging partner" although they both were "trashed".

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A post shared by Jaime Teo (@jmeteo)

According to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), a pickleball skill rating system, Noah was given a score of 3.92.

This ranks him as an intermediate player, just 0.08 points short of an advanced player.

Pretty good.

Chinese restaurant Peach Garden has launched a new dim sum menu, where diners can enjoy 50 per cent off on weekdays and 30 per cent off on weekends and public holidays.

The promotion is available at The Heeren, OCBC Centre, and Thomson Plaza from Nov. 5 onwards.

New menu

One highlight is the Siew Mai Platter (S$18++), which consists of six types of dim sum: siew mai with fish roe, coriander and water chestnut, XO sauce scallop, black pepper beef, cheese and smoked duck, and chilli crab.

Other new items include a strawberry-flavoured Little Piglet and fresh milk-flavoured Little Lamb dim sums.

As well as these mango-flavoured Yellow Ducklings.

These dim sum go for S$8.80++ for five pieces.

There are also the Happy Savoury Crispy Bun (S$9.80++), Mao Shan Wang Avocado Bo Lo Bun (S$9.80++) and Vegetarian Assorted Mushroom Black Truffle Dumpling (S$8.80++).

Win up to S$1,000 in vouchers

Peach Garden is also holding the “Oink Oink Meh Meh Challenge” for customers who order the Little Piglet and Little Lamb dim sum items.

In one breath, participants will have to imitate a piglet’s “oink” or a lamb's “meh” for as long as possible.

They will be timed by a staff member.

The top five winners will be announced on Peach Garden’s Instagram and Facebook on Dec. 31.

The first-place winner will be awarded S$1,000 in vouchers, while the remaining four will receive vouchers worth S$500, S$300, S$200 and S$100 respectively.

Promotion details

The promotion is only available for dine-in customers, with blackout dates and other terms and conditions still in place.

All prices are subject to GST and service charge.

The new dim sum platters are available daily while stocks last.

A Singaporean woman linked to transnational scam syndicate Prince Holding Group has been arrested.

44-year-old Chen Xiuling, also known as Karen Chen, was arrested at Changi Airport on Nov. 5, the police said in a media release.

She was handed two charges in court on Nov. 6: one for instigating another person to falsify accounts, and another for an attempt to cheat.

According to the police, Chen was the director of several Singapore-registered companies believed to be owned by Chen Zhi, the founder and chairman of Prince Holding Group, including Skyline Investment Management Pte Ltd and Capital Zone Warehousing Pte Ltd.

She allegedly submitted false documents involving these two companies.

Prince Holding Group was sanctioned by the U.S. and UK in October 2025, with the U.S. designating Chen Zhi as a Specially Designated National, blocking his assets.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) then seized over S$150 million in assets linked to Prince Holding Group that same month.

Chen Zhi was also caught and extradited to China at the start of 2026.

The SPF has seized or frozen a total of over S$700 million in assets related to Prince Holding Group to date, according to its media release.

Illicit activities

The police stated on Nov. 5 that Skyline submitted a business plan and false agreement to JTC Corporation for approval to take over the lease of a property in September 2022.

Chen also allegedly instigated an officer from Capital Zone Warehousing to falsify said agreement, with intent to defraud.

She is also believed to have submitted the false agreement to attempt to cheat JTC Corporation.

CNA reported that when Chen was charged in court on Nov. 6, the prosecution sought a six-day remand for Chen to investigate further.

They argued that she would be able to communicate with other individuals linked to Prince Holding Group and ongoing investigations.

Chen objected and asked to rest at home, but the judge ordered that she remain in remand.

If found guilty of instigating another person to falsify accounts, Chen could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both.

As for the offence of attempted cheating, Chen could receive up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine.

A 94-year-old Singaporean driver who crashed into a motorcyclist along Upper Thomson Road was fined S$5,000 and disqualified from driving for five years.

The man, Goh Boon Kang, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without reasonable consideration to other road users and causing grievous hurt to the victim.

According to the charge sheet seen by Mothership, the accident took place near the junction of Jalan Angklong at around 9:45am on Sep. 2, 2025.

Goh was making a discretionary right turn and failed to give way to a motorcyclist coming from his left, The Straits Times reported.

Footage played in court showed the motorcyclist being thrown off his motorbike onto the road.

Another motorcyclist also nearly crashed into Goh's car but managed to stop in time.

The 58-year-old victim suffered multiple leg fractures as a result of the collision.

He was warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for 32 days before being transferred to a hospital in Malaysia to continue his treatment.

Goh, who used a walking stick in court, was allowed to sit during the proceedings.

Medical checks for older drivers

Under the Road Traffic Act, motorists aged 65 and above who wish to keep their driving licences must undergo medical assessments.

In a written parliamentary reply in July 2026, Senior Minister K Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, said the three-yearly assessment covers a motorist's medical history, vision, hearing, movement and any physical or mental abnormalities.

The assessment is done by a Singapore-registered medical practitioner using a checklist developed by the Traffic Police, based on the Singapore Medical Association's "Fitness to Drive" guidelines.

Large crowds and heavy traffic are expected in Little India during the upcoming Deepavali celebrations, particularly on Nov. 7, the eve of Deepavali.

In an advisory on Nov. 6, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) warned of heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic along Serangoon Road during this period.

The police also reminded the public that drinking alcohol in public during restricted hours, misusing sparklers and illegally discharging fireworks are offences.

Members of the public are also advised to remain vigilant and safeguard their belongings, especially in crowded areas.

Pedestrian crossing closures

To facilitate crowd and traffic management, the pedestrian crossing at Birch Road, in front of Anguilla Mosque, will be closed from 4pm on Nov. 7 to 4am on Nov. 8.

Pedestrians can instead use the crossings near Kitchener Link or Baboo Lane.

The pedestrian crossing at Campbell Lane may also be closed if necessary, with alternative crossings available near Sungei Road or Dunlop Street.

Directional signs will be placed at affected crossings, while auxiliary police officers will be deployed to regulate traffic and assist pedestrians.

Motorists are also advised to use alternative routes and drive with caution.

No public drinking from Nov. 6 to 10

Under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015, Little India and Geylang are declared as Liquor Control Zones.

Public drinking will be prohibited in these areas from 10:30pm on Nov. 6 to 7am on Nov. 10.

The boundaries of the Little India Liquor Control Zone (LCZ) are shown in the map below:

The periods during which public drinking is prohibited in LCZs are also summarised in the table below:

Those caught consuming alcohol in public during the restricted hours within a LCZ may face a fine of up to S$1,500.

Repeat offenders may face a fine of up to S$3,000, imprisonment of up to 4.5 months, or both.

Retailers who sell alcohol outside permitted trading hours may also have their liquor licences revoked.

Police warn against illegal fireworks

SPF reminds the public that the illegal possession, discharge and importation of fireworks are offences under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021.

Under the Act, fireworks are classified as explosives, and their illegal discharge poses a danger to the public and their property.

A total of 45 people were investigated for fireworks-related offences between January and December 2025.

Individuals convicted of such offences may face up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to S$50,000, while entities may face a fine of up to S$100,000.

Misuse of sparklers can also lead to penalties

The police also warned against misusing sparklers, including combining multiple sparklers together, as such acts pose fire hazards and could cause serious injuries.

Those convicted of rash or negligent conduct involving dangerous or harmful substances that is likely to cause injury or endanger life may face up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

If the act causes hurt to another person, the offender may face up to three years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Keep your belongings safe

The police shared several crime prevention tips for those heading to Little India:

• Keep an eye on your belongings at all times, especially in crowded areas.
• Ensure your bag is closed and sling it in front of you.
• Avoid keeping your wallet in your back pocket.

Those who require urgent police assistance can approach a police officer or call 999.

GovTech will renew its capabilities and play a critical role in leading the Singapore government's digital transformation, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the agency's 10th anniversary dinner on Nov. 5, 2026.

GovTech's expertise should be extended to rest of public service

In order for GovTech to do so, it has to remain a place where people with deep expertise and a strong sense of purpose can deepen their craft, take on challenges and do meaningful work, PM Wong said.

Part of its renewal is the recent restructuring exercise, which has been "a difficult period" for some officers, he added.

"We will continue to support the affected officers as they acquire new skills and prepare for new opportunities, whether within GovTech or outside," he said.

However, the expertise developed in GovTech has to be embedded across the wider public service.

This is why GovTech has been bringing its product and engineering capabilities closer to frontline agencies and the effort to extend GovTech's expertise and capabilities to the rest of the government will continue.

PM Wong said:

"Ultimately, our goal is not simply to have a strong tech agency. It is to have a technologically strong government. A government where technology is integral to policymaking; where policymakers understand what technology can enable; where technologists understand the policy objectives and operational realities; and where both can work together to deliver better outcomes for Singaporeans."

Thanked past and present GovTech officers for hard work

At the dinner, PM Wong also thanked past and present GovTech officers for their contribution and hard work.

Useful digital products, such as TraceTogether, SafeEntry and the vaccination booking system, helped the nation tide through the Covid-19 pandemic, PM Wong recalled.

However, what stayed with him the most was the dedication of the officers who worked on these products under high pressure:

"We saw the value of these capabilities during the Covid pandemic. It all sounds like a bad dream now, or even a nightmare, but many may still remember digital products like Trace Together, Safe Entry or the vaccination booking system. But what stayed with me most was the people behind them – the teams working under tremendous pressure, solving problems quickly and doing whatever was needed to support our national response. It showed what we can achieve when we combine technological expertise with a strong sense of mission and the determination to get things done."

Integrating technology and policymaking

PM Wong also said technology cannot be an afterthought in policymaking.

He encouraged GovTech officers to not only go beyond implementing what policy makers want, but to become active partners in solving public policy problems.

This means that GovTech officers need to understand the policy intent, and not be afraid to challenge assumptions or suggest different approaches.

"Sometimes, the best solution is not more sophisticated technology, but a simpler policy," PM Wong said.

Policymakers have to develop a better understanding of what technology can or cannot do as well.

"The aim is not to master all the technical details. It is to develop the instincts to ask the right questions, appreciate the possibilities and constraints, and understand how technology can help shape better policy choices," PM Wong added.

Two male Chinese nationals were both sentenced to 14 months’ jail each for breaking into a temple in Balestier and stealing S$300 from a donation box.

Liao Yongzhan, 43, and Liao Quanwan, 50, were each charged with two theft-related offences.

Both men pleaded guilty and were sentenced on Nov. 3.

Rich country

In court documents seen by Mothership, Yongzhan and Quanwan were friends who knew each other in China and came to Singapore together as part of a tour group.

Investigations revealed that sometime in March 2026, both men decided to come to Singapore to gamble and commit theft, believing Singapore was a “rich country”.

They arrived in Singapore with a tour group and brought items, such as improvised fishing tools made with string and sticky tape.

These tools were designed to descend into box holes and attach to the money inside.

The user would then pull the string up to extract the money attached to the sticky tape.

Temple

On Apr. 2, between 1:15am and 4:30am, Yongzhan and Quanwan entered Burmese Buddhist Temple located at Balestier by climbing over its fences.

After searching the premises, they found the temple’s donation boxes.

The men then used their improvised tools and removed about S$300 from the donation boxes.

While they were doing so, one of the temple’s Buddhist lecturers, who happened to be walking through the temple grounds late at night to get water, saw the men and shouted at them.

Yongzhan and Quanwan quickly ran off, climbed the temple’s fence, and fled the scene.

Flee

After fleeing, both men discarded their improvised tools into a drain and took a taxi to their hotel room.

They packed their bags and travelled straight to Changi Airport to take an earlier flight back to China.

The men spent the money they stole on plane tickets back to China.

No restitution has been made to date.

Arrest

Sometime in August 2026, both men decided to return to Singapore.

They intended to gamble, sightsee and commit another theft in the country.

On Aug. 17, both men boarded a plane from China and landed at Changi Airport, where they were arrested.

Deterrence

The prosecution sought 10 to 14 months’ jail for both men.

They said that the men’s sentences needed to act as a deterrence.

“The sentences imposed in this case must send the unequivocal message that foreigners who target Singapore as a platform for crime, and who prey on places of religious worship, will face the full weight of the law that their odious crime deserves,” the prosecution said.

The prosecution added that the theft was committed at a place of religious worship and was “particularly reprehensible”, and cited a “high degree of planning and premeditation” in their actions.

This was evident as the duo prepared equipment to “consummate their crime”.

“The prosecution respectfully submits that the sentences sought are just, proportionate, and necessary to deter like-minded persons (both local and foreign) from committing such abhorrent misdeeds,” they concluded.

Japanese yakiniku chain Gyu-Kaku announced that it will permanently close its last Singapore outlet at Chijmes.

It has been operating in Singapore for more than two decades.

In an Instagram post on Nov. 3, the chain said its final day of operations will be on Nov. 15, 2026.

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A post shared by Gyu-Kaku Singapore (Official) (@gyukaku.sg)

“To all our valued customers, thank you for being part of our journey. Your continued patronage, loyalty, and support over the years have made every moment truly special,” the post’s caption read.

Customers with unused rewards under their loyalty programmes can still redeem them until Nov. 15.

Gyu-Kaku is best known for its Japanese yakiniku experience, where patrons can grill their own selection of meats and other delectable items directly on a flame grill built into their tables.

This follows Gyu-Kaku's closure of its other Singapore outlets at Waterway Point and Kinex in March, The Star Vista in May, and VivoCity in September.

Additionally, the chain has also previously closed its outlets at UE Square, The Centrepoint, and Novena Square in 2025.

The reasons for the closure of its final outlet remain unclear.

A man in Singapore, Huang Bocan, was sentenced to life in prison for fatally starving and beating his 19-year-old sister, Huang Baoying, in 2021.

Post-trial, the parents of the siblings have expressed regret.

Speaking to the media after the Nov. 5 court hearing, they said in Mandarin that Bocan was a mature person who took care of his sister.

A close family friend who accompanied them at court added that Bocan would often take his sister out and buy her drinks.

The siblings were very close, the friend added.

However, over four months from February to May 2021, Bocan and two other accomplices subjected Baoying to "full-blown torture and abuse", in the words of the prosecution.

How they met

The four of them met in 2018 through a nutritional health products company run by Chee Mei Wan, one of the co-accused and Bocan's girlfriend at the time.

In 2020, they all moved into the home of the other co-accused, Lim Peng Tiong, at Clementi West Street 1.

As a form of "punishment", Bocan, Chee, and Lim confined Baoying to a toilet, deprived her of food, and beat her on multiple occasions until she died on May 5, 2021.

They "tortured her in cruel and inhumane ways", the judge said when delivering the sentence on Nov. 4.

Lim was previously sentenced to 14 years and 11 months' jail for culpable homicide not amounting to murder while Chee's case was still pending.

Smart and did good deeds

When asked about Bocan's personality, his parents said he had a "kind heart" and often did volunteer work overseas.

"He always did good deeds," the family friend said.

Bocan's father recalled that his son was very good to him and his wife as he would give them money before the Covid-19 pandemic.

His parents, who work at a factory, shared that Bocan was smart and did well in polytechnic, getting a GPA of 3.9.

He received a scholarship to study a computer-related degree at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

After Bocan was sentenced on Nov. 4, the parents were granted permission to speak to him for a while.

They shared with reporters that Bocan told them to take care of themselves as they were getting old.

Cut off communication

The Huang siblings moved into Lim's house in 2018 after a rift with their father about the health products they were buying from Chee's company.

Outside the courtroom, their father told reporters they spent a lot of money on the products.

They spent about S$1,000 to S$2,000 per month, according to court documents.

When they moved out, the parents did not know where they were staying.

The siblings did not give their parents the address, the family friend said.

They would not answer the parents' calls and messages either.

The parents said their main way of checking in on their children then was through Chee, whom they referred to as "coach".

Regretful

As Bocan and Baoying were good children, their parents did not worry much about them, and focused on their own work.

This made their mother feel regretful.

She urged other parents to put more emphasis on their family and children, and not focus only on work.

United States defense secretary Pete Hegseth may be the first casualty of the fallout following the Republican Party's resounding midterm election defeat.

CBS News, citing "multiple sources familiar with the matter", reported that President Donald Trump has been canvassing his advisors on whether Hegseth should stay in his job.

Blaming the war with Iran

Hegseth, along with head of U.S. Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine appear to be taking the blame for their roles in the Iran war.

Vice President JD Vance has pinpointed the war as a major reason for the Republican Party's catastrophic losses at the polls.

According to CNN, Vance's assessment is shared by many Republican lawmakers and allies, who are arguing that Hegseth played a central role in convincing Trump to launch the attack against Iran without an exit strategy.

Yet, when asked if he would replace Hegseth, Trump told reporters, "No, I think he's doing a very good job".

Hegseth to the Senate?

Hegseth is also likely to face impeachment proceedings, with Thomas Massie, an anti-Trump Republican congressman, planning to trigger a vote to impeach Hegseth next week.

Democrats were already attempting to remove the controversial defence secretary before the mid-term elections.

Hegseth may, however, find a soft landing should he leave his post.

CBS News reported that he could be appointed to fill Tennessee's Senate seat, which will be vacated by Marsha Blackburn when she takes office as governor.