A diner in a restaurant in Singapore opted for a questionable place to rinse his hands midway through his meal – at his table.

The man, who was dining with a female patron, was seen pouring water onto his hands from a plastic bottle, letting the water drip onto the ground.

He also flicked his hands a few times away from the table before going back to his food.

The woman appeared unaffected by the actions.

Ironically, the pair was seated near the restaurant's basin.

A staff member was then seen walking to the table with a mop to clean up the wet spot.

Restaurant responds

In an Instagram post, the restaurant, DK Signatures by Deanna’s Kitchen, posted a CCTV clip of the incident.

"Just a gentle reminder that we actually have a wash basin near the entrance of our restaurant, as well as a toilet at the back. We provide hand soap and tissues too!" the caption wrote.

It added that the washing facilities were installed precisely for customers who wish to wash their hands after using them to eat.

It then called out the "unhygienic" act of washing hands at the table, adding that the wet floor also poses a slipping hazard for customers and staff, who would have to clean up the mess.

"I think it’s really just basic consideration for the people around us, especially those who are working hard to keep the restaurant clean and comfortable for everyone."

Netizens took to the comment section to express their dismay at the diner's behaviour, with most similarly condemning his inconsideration.

"I was there! Saw the whole thing. So close to flip their table but my slice fish soup was too good," one commenter wrote.

Clarifications

The restaurant made a second post the next day, clarifying questions raised in the comment section of the first video.

The couple featured were local Singaporeans, it said, adding that "bad dining etiquette has nothing to do with race or nationality".

It also called for netizens to stop speculating about the couple's origins.

Responding to earlier questions about why no one approached the couple at the time, the restaurant's owner, Deanna, said she and her husband were not at the restaurant when the incident happened, and only found out afterwards.

The restaurant's staff are also trained to provide the best service and avoid confrontations with customers, she added.

"In this particular situation, I think they were genuinely at a loss as to what to do."

She said that it was the very first time she had encountered such a thing after 10 years in the Food and Beverage industry.

Finally, the post clarified that the point of sharing the video was to act as a reminder to diners about basic dining etiquette and to be considerate of others.

It was neither to shame anyone nor to start a discussion about race or nationality, the post emphasised.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by DK Signatures by Deanna’s Kitchen (@deannaskitchensg)

On Oct. 31, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat spoke at the launch of the Toa Payoh West Master Plan exhibition at the HDB Hub atrium and gallery space.

He encouraged residents to participate in the exhibition and engagement exercise to help shape the future development of the neighbourhood, and said that the government sought to retain the strong community spirit and sense of belonging that made Toa Payoh special.

Evolution

In his speech, he talked about how Toa Payoh has evolved over the years to meet residents' changing needs. Because of that, when the government plans and rejuvenates towns, it looks beyond individual housing projects.

Instead, it plans the town as a whole, including homes, transportation, shopping, exercise, and healthcare, as well as “where children can play, and where neighbours can meet and spend time together.”

Chee said that Toa Payoh West, located around Caldecott MRT station, will “grow into a vibrant community with more homes, amenities, green spaces, and recreational facilities.”

Chee said that in the November 2026 BTO sales exercise, HDB would launch the Toa Payoh Hillside BTO development, which he said would “anchor” the Toa Payoh West rejuvenation.

HDB has announced that the new Toa Payoh Hillside BTO development would have about 1,600 new flats, part of the broader plan for Toa Payoh West, which would see over 6,000 homes, mostly comprised of public housing.

Chee said that the Toa Payoh Hillside development would have a wide range of flats, including 2-room Flexi and 4-room flats.

It would also include public rental flats as well as Toa Payoh’s first community care apartments (CCA) for seniors.

Chee said that the mix was important and deliberate, allowing HDB towns to remain inclusive communities where “Singaporeans of different ages and backgrounds can live alongside one another.”

Community Care Apartments

There would be 260 CCA units available for application, which combine senior-friendly housing with care and social support, allowing seniors to live independently while receiving additional support when they need it.

From the November 2026 sales exercise, the eligibility age for CCAs would be lowered from 65 to 55 years old, giving seniors more time to plan ahead.

The environment around CCAs was also designed with seniors in mind, with the CCA block being connected to Caldecott MRT station and nearby amenities such as the Active Ageing Centre and Residents’ Network Centre.

Future residents could also look forward to a range of amenities and facilities in the area, such as a mixed-use development that integrates homes with Toa Payoh’s first shopping mall, as well as community spaces.

A new wellness park would provide green spaces for residents to play, exercise, and unwind, and plans for a new school in the area were being studied to meet growing demand from families moving into Toa Payoh West.

A second heart for Toa Payoh

Chee said that these plans would transform Toa Payoh West into a vibrant new community and into a second heart for Toa Payoh.

He also emphasised that good town planning meant listening to residents and the importance of the exhibition and engagement exercise.

He encouraged residents to take a look at the plans, speak with HDB and People's Association representatives, share their views, and take part in activities.

Residents' feedback would help the government refine plans and “shape a Toa Payoh that continues to meet you and your family's needs in the years ahead".

After supper one night, a man requested a receipt for his meal with nine other people.

However, the man claimed the store refused to give an itemised receipt and gave him a receipt for a total of S$180.

Taking to Instagram, Martin Ng shared on Oct. 28 that he visited Heng Long Teochew Porridge at Tanjong Katong with nine others for supper.

When he went to pay, he was told that the total would be S$180.

Ng then asked for a receipt, but the store refused to provide a receipt with a breakdown of each dish. They provided only a "lump sum receipt" for S$180.

Nine dishes

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Ng said that they ordered a total of nine dishes and 12 bowls of porridge.

This included two steamed fish, minced meat, braised pork, fish cakes, and sweet and sour pork.

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

When Ng went to pay, he was apparently told the meal cost more than S$180, but the store would charge him a flat S$180.

This surprised him, so he asked for a receipt with a cost breakdown of the items.

"I just want to understand how the price is calculated," Ng said.

At first, the staff refused, explaining that they were unable to provide a detailed receipt.

When Ng asked again, the staff just printed a receipt for S$180.

At first, Ng wanted to call the police on the spot, but his friends talked him out of it, Shin Min Daily News reported.

In the end, Ng shared his experience on Instagram.

In the comments, when some users pointed out that the total cost did not seem that expensive, Ng said it wasn't about the cost but asked if it was "really too much to ask for a breakdown of the receipt?"

Prices clearly marked

In response to Shin Min Daily News, the store manager, Gao (transliteration), said all prices were clearly marked.

He explained that the receipt system, which they have used for about 10 years, was outdated, so employees could not provide detailed receipts.

If customers asked, employees could explain each item and state the food price.

However, based on feedback, Gao said they will gradually upgrade their system so they can show a breakdown of each item.

When Mothership visited the store on Nov. 1, a meal consisting of steamed egg, one serving of vegetables and one serving of meat cost S$5.

The receipt showed a total of S$5, with no breakdown of each item's cost.

Over S$354,000 has been raised for the six-year-old child of a couple whose lives were claimed in a fatal hit-and-run at Tampines Avenue 12 on Oct. 29.

The victims, both 24, died after a car crashed into their motorcycle and another car before fleeing the scene.

The woman was reportedly one month pregnant at the time of the accident.

A 30-year-old man has since been charged with dangerous driving causing death, alongside eight other charges.

A gag order, imposed on the victims' identities on Oct. 31, prevents the media from reporting the names, photographs and any other identifying information of the victims.

Over S$350,000 raised

As of 3pm on Nov. 1, the fundraiser on Give.Asia has raised S$354,093.

It was set up by the cousin of the deceased man to support the couple's six-year-old orphaned son financially, in the hopes of helping him with daily expenses, education, healthcare and other necessities as he grows up.

The cousin wrote that she had always regarded the male victim "as my little brother".

"I watched him grow up right before my eyes, and he has been part of our family for as long as I can remember."

According to her, the man was adopted by the family after losing his biological father in 2009, when he was just eight.

His biological mother also passed away in 2022.

He and his wife had also been making plans to apply for a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat and were looking forward to the next chapter of their lives together, the fundraiser's descriptor wrote.

"It is heartbreaking to know that his son will now have to grow up without his mummy and daddy, just as his father had experienced the loss of a parent at such a young age."

While the victim's cousin wrote that "no amount of money can replace the love of a mother and father", she said that the community can come together to make sure he receives the support he needs and opportunities he deserves as he grows up.

"He has lost his parents, but he still has family who love him, and a community that can come together to look after his future."

A man in China who had almost no relatives to attend his wedding decided to make a public invitation on the internet.

Thousands answered the call, travelling from all across China to participate in what was dubbed the "wedding of the century".

Many brought gifts, while others arrived days in advance to help with wedding preparations.

Tough childhood

24-year-old Xu Chenghong, known by his Douyin handle "Xiao Xiao Xu", had a tough childhood in Yunnan, China.

According to a video he posted on Douyin, his father passed away when he was three while his mother remarried two years later.

Xu's grandmother also passed away two years later, leaving Xu and his older brother to depend on each other.

Because of these incidents, Xu refers to himself as an "orphan".

After dropping out of junior high school, he grew up working odd jobs like delivery and construction, eventually saving up enough money for his wedding.

Fearing that the couple's lack of close relatives meant that the wedding would be a quiet affair, Xu posted a video on Douyin on Oct. 25, inviting netizens to attend the wedding banquet on Oct. 31.

He was expecting 10 to 20 attendees from around the area.

Grand celebration

The day before the wedding, thousands of guests showed up.

According to a Sichuan news outlet that attended the event, the wedding's lively atmosphere could be heard from at least a kilometre away, while vehicles lined the rural roads as part of the wedding procession.

Cars with licence plates from provinces like Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangdong and Fujian were also seen at the venue.

An attendee told the media outlet that he had travelled from Guangdong after being moved by Xu's video.

"It has not been easy for him. We just wanted to come and join in the fun and support him," the man said, adding that he invited others along on their long journey to Yunnan.

The wedding square was also reportedly decorated with wedding banners.

According to Chinese media outlet The Paper, guests brought food like pork and vegetables, freezers and heaters were delivered, others helped with setting up the venue, and some offered photography, styling and makeup services.

Chefs showed up to cook meals for free, while volunteers helped to coordinate the event.

Xu's brother also partook in the preparations, providing directions and assistance to guests where he could.

"People have come all this way, and what I fear most is not letting them eat well," he told the media.

A 23-year-old man in Hawaii chased a woman and picked her up in an alleged attempt to kidnap her.

However, the woman broke free.

Surveillance cameras captured the entire incident, and police subsequently arrested the man.

He has since been charged with kidnapping.

According to the Honolulu Police Department, the incident took place on Oct. 26 at around 12pm in Waikiki.

The police stated that a female was grabbed by an unknown male who tried to carry her to his vehicle.

The woman broke free, and the man fled the scene in his car.

At about 2:39pm, police located and arrested the man.

The man was charged with kidnapping, and his bail was set at US$500,000.

Running naked

According to local news outlet Hawaii News Now, the suspect was identified as 23-year-old Diesel Kawelo.

Kawelo parked his vehicle, left one door open, and stalked two women, 24 and 77, from behind.

He then picked up the 24-year-old woman and carried her for a short distance, said the police.

In the surveillance footage, the woman could be seen struggling.

The police added that the woman was pulling his hair and screaming for help.

Kawelo then dropped the woman about 1.2m away from his vehicle and fled the scene.

Witnesses said the woman broke free after nearby neighbours stepped in, Hawaii News Now reported.

One neighbour told the news outlet that she saw a man "bear-hugging" the vicim and dragging the victim to the back of his truck.

The neighbour shared that she started screaming at the man to drop the victim and noted that the victim was also "screaming for her life".

Another neighbour yelled at him to let her go and said he called the police.

Hawaii News Now stated that Kawelo was later arrested, and the police said he was running naked before they detained him.

The U.S. woman who survived two doses of lethal injection has come out to share about her recovery, stating that "there hasn't been a moment since that night when [she hasn't] been in pain."

According to CNN, Christa Pike said in a written statement that her body, arms, hands and throat hurt and she struggles to speak.

"And the pain isn't just physical," she added. "There is pain in my mind and in my soul."

Prepared to die

In her statement, Pike said that she was "prepared to die", but she woke up in the hospital confused and in pain, CNN reported.

Pike has since returned to prison after a 10-day hospitalisation, her lawyers stated.

Pike added in her statement that she has been largely isolated in the prison's medical ward, away from others and the "human connections that mean so much to me".

"That isolation brings its own kind of pain. I spent 28 years in solitary confinement and much of what I am experiencing today is a repeat of that condition."

Her crime

In 1995, Pike, her boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp, and her friend Shadolla Peterson lured the victim, Colleen Slemmer, to an isolated area of the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville Campus.

Peterson acted as the lookout as Pike and Shipp tortured Slemmer for at least 30 minutes.

They finally killed her by using a block of asphalt to smash her head, with Pike keeping a piece of her skull.

Pike’s execution would have made her the first woman to be put to death in Tennessee in over 200 years.

Survived

Pike was scheduled to be executed in Tennessee, U.S., on Sep. 30, but she remained alive after two rounds of lethal injection.

Pike could be heard ‘snoring’ after her attempted execution before the microphone was shut off, and she was taken by an ambulance from the prison.

Media witnesses were allowed to observe from a separate room, and they saw Pike strapped to a gurney when officials raised the curtain to the execution chamber at about 7.30pm as reported by CNN.

She was reportedly speaking in full sentences as she was about to be administered with deadly drugs, and was heard saying, “My arm feels like it’s about to bust. One spot is really throbbing,”

Her first dose of the lethal drug, pentobarbital, was administered. About an hour after she was given the first injection, a second dose was administered at around 8.30pm.

She could be heard snoring until microphones were cut off at about 9pm, and witnesses were asked to leave at that time.

According to the New York Post, in Tennessee, prison officials prepare one set of the lethal injection, but have enough of the drug on hand to prepare a second set if needed.

There is a five-minute waiting period after the first set is given, during which the blinds to the execution chamber are closed.

If the inmate does not die after the first set, the second set will be administered. However, the protocol does not give instructions on what to do if the second injection fails.

The Tennessee Department of Correction said that it followed all protocols during the failed execution.

Pike is the only person to survive after receiving the drugs, the Death Penalty Information Centre stated.

Following the failed execution, Tennessee's governor ordered an investigation into what went wrong, said CNN.

Related story

A pair of Singaporean brothers running a hawker stall in Chinatown Complex had earlier decided to shutter the business after just five months.

Scott Lee, 29, and Troy Lee, 31, had quit their finance jobs to open the Singaporean-Malaysian yong tau foo stall.

The impending closure announcement had come as a shock to some customers, Scott told Shin Min.

Good news for those folks then, as "New Horse Noodles" will continue running, at least for now.

The younger Lee surprised his customers by announcing that he had decided to resume business, albeit without his older brother.

70 hours a week

Before becoming hawkers, the two owners of "New Horse Noodles" worked stable jobs in the finance industry.

Scott was a fintech product manager while Troy was a stock trader, according to Lianhe Zaobao.

The pair sold handmade Hakka yong tau foo, as well as Malaysian-style dry noodles.

But the work turned out to be more tiring than the brothers had anticipated, with the first day of business attracting more customers than they were prepared for.

An accumulation of daily tasks, such as washing hundreds of bowls a day, also began to wear them down.

On top of that, they were making much less than they did previously despite working 70 hours a week,.

"More effort, less pay," Troy described the experience.

By August, the pair started considering shuttering the business.

They had earlier made an announcement that their last day of business would be on Oct. 25 as they "did not wish to live this kind of life in the long term".

Reopening

On Oct. 23, Scott posted a video on the stall's Facebook page that he had decided to keep the stall running, though without his brother.

He announced that he would hire a stall assistant in order to focus on serving customers.

"We can't promise that we'll be here forever, so we'll just take it one month at a time lor," he said.

The younger Lee added that he had received a lot of support from customers after his initial closing announcement.

"I see this trade as something that is more than just food. I see it as I'm building relationships with all my customers, and that's the part I love the most."

He resumed operations alone on Oct. 26, according to another Facebook post.

On Oct. 27, he updated customers that the stall would be opening six days a week, with the exception of Fridays, instead of the previous five days per week.

The change is to accommodate the higher costs of running the stall after hiring an assistant, he explained.

A teacher in New Jersey pleaded guilty to having sex with a student.

Laura Caron engaged in sexual activities with the teen from 2016 to 2020.

Investigators said she sexually assaulted the boy since he was 11.

Caron would then end up having a daughter in 2019. This would be when the boy was 13.

The boy was an ex-student of Caron from when she was teaching in elementary school.

According to media reports, the sexual relations were only uncovered in 2024, when the father of the victim claimed Caron's then-5-year-old child "closely resembled him and his son", prompting an inquiry and subsequent investigation.

Caron pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child with sexual conduct. She will face a 5-year-sentence, a forfeiture of her teaching license, and a lifetime parole supervision.

According to The New York Post, the victim, now 21, has defended Caron, and claimed he was the one who initiated the sexual encounters.

However, the victim was underaged then, making consent legally irrelevant.

Chipotle is opening their first restaurant in Southeast Asia at Jewel Changi Airport in 2027.

Chipotle is a chain of fast-casual restaurants that specialises in customisable burritos, burrito bowls and tacos.

Chipotle had announced their intentions to open a while back, but did not confirm a location then.

According to a press release by Chipotle Singapore, the brand is operated by S&C Restaurants Holdings, a joint venture between Chipotle and Big Bite Company.

Big Bite Company, on the other hand, is an affiliate of Sangmidang Holdings, which already owns many major brands, including Paris Baguette.

Further information on the exact opening date, menu and launch activities will be revealed closer to the opening.