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Singaporeans are getting 50-80% price discounts to enjoy delicious unsold food through new surplus food app

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SINGAPORE: If you’re someone who hates waste, loves to eat, and wants to do your bit to save the planet, then the Yindii app is just for you.

The surplus food app, made available to Singaporeans just a few months ago, allows diners to “rescue” yummy but yet-unsold food from food and beverage establishments for half the price or even at an 80 per cent discount.

It truly feels like an all-win proposition. Not only does using Yindii help businesses, but it also helps the environment and your wallet and satisfies your tummy.

Yindii, also available in Hong Kong and Thailand, says, “Save the planet by doing what you love the most… EATING.”

Fb screengrab/ Yindii Singapore

The company’s mission is to raise awareness concerning the alarming amount of food waste generated— perhaps as much as one-third each day — and empower everyone to contend for a greener planet “one meal at a time.”

A world “where no food produced gets wasted,” as Yindii’s vision statement says.

The company is endeavouring to make this happen through its merchant partners. Together with them, Yindii offers surprise bags at least half their original price.

“You won’t know exactly what’s inside, but you’ll be making a big impact by reducing waste and promoting sustainability!” Yindii says.

A number of high-profile F & B establishments have already partnered with Yindii, including Paul’s Boulangerie, Park Backerei, Delifrance, So France, The Providore, Baker & Cook, Supergreen, Avorush, Heybo, Crust & Crumbs, Pita Bakery, Duke Bakery, Saladstop, Pita House, Celine Gelato, Windowsill Pies, Edith Patisserie, Chicken Pie Kitchen, and Sarah’s Loft.

To join the band of Yindii-loving earth savers is as easy as 1-2-3.

One, download the Yindii app here.

Two, choose your favourite F & B place among the company’s partner merchants and place your order.

Three, pay for your order and pick it up at their store at the end of the day.

Each kilo of food bought through the Yindii app, instead of being thrown away, is equal to 2.5 kilos of carbon dioxide emissions offset.

@flatburgersflatbuns

(one of) MY FAV BAKERIES IN SG 🥯🥖🥐🍞 watch till the end to find out how to get MORE THAN 50% OFF THEIR BREADS 🤫🤐 #bread #breadsg #dukebakery #sgfood #sgfoodie #sgfoodporn #sgfoodtrend #bakerysg #yindii #yindiiapp #sgtiktok #sgfoodiesfyp #sgfoodies #fyp #fypシ゚ #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp

♬ APT. – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

Some Instagram users share how Yindii has worked for them, like the woman below who got 55 per cent off on four pies from Chicken Pie Kitchen.

The photos in the featured image above are from @flatburgersflatbuns on TikTok. /TISG

Read related: S’pore households can reduce their S$342m worth of food waste every year

“So unprofessional!” — S’poreans call out wedding photographers who ruined a couple’s proposal moment by shouting instructions at them

SINGAPORE: Getting engaged is one of the most memorable occasions in a couple’s life; a moment, quite understandably, they want to remember with joy.

This is probably why many Singaporeans sympathized with a couple when their photographer, who was paid S$4000, spoke so loudly during the proposal that it ruined the couple’s moment.

Twitch livestreamer @julynnlao posted videos of this particular ruined moment over Instagram and TikTok recently, getting hundreds of thousands of views, plus a whole lot of comments and reactions from netizens.

@julynnlau

😮‍💨😮‍💨

♬ original sound – Julynn Lau – Julynn Lau

“POV: Your photographer thinks she’s the main character of the proposal and missed the most important part of the engagement,” Ms Lao wrote.

Indeed, in a loud and rather strident voice, the photographer can be heard in the background directing what should have been an intimate and spontaneous moment.

The scene had certainly been set beautifully. The young couple is on the beach at night in front of a lit sign that reads, “Marry me.”

While it can be argued that Ms Lau knew what was coming and the whole shebang was no longer a surprise to her, she nevertheless deserved her precious moment with her boyfriend.

As her boyfriend addressed Ms Lau tenderly, the photographer can be heard calling out, “You can just kneel down already, kneel down.”

Being interrupted, her boyfriend asks the photographer, “Now?” to which the photographer answers him with, “Ya ya, just do it ya.”

As he proposes to her while telling her she’ll no longer be his girlfriend but his fiancée and asking her to marry him, the photographer can still be heard talking to other people, and her voice is louder than the couple’s.

“Wide shot, wide shot, wide shot,” a man’s voice, presumably part of the photography team, can be heard.

Ms Lao added they had to do the voiceover for the entire proposal again afterwards because the photography team had been so loud.

“If this happened to your proposal, what would you do?” she asked.

Perhaps one of the most exasperating parts of the video is when the boyfriend puts an engagement ring on Ms Lau’s finger, and the photographer can be heard calling out for Ms Lau to move her hair away from her face for a better shot.

Ms Lau’s expression, which had been tender and joyous, suddenly stiffened. However, this seems to be only one part of what happened, and Ms Lau asked if she should post a “Part 2.”

Commenters on her video expressed how sorry they were that this had happened to the couple and called the photographers for their insensitive service and poor behaviour.

“The couple needs an official apology statement and full refund!!!” wrote one, while another said it was very “unprofessional on the photographer’s part.”

One photographer in the comments section had this take: “As a photographer … this makes me cry 😢 this might be our portfolio, but it’s a milestone memory of their lifetime.” /TISG

Read also: Celebrity photographer Walter Tan thanks Mediacorp artist Desmond Tan for his big break

Singapore’s job hiring activities fall 5% YoY amid stagnation in shipping, consumer goods, engineering, real estate, and oil & gas sectors 

SINGAPORE: The overall job hiring activities in Singapore fell by 5% compared to the same time last year amid stagnation in sectors such as shipping, consumer goods, engineering, real estate, and oil & gas, the Singapore Business Review reports.

However, September hiring activity rose by 7%, according to foundit.

In terms of the month-on-month (MoM) increase, the education sector led hiring as it rose 4% MoM, driven by more investments from the government and private companies.

The retail, trade and logistics, import, export, sectors also saw a 3% MoM increase in hiring.

In contrast, the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) and the media and entertainment industries declined. The BFSI sector saw a 2% MoM drop, while media and entertainment fell by 1% MoM.

Looking at specific job roles, marketing and communications professionals saw the highest demand, with a 44% year-on-year (YoY) increase and a 30% MoM rise.

Purchase, logistics, and supply chain roles also had a 29% increase, while finance and accounts roles grew by 11%, and legal positions increased by 9%.

However, demand for sales and business development roles fell by 13% MoM. Meanwhile, roles in software, hardware, telecom, and healthcare were among the least in demand. /TISG

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

30yo man earning S$90-100K/year in MNC says he’d rather switch careers to work in Govt agency because it “feels more meaningful”

SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man earning S$90 to 100K annually working in a fast-paced job at an MNC took to an online forum on Sunday (Oct 27) to openly weigh his thoughts on possibly switching careers.

According to the man, though his current job pays him well, “There are always new challenges that come along, and higher management has high expectations.”

“It’s becoming more stressful over the years as I gain seniority. I am not keen to outperform as my peers are very competitive. You will need to do much, much more to stand out,” he explained.

He added that the new job at a government agency “feels more meaningful.”

Searching for meaning

“The compensation is lower but still not too far off from my current (job), so I’m grateful for that.” He also added that it’s shift work and comes with a better sense of job security.

However, he added that the stress level of the job was unknown.

“As my career progresses, I think I will need to do ‘CCAs,’ which I probably will not fancy,” he said. “Otherwise, the main job scope should be quite repetitive.”

While many may think landing a corporate job is the end game, it didn’t appear to be so for this man after experiencing life at an MNC. He then wrote: “I kind of already decided to switch but am curious to hear what the rest think.”

Singaporeans took to the post’s comments section to share their two cents on the matter.

“I’m in this exact position now,” one shared, adding, “It’s super tough to keep up, and I’m struggling also. I’m thinking of working in a Community Center or something.”

Career switch at 30

According to an article by Forbes, many people change careers throughout their working lives.

People in their 30s, in particular, have unique advantages as they are more likely to have experience, a good set of skills, and a business network. Furthermore, they also tend to be more financially stable.

Some tips to keep in mind are to do a lot of self-reflection, weigh out their skills (especially transferable ones), and make use of their professional network.

Read also: Public sector worker says he’s “waiting eagerly for more layoffs” in Singapore if S’poreans don’t “let go of their ego, chasing private sector jobs”

“1st world mentality” — Singaporeans stack complaints about overflowing tray return station after coffee shop cleaner falls ill

SINGAPORE: In Singapore, an overflowing tray return station can cause word wars, with irate netizens quick to call out untidiness or unhygienic situations and point fingers at blame.

This appeared to have happened when a netizen posted a photo of one such tray rack at Block 110 Lengkong Tiga in Kembangan, which was so full that dishes, trays, and cutlery were already piled up in front of it.

“This is 1st World mentality,” a Complaint Singapore Facebook page member wrote on Oct 25. They sarcastically added, “Really Homat Senjata,” an army drill command which means to respect or salute.

Commenters on the post were quick to blame various parties — the cleaner, the company the cleaner works for, the owner of the coffee shop, the government, and the diners themselves.

However, there was a more straightforward and human reason for the uncleared tray return station.

According to a report in 8world, the cleaner assigned at the coffee shop, a 28-year-old man named Rohit, had fallen ill that day.

Though Mr Rohit reported for work by 8:00 am, he notified the company that he wasn’t feeling well and went home to rest.

The company was only able to get a replacement cleaner for Mr Rohit later in the day, and in the meantime, the diner’s used plates, trays, and utensils had piled up in the return station, as seen in the photo.

By that evening, however, 8world posted a photo of an immaculately clean tray return station, and regular patrons of the coffee shop were quoted as saying that this was its normal state.

It was their first time to see the tray station overflowing that day, only because the cleaner had fallen ill.

Nevertheless, commenters on the Complaint Singapore post were not very patient with the situation, and the post author even joked that it had been an occasion to invite birds to eat.

How to clear up after dining has been a contentious issue for Singaporeans for some time now.

From June 1, 2023, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Food Agency said that people who eat at hawker centres, coffee shops, and food courts but do not return their used trays and dishes would receive warnings and be fined.

“The stepped-up enforcement on table littering from 1 June onwards aims to ensure that the good efforts of the majority who return their used trays and crockery are not marred by the inconsiderate behaviour of the minority,” read the joint statement from the NEA and the SFA, which can be found here. /TISG

Read also: What’s the difference between ‘Halal’ and ‘Strictly for Halal’? — Tray return stations confuse Singaporeans

“BreadTalk have a new bun?” — Customer finds ‘roast pork’ inside her coffee bun; BreadTalk apologises

SINGAPORE: A woman wondered online if the popular bakery chain BreadTalk had launched a new flavour of their buns after she ordered a coffee bun.

“BreadTalk have a new bun? I got their coffee bread, my favourite. But I got coffee with roast pork inside?” wrote a Facebook user, Elle Min, on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE page last Wednesday (Oct 23).

In the photos she uploaded, the bun was topped with the customary dark brown coffee topping, but it looked like it had a minced meat filling inside.

FB screengrab/ COMPLAINT SINGAPORE (Elle Min)

Ms Elle added she had emailed the company to ask about what appeared to have been a mistake in her order but had yet to receive a reply.

She also asked the manager about it, but they were unaware of the new flavour and asked for a picture of the bun Ms Elle had received.

Out of curiosity, she asked, “Anyone know?”

Shortly after her post was published, the company apologised for the glitch. BreadTalk also said it had already responded to her email and asked her to check on this.

“Hi Elle, we sincerely apologise for the confusion. Our team has reached out to you via email and phone to follow up on this, but we haven’t received a response.

Kindly check your inbox as well as (your) spam folder. Otherwise, you may also drop us a DM instead. Thank you,” the company wrote.

The Independent Singapore has contacted Ms Elle and BreadTalk for further comments or updates.

Must Share News quoted the company as offering to replace Ms Elle’s order, but she “politely declined.” It explained that the coffee topping had been mistakenly put on bread with a meat filling inside.

“All kitchen staff have been reminded to ensure that the bread fillings are correct during the baking and preparation,” the company added.

BreadTalk, which entered the scene in Singapore in 2000 with its first outlet at Bugis Junction, has since spread its “bread boutiques” to different countries such as Oman, China, and Myanmar.

It is considered one of the country’s success stories, having been an awardee multiple times, such as the SPBA Most Promising Brand Award and the Five Star Diamond Brand, World Brand Laboratory in Shanghai.

The brand is famous for its chicken, pork, and spicy floss buns, but its coffee buns also have some serious fans.

Last year, a TikTok user called its breads “iconic” and wrote that they’re a good gauge of inflation in Singapore.

@messyfeedeats

This iconic bread is also a good gauge of inflation in Singapore 😃😭🚨 #singaporefood #sgfood #sgfoodie #breadtalk #breadtok #breadmaking #porkflossbun

♬ Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album) – Dua Lipa

/TISG

Read related: ‘Toast Box gonna bankrupt us peasants…’ — High prices of laksa, curry, shock netizens

Malaysia’s National Service 3.0 to be relaunched in January 2025

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MALAYSIA: The country’s Deputy Defence Minister, Adly Zahari, announced over the weekend that from January 2025, the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 will begin implementation in stages.

“For next year, the government has allocated RM50 million (S$15.17 million) for us to start PLKN 3.0,” he said. The programme had been set to begin in mid-2025. However, Mr Adly noted that it needs to begin earlier.

It will start at two military camps. One will be in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the other in Pahang.

The programme will eventually be expanded to 13 additional camps across the country when full implementation takes effect in 2026.

The initial implementation of the first intake, involving 500 participants, is to pioneer PLKN 3.0 before launching on a larger level with more participants in June.

Mr Adly made these remarks to media members on Oct 26 at the state-level Jiwa Murni Project (PJM) launch in Hutan Percha.

Third Division army commander Major General Datuk Zahari Mohd Ariffin was also present at the launch, The New Straits Times noted.

The programme will involve participants aged between 16 and 35, who will be learning a number of learning modules.

They will be chosen among pupils in Form Four, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) leavers, and students from institutions of higher learning.

“We will use existing camps, and they are currently being refurbished. However, for the first intake, we will only be using two camps.

By 2026, all 13 camps will be fully utilized to accommodate participants after the full implementation of the programme,” said Mr Adly.

Malaysia’s national service

The PLKN is known locally as Khidmat Negara. The programme, which began in December 2003, lasted three months and had been designed for 18-year-olds.

One of its goals was to foster friendships between youths from the country’s various races and ethnic groups. Due to the government’s spending cuts, the program stopped in 2015.

However, PLN 2.0 was introduced the following year, and joining the programme was meant to become completely optional by 2019.

In 2018, it was announced by then Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq bin Syed Abdul Rahman, that the PLKN was among the programs set to be abolished immediately over concerns of misguided indoctrination.

Mohamad Hasan, who served as Malaysia’s Defense Minister from December 2022 to December 2023, announced on Oct 9, 2023, the revival of the country’s national service program. /TISG

Read also: Malaysia’s middle class fumes over petrol subsidy cuts and tax hikes to boost low-earner wages

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

Netball: Singapore Vandas bounce back to Asian Championship glory, eyeing SEA Games crown

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SINGAPORE:  The Singapore national netball team recaptured the Asian Netball Championship title with a hard-fought 67-64 victory in overtime against defending champions Sri Lanka at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, India on Oct 27.

Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, also lauded the win and commended the team’s tireless efforts and unwavering dedication, culminating in a resounding triumph.

“Our phenomenal TeamSG netball players have emerged victorious, ending a decade-long wait since our last triumph in 2014!”  expressed Minister Tong on his social media.

The Vandas have a rich history in the competition, first grasping the coveted trophy in 2005 and subsequently achieving a back-to-back victory in 2012 and 2014.

However, their dominance was temporarily halted as Malaysia emerged victorious in the 2016 edition, with Sri Lanka securing the runner-up position and Singapore settling for a commendable third place.

The latest victory was particularly sweet for Singapore, as it marked a triumphant redemption from their previous heartbreaks, having suffered back-to-back finals defeats against Sri Lanka in 2018 and 2022, with both editions hosted at the OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub.

2024 Asian Netball Championship Final: Singapore vs Sri Lanka (Photo credit: Netball Singapore)

“After a decade-long wait, Singapore Vandas brings the title back home!

Through unwavering determination and grit, the girls defeated Sri Lanka in a groundbreaking match at the finals of the 13th Asian Netball Championships 2024 in India.

We feel so proud (of) their efforts,” posted Netball Singapore on their Facebook page.

Singapore exhibited a dominant performance in the competition, winning all their group stage and knockout round matches.

The Vandas topped Group B and subsequently secured a coveted spot in the final with a convincing 54-46 triumph against Malaysia in the semi-finals, setting the stage for their ultimate championship victory.

“Having won all their matches thus far, our netballers headed to the Finals as the underdog as they faced 6-time champions Sri Lanka.

But in a riveting 60-minute showdown, our netballers displayed unyielding determination and grit throughout the match to clinch a nail-biting 67-64 victory,” added Minister Tong.

The Vandas started their Asian Netball Championship campaign with an emphatic 122-3 win over Iraq on Oct 18. They continued their dominance with a 107-10 win against Bahrain two days later and 94-27 against Brunei the following day.

The Vanda, who are led by interim head coach Yee Mee Hong, won their remaining round-robin matches against Thailand (78-42), Hong Kong (67-42), and Chinese Taipei (92-17).

Netball Singapore announced the departure of former head coach Annette Bishop following the 2024 Nations Cup final.

The vacant position was filled by Singapore ‘A’ head coach Yee and supported by former Australian Diamonds captain and head coach Jill Mcintosh.

The Singapore national netball team turned their attention to the next edition of the Nations Cup and the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which will be held at the end of next year.

The Vandas won the gold medal at the 2015 SEA Games hosted by Singapore. In the 2017 and 2019 SEA Games, Singapore had to contend with the silver medal, as they lost to Malaysia in both finals.

Fresh from their triumphant win at the Asian Netball Championship, the Singapore national netball team will be turning their attention to the next edition of the Nations Cup and the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, slated to take place at the end of next year.

The Vandas are no strangers to SEA Games success, having clinched the coveted gold medal on home soil in 2015.

However, their quest for regional dominance was thwarted by arch-rivals Malaysia in the 2017 and 2019 editions, with the team settling for silver on both occasions.

Now, with redemption on their minds, the Vandas are poised to mount a strong challenge and reclaim their rightful place at the SEA Games netball competition.

Property analysts: Upcoming Tampines Street 95 units price to start over S$1,600 psf

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SINGAPORE: Units in the upcoming development on Tampines Street 95 are estimated to start at an average selling price of over S$1,600 per square foot (psf), said property analysts.

According to Singapore Business Review, PropNex noted that the project is expected to be well received by buyers, encouraging developers to bid for the site.

The recent land tender for this site attracted five competitive bids, with the top offer reaching S$768 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr).

Sim Lian Group, the highest bidder, already has an executive condominium (EC) project set to launch in Tampines in the first half of 2025.

PropNex suggests this may have influenced the developer’s bid as the company aims to establish a solid presence in the Tampines area, describing it as “a strategic move to defend its market.”

With Sim Lian’s project launching in the year’s first half, the Tampines Street 95 development will likely only be launched for sale in 2026.

OrangeTee stated that the gap between launches in the area would “ensure sufficient demand for the EC” in Tampines.

PropNex added that the tender results show strong developers’ confidence in ECs.

They explained that the high interest from developers in the EC plot isn’t surprising, as “the EC segment continues to be a bright spot in the housing market.”

Propnex said EC sites are often considered safe bets, attracting steady interest from local buyers like first-time homeowners and HDB upgraders.

PropNex states, “This pool of buyers is typically unaffected by cooling measures, and they form a stable demand base for ECs.”

OrangeTee expressed a similar view, anticipating “keen demand” for the future project on the land parcel.

They added that the “relative scarcity of ECs” will help maintain steady interest from buyers, as ECs remain one of the most affordable private housing options for HDB upgraders.

Huttons added that the rising demand for recent project launches may have encouraged developers to acquire more land.

They noted that interest rates, expected to decrease in 2024 and 2025, could give developers more flexibility to bid for land. /TISG

Read also: US interest rate cut boosts confidence in Tampines mixed-use GLS site

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

Singapore’s biomedical sector boosts manufacturing output in September

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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s manufacturing output in September rose by 9.8% year-on-year (YoY), as announced by the Economic Development Board (EDB).

However, this growth was largely driven by the biomedical sector, which saw a significant increase of 62% YoY.

According to the Singapore Business Review, without this boost, the overall manufacturing output would have increased by only 4.5% YoY and declined by 7.6% month-on-month (MoM).

The manufacturing output in September stayed mostly flat compared to August.

While the biomedical sector contributed strongly to the overall growth, all other sectors experienced increases in output except for transport engineering.

Transport engineering experienced a YoY decline of 1.9%, mainly due to drops in aerospace, which dropped 2.9% YoY, and marine & offshore engineering, which fell by 9.8% YoY.

Meanwhile, in September, precision engineering rose by 14.7% YoY, general manufacturing increased by 8.1% YoY, chemicals grew by 3.4% YoY, and electronics improved by 1.9% YoY. /TISG

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)