US woman sues SIA for allergic reaction caused by meal containing shrimp; 'Basic necessity': More than 2,000 sign petition calling for free tap water at F&B outlets: Singapore live news
A woman is suing Singapore Airlines after she suffered a severe allergic reaction mid-flight, allegedly caused by a meal containing shrimp that was mistakenly served to her despite advance warnings.
In her legal complaint, 41-year-old Manhattan resident Doreen Benary said she had informed the cabin crew of her shrimp allergy upon boarding flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to New York on 8 October 2024. But during the business class meal service, she claimed a crew member served her a meal containing shrimp, which she unknowingly ate. She only realised it after she "began to feel ill".
A petition calling on the Government to mandate free tap water at food and beverage (F&B) outlets that already impose a 10 per cent service charge has gained traction. There are over 2,000 signatures as of 20 June. Launched on Change.org by Dr Yee Yucai, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital's Internal Medicine department, the petition argues that water is a "basic necessity".
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
A petition calling on the Government to mandate free tap water at food and beverage (F&B) outlets that already impose a 10 per cent service charge has gained traction. There are over 2,000 signatures as of 20 June.
Launched on Change.org by Dr Yee Yucai, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital's Internal Medicine department, the petition argues that water is a "basic necessity". Dr Yee told AsiaOne that the petition came about he observed how food and beverage outlets seem to be "encouraging" diners to buy drinks to "boost profit margins".
Dr Yee said: "The last straw that broke the camel's back for me was when I recently brought my family to an expensive buffet, about $60 per person.
"And they had the audacity not to serve water and instead requiring us to pay an extra $5 for free-flow beverages. I thought it was going too far."
This is not the first time the issue has surfaced, though. Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle, have previously urged the Government to explore making free table water standard practice.
In 2021, Christopher de Souza questioned "whether table water can be mandatorily made free-of-charge at F&B establishments" since Singapore's tap water is safe to drink.
During the Budget debate in March, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam urged the ministry to work with eateries, coffee shops and shopping malls to provide free or low-cost drinking water as a best practice.
However, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has pushed back, stating that while Singapore's tap water is safe, providing it still incurs costs, and thus cannot be mandated under the Environmental Public Health Act.
For more on the free tap water petition, read here.
A performance by local theatre company Wild Rice has been banned by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The IMDA cited concerns that the revised script undermined Singapore's anti-drug policies and public trust in the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
The show, titled Homepar, was initially approved under an R18 rating, but IMDA said the final script submitted on 5 June contained substantial changes from the original version cleared on 21 April. They said, "The new material depicts and glamorises drug abuse and portrays an undercover CNB officer shielding abusers from detection."
In a statement on Friday (June 20), IMDA said the new material was found to be in breach of the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC). This was done in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
For more on the banned Wild Rice performance, read here.
A woman is suing Singapore Airlines after she suffered a severe allergic reaction mid-flight, allegedly caused by a meal containing shrimp that was mistakenly served to her despite advance warnings.
In her legal complaint, 41-year-old Manhattan resident Doreen Benary said she had informed the cabin crew of her shrimp allergy upon boarding flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to New York on 8 October 2024. But during the business class meal service, she claimed a crew member served her a meal containing shrimp, which she unknowingly ate. She only realised it after she "began to feel ill".
"Despite the aforesaid warnings, during the course of the subject flight's meal service, a member of [the] cabin crew served [Benary] a meal containing shrimp," the complaint read.
Benary questioned the cabin crew member who admitted to the error and apologised. By then, her situation worsened and Benary was 'violently ill', prompting an emergency diversion to Paris. She was rushed to a hospital in France, then a second facility, where she reportedly underwent "painful emergency medical treatment".
For more on the lawsuit against SIA, read here.
A Chinese student, who had been studying at University College London, has been jailed for life after being found guilty of drugging and raping 10 women.
Zhenhao Zou, 28, a PhD student was convicted of 11 counts of rape, including offences committed in both London and China between September 2019 and May 2023. Only two of his victims have so far been identified, and the other eight have yet to be traced. Zou filmed the assaults, which took place while the women were unconscious, and kept their belongings – including earrings, hair accessories, and lipstick – in what prosecutors called a 'trophy box'.
Zou is sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years, and was labelled a "sexual predator" by Judge Rosina Cottage. She said that Zou 'planned and executed a campaign of rape', treating the women "callously" and as "sex toys" for his own pleasure, which had "devastating and long-term effects".
For more on the Zhenhao Zou's sentence, read here.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is set to visit Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang on Friday (20 June), in an attempt to repair ties with the military following a leaked phone call that has thrown her administration into crisis.
In the call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, Paetongtarn referred to Boonsin – commander of forces in northeast Thailand – as her 'opponent' while discussing an ongoing border dispute. The remarks, which surfaced online earlier this week, triggered political backlash, prompting the withdrawal of key coalition partner Bhumjaithai and fuelling speculation about the government's future.
Paetongtarn, who has been in office for less than a year, issued a formal apology on Thursday while flanked by army and police chiefs.
For more on Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's leaked phone call, read here.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is in discussions with insurer Great Eastern (GE) following the latter's decision to suspend the issuance of pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth hospitals.
In response to media queries, MOH stated that Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers "would have to ensure that policyholders continue to be able to access the full benefits of their policies in accordance with the terms and conditions for claims, as stated in their policy contracts".
GE had notified its panel doctors earlier this week that it would temporarily halt the issuance of pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth and Mount Elizabeth Novena hospitals from 17 June. The insurer high costs from the two hospitals, compared with other private hospitals, were the reason for the decision.
GE clarified that the decision does not reflect on the quality of clinical care at Mount Elizabeth hospitals but that they were "prioritising facilities that deliver the same high-quality care with greater cost transparency and cost-effectiveness"
A GE spokesperson told The Straits Times that the insurer "continues to be in active discussions with the hospital group involved and also the Ministry of Health on this topic".
On the issue of IPs and additional coverage, MOH said in an email, "As these are commercial products, while MOH regulates the key parameters of IPs for financial sustainability, individual insurers' changes to administrative processes such as pre-authorisation framework and partnerships with private providers are based on their commercial and actuarial considerations."
For more on the GE suspension of pre-authorisation certificates, read here.
A cyclist who suffered a gunshot wound while riding in a gazetted area on 15 June may have taken steps to conceal his tracks from authorities. The 42-year-old man, identified as L, did not tell the police and National University Hospital (NUH) that he had been cycling near the Nee Soon live-firing range when he was hit by a projectile.
According to checks by The Straits Times (ST) of the data on the Strava app, L entered the cycling trail from Chestnut Nature Park at about 9.50am on 15 June 15. He was with a group of about 10 cyclists at the time, and a regular riding partner identified as W.
ST reported that W deleted details on Strava of his ride on 15 June 15. But, the route he took was mapped out on Garmin account, which is accessible to the public. After leaving Chestnut Nature Park, the pair entered the Woodcutter's Trail in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) at about 11am.
The Ministry of Defence said in an earlier statement that the man was hit by a bullet slug at about 11.40am.
The police said NUH alerted them at 11.55pm of the gunshot wound. In his initial interview with police investigators, L denied being anywhere near the restricted areas when he was injured. He only admitted to it the next day.
W has privatised his Strava and Garmin accounts after the morning of 19 June.
The cyclist is under investigation for wilful trespass.
For more on the cyclist and the gazetted area, read here.
Singapore Pools Toto draw for 19 June saw one lucky ticket take home the Group 1 prize of over $12.3 million.
The single winning share amount of over $12.3 million is the third highest recorded by Singapore Pools behind $13.1 million in May 2024 and $13 million in October 2023.
The winning numbers for Thursday's draw (19 June) are 1, 10, 37, 40, 47 and 45, with the additional number being 19. The winning ticket was bought from an NTUC FairPrice at Yew Tee Point (1 QuickPick System 7 Entry).
For more on the Group 2 winning tickets, read here.
Two Singaporean men were arrested in Thailand on 17 June, along with a Thai national, for their alleged roles in running a transnational vice syndicate, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Wednesday (19 June).
The Singaporean suspects, aged 36 and 38, and the 50-year-old Thai man, were arrested in a joint cross-border operation between the SPF and the Royal Thai Police (RTP). The operation saw assets worth over 20 million baht (S$790,600) seized, including luxury condos, cash, mobile devices and SIM cards. The SPF also froze over S$1.26 million in suspected criminal proceeds held in a Singapore bank account belonging to the 38-year-old man.
According to Thai media outlet Khaosod English, one of the Singaporean suspects was arrested upon arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, while the other arrested at his residence in Thailand.
Investigations started in 2023 and revealed that the syndicate allegedly recruited foreign women and deployed them to Singapore as vice workers. From April 2023 to May 2025, at least 76 such women linked to the operation have been arrested, and the SPF said the resulting investigations "established useful information" against the syndicate.
Singapore's Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Yeo Yee Chuan said, "The SPF is committed to working closely with our regional partners, and we thank the RTP for their invaluable collaboration in dismantling this criminal network to prevent the exploitation of women, stem the scourge of transnational crimes and take affirmative actions against the laundering of criminal proceeds."
For more on the arrests, read here.
A petition calling on the Government to mandate free tap water at food and beverage (F&B) outlets that already impose a 10 per cent service charge has gained traction. There are over 2,000 signatures as of 20 June.
Launched on Change.org by Dr Yee Yucai, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital's Internal Medicine department, the petition argues that water is a "basic necessity". Dr Yee told AsiaOne that the petition came about he observed how food and beverage outlets seem to be "encouraging" diners to buy drinks to "boost profit margins".
Dr Yee said: "The last straw that broke the camel's back for me was when I recently brought my family to an expensive buffet, about $60 per person.
"And they had the audacity not to serve water and instead requiring us to pay an extra $5 for free-flow beverages. I thought it was going too far."
This is not the first time the issue has surfaced, though. Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle, have previously urged the Government to explore making free table water standard practice.
In 2021, Christopher de Souza questioned "whether table water can be mandatorily made free-of-charge at F&B establishments" since Singapore's tap water is safe to drink.
During the Budget debate in March, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam urged the ministry to work with eateries, coffee shops and shopping malls to provide free or low-cost drinking water as a best practice.
However, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has pushed back, stating that while Singapore's tap water is safe, providing it still incurs costs, and thus cannot be mandated under the Environmental Public Health Act.
For more on the free tap water petition, read here.
A performance by local theatre company Wild Rice has been banned by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The IMDA cited concerns that the revised script undermined Singapore's anti-drug policies and public trust in the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
The show, titled Homepar, was initially approved under an R18 rating, but IMDA said the final script submitted on 5 June contained substantial changes from the original version cleared on 21 April. They said, "The new material depicts and glamorises drug abuse and portrays an undercover CNB officer shielding abusers from detection."
In a statement on Friday (June 20), IMDA said the new material was found to be in breach of the Arts Entertainment Classification Code (AECC). This was done in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
For more on the banned Wild Rice performance, read here.
A woman is suing Singapore Airlines after she suffered a severe allergic reaction mid-flight, allegedly caused by a meal containing shrimp that was mistakenly served to her despite advance warnings.
In her legal complaint, 41-year-old Manhattan resident Doreen Benary said she had informed the cabin crew of her shrimp allergy upon boarding flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to New York on 8 October 2024. But during the business class meal service, she claimed a crew member served her a meal containing shrimp, which she unknowingly ate. She only realised it after she "began to feel ill".
"Despite the aforesaid warnings, during the course of the subject flight's meal service, a member of [the] cabin crew served [Benary] a meal containing shrimp," the complaint read.
Benary questioned the cabin crew member who admitted to the error and apologised. By then, her situation worsened and Benary was 'violently ill', prompting an emergency diversion to Paris. She was rushed to a hospital in France, then a second facility, where she reportedly underwent "painful emergency medical treatment".
For more on the lawsuit against SIA, read here.
A Chinese student, who had been studying at University College London, has been jailed for life after being found guilty of drugging and raping 10 women.
Zhenhao Zou, 28, a PhD student was convicted of 11 counts of rape, including offences committed in both London and China between September 2019 and May 2023. Only two of his victims have so far been identified, and the other eight have yet to be traced. Zou filmed the assaults, which took place while the women were unconscious, and kept their belongings – including earrings, hair accessories, and lipstick – in what prosecutors called a 'trophy box'.
Zou is sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years, and was labelled a "sexual predator" by Judge Rosina Cottage. She said that Zou 'planned and executed a campaign of rape', treating the women "callously" and as "sex toys" for his own pleasure, which had "devastating and long-term effects".
For more on the Zhenhao Zou's sentence, read here.
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is set to visit Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang on Friday (20 June), in an attempt to repair ties with the military following a leaked phone call that has thrown her administration into crisis.
In the call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, Paetongtarn referred to Boonsin – commander of forces in northeast Thailand – as her 'opponent' while discussing an ongoing border dispute. The remarks, which surfaced online earlier this week, triggered political backlash, prompting the withdrawal of key coalition partner Bhumjaithai and fuelling speculation about the government's future.
Paetongtarn, who has been in office for less than a year, issued a formal apology on Thursday while flanked by army and police chiefs.
For more on Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra's leaked phone call, read here.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is in discussions with insurer Great Eastern (GE) following the latter's decision to suspend the issuance of pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth hospitals.
In response to media queries, MOH stated that Integrated Shield Plan (IP) insurers "would have to ensure that policyholders continue to be able to access the full benefits of their policies in accordance with the terms and conditions for claims, as stated in their policy contracts".
GE had notified its panel doctors earlier this week that it would temporarily halt the issuance of pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth and Mount Elizabeth Novena hospitals from 17 June. The insurer high costs from the two hospitals, compared with other private hospitals, were the reason for the decision.
GE clarified that the decision does not reflect on the quality of clinical care at Mount Elizabeth hospitals but that they were "prioritising facilities that deliver the same high-quality care with greater cost transparency and cost-effectiveness"
A GE spokesperson told The Straits Times that the insurer "continues to be in active discussions with the hospital group involved and also the Ministry of Health on this topic".
On the issue of IPs and additional coverage, MOH said in an email, "As these are commercial products, while MOH regulates the key parameters of IPs for financial sustainability, individual insurers' changes to administrative processes such as pre-authorisation framework and partnerships with private providers are based on their commercial and actuarial considerations."
For more on the GE suspension of pre-authorisation certificates, read here.
A cyclist who suffered a gunshot wound while riding in a gazetted area on 15 June may have taken steps to conceal his tracks from authorities. The 42-year-old man, identified as L, did not tell the police and National University Hospital (NUH) that he had been cycling near the Nee Soon live-firing range when he was hit by a projectile.
According to checks by The Straits Times (ST) of the data on the Strava app, L entered the cycling trail from Chestnut Nature Park at about 9.50am on 15 June 15. He was with a group of about 10 cyclists at the time, and a regular riding partner identified as W.
ST reported that W deleted details on Strava of his ride on 15 June 15. But, the route he took was mapped out on Garmin account, which is accessible to the public. After leaving Chestnut Nature Park, the pair entered the Woodcutter's Trail in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) at about 11am.
The Ministry of Defence said in an earlier statement that the man was hit by a bullet slug at about 11.40am.
The police said NUH alerted them at 11.55pm of the gunshot wound. In his initial interview with police investigators, L denied being anywhere near the restricted areas when he was injured. He only admitted to it the next day.
W has privatised his Strava and Garmin accounts after the morning of 19 June.
The cyclist is under investigation for wilful trespass.
For more on the cyclist and the gazetted area, read here.
Singapore Pools Toto draw for 19 June saw one lucky ticket take home the Group 1 prize of over $12.3 million.
The single winning share amount of over $12.3 million is the third highest recorded by Singapore Pools behind $13.1 million in May 2024 and $13 million in October 2023.
The winning numbers for Thursday's draw (19 June) are 1, 10, 37, 40, 47 and 45, with the additional number being 19. The winning ticket was bought from an NTUC FairPrice at Yew Tee Point (1 QuickPick System 7 Entry).
For more on the Group 2 winning tickets, read here.
Two Singaporean men were arrested in Thailand on 17 June, along with a Thai national, for their alleged roles in running a transnational vice syndicate, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Wednesday (19 June).
The Singaporean suspects, aged 36 and 38, and the 50-year-old Thai man, were arrested in a joint cross-border operation between the SPF and the Royal Thai Police (RTP). The operation saw assets worth over 20 million baht (S$790,600) seized, including luxury condos, cash, mobile devices and SIM cards. The SPF also froze over S$1.26 million in suspected criminal proceeds held in a Singapore bank account belonging to the 38-year-old man.
According to Thai media outlet Khaosod English, one of the Singaporean suspects was arrested upon arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, while the other arrested at his residence in Thailand.
Investigations started in 2023 and revealed that the syndicate allegedly recruited foreign women and deployed them to Singapore as vice workers. From April 2023 to May 2025, at least 76 such women linked to the operation have been arrested, and the SPF said the resulting investigations "established useful information" against the syndicate.
Singapore's Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Yeo Yee Chuan said, "The SPF is committed to working closely with our regional partners, and we thank the RTP for their invaluable collaboration in dismantling this criminal network to prevent the exploitation of women, stem the scourge of transnational crimes and take affirmative actions against the laundering of criminal proceeds."
For more on the arrests, read here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teen Survives Being Struck by Lightning in Central Park, but Admits One Decision He Made 'Wasn't the Best Idea'
A New York City teenager was struck by lightning in Central Park on June 19 Yassin Khalifa was enjoying a picnic with friends when the storm started, and he suggested they wait the rain out under a tree 'Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' Khalifa saidA teenager is speaking out after surviving a lightning strike in New York City. Yassin Khalifa, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, was struck by lightning while spending time in Central Park on Thursday, June 19, according to WABC-TV New York and The New York Times. Though he fell unconscious for a few minutes, he only sustained second-degree burns and is expected to make a full recovery. After enjoying a picnic with his friends near the East Meadow, a severe thunderstorm set in, according to WABC. Khalifa told the outlet that he decided to ride out the storm under a tree, which he admitted "might not have been the best idea." The bolt of lightning struck the tree he was leaning on around 3:40 p.m., the New York Post reported, and Khalifa lost consciousness for a short time after the strike. By the time an ambulance arrived to take him to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, though, Khalifa was awake and alert. Additionally, Fox 5 New York reported that according to officials, the teen was also burned on impact as he was wearing a metal chain. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened," Khalifa told WABC-TV. "So I'm pretty happy about that." In the case of lightning strikes, one in ten people die, The New York Times reported in 2017, though it remains one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. The thunderstorm in Manhattan was part of a string of severe weather along the East Coast on June 19, affecting parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Retail Traders Just Sent This AI Health Stock Soaring 60%
Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR) has exploded nearly 60% this week, adding close to $2 billion in market cap without a single press release or earnings update. The real catalyst? A retail trading frenzy. OSCR became one of the most-mentioned names on r/WallStreetBets, and trading volume followed suitnearly 50 million shares changed hands on Wednesday alone, the second-highest in the company's history. Options activity lit up as well, with call volumes hitting a record 152,414 that day, and another 95,000 contracts moving by Friday morning, nearly triple the norm. Beneath the surge is a company with serious revenue momentumup 48% in 2023 and 57% in 2024. Adjusted earnings per share reached $0.92 in Q1 2025. But Oscar isn't just selling insuranceit's selling a story. Management brands the company as a health-tech platform, powered by AI and run on what it calls a continuous hackathon model. That pitch, familiar to anyone who's followed high-multiple tech names, is likely helping Oscar catch a more generous valuation than traditional insurers. Retail traders appear to be buying into that promise. Another factor? The Kushner connection. Joshua Kushner, vice chairman of Oscar's board and brother to Jared Kushner, has remained a prominent name in business and politics alike. That visibility might be adding an extra layer of speculation to the mix. But for now, the stock's movement is being driven more by momentum than fundamentals. Oscar is just $3 shy of its all-time highand the retail crowd seems determined to carry it the rest of the way. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
NYC-based organizations offer support for LGBTQ+ youth as suicide hotline option is terminated
New York City-based organizations are highlighting the need for resources for LGBTQ+ residents after the Trump administration announced it will end LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention services in a few weeks. The Trevor Project has been helping LGBTQ+ youth for decades and started providing specialized support for LGBTQ+ callers to the 988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline in 2022, but it has received a stop work order effective July 17. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said LGBTQ+ callers can still rely on hotline's general services, but advocates say this will greatly impact LGBTQ+ youth. "There's someone here to help you" "LGBTQ+ youth in our country are experiencing a mental health crisis," said Mark Henson, the Trevor Project's interim vice president of advocacy and government affairs. "That's the reason why these services were set up, so that tailored care can be available to help keep them alive." According to the nonprofit organization, 39% of LGBTQ+ young New Yorkers seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 12% attempted it. A recent study also revealed LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers. "If this program goes away, the question is will they feel comfortable reaching out?" Henson said. The Trevor Project says it will continue to provide crisis services through its own hotline, but it will be a lot harder. Henson has a message for LGBTQ+ youth struggling with mental health. "You deserve the right for support, and there's someone here to help you," he said. For more information on the services offered by the Trevor Project, visit Unique services available for LGBTQ+ youth in NYC The Queens Community House in Forest Hills has unique services specifically for LGBTQ+ youth, including a drop-in center. "We see that those individuals often feel more welcome and safe in dedicated programming and thrive there," Executive Director Ben Thomases said. "They know they're gonna be understood. They know that people are going to see them for who they are." Thomases said the organization is also doing work in schools throughout the borough to make that environment more welcoming, as well. For more information, visit Jewish Queer Youth (JQY) offers support to young Jewish New Yorkers struggling to find acceptance in their communities. "Cutting services for LGBTQ youth through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline will really have devastating and deadly consequences," Executive Director Rachael Fried said. "The fact that it exists, it sends a message that queer youth actually matter." There's still a few weeks before the youth service is eliminated. Advocates are petitioning and pushing for lawmakers to step in. In May, more than 100 House members signed a letter urging the health department to preserve the LGBTQ+ option, and seven senators signed a similar letter. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call or text 988 to speak with a trained, caring counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also chat online with a counselor at
