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🛍️ Shopee appliance seller sues customer over bad review — and loses A Shopee vendor that sued a customer for defamation over a negative review has lost its case, with the District Court finding the review was not defamatory and ordering the retailer to pay the customer $4,000 in costs. READ: https://asia1.news/3Sn56e9 Follow @AsiaOnecom for all the latest updates.   ⚖️ Full Case Details: Asia Excel v Chua Poh Hiok (Defamation over Shopee Review)   Location: Singapore District Court — Judgment released 31 August 2026 Judge: Deputy Principal District Judge Chiah Kok Khun Outcome: Seller lost completely — ordered to pay customer S$4,000 in costs        🛒 Background   - Plaintiff: Asia Excel — appliance retailer selling on Shopee - Defendant: Chua Poh Hiok — customer who bought a cooker hood from Asia Excel - Date of review: 13 November 2024 - Chua represented herself in court   💬 What the review said   Chua posted a review describing her frustration with the seller's strict policies:   "Please do not buy from this seller. They keep reminding you once delivered and signed for — no refund or return. Someone must be home to accept delivery, or pay S$35 re-delivery fee. Once delivered, only external damage can be checked on the spot — but what if it's faulty after installation? How can I know immediately? Consider the above before you buy."    ⚔️ Why the seller sued   Asia Excel filed a defamation claim, arguing the review implied:   - Customers should avoid buying from them - Their practices were unreasonable or unfair   Crucially — the seller did NOT deny having those policies. They simply argued the review painted them in a bad light.   ⚖️ The Court's Ruling   Judge Chiah ruled in favour of the customer on all grounds:   1. ❌ Not defamatory   A statement is defamatory only if it lowers reputation in the eyes of reasonable people. Asia Excel merely paraphrased the review but never explained how it lowered their standing. The judge said this alone disposed of the claim.   2. ✅ Defence of Justification applies — the review was TRUE   The seller's own delivery records confirmed the policies Chua described — strict no-return after acceptance, S$35 re-delivery fee, requirement to be home and sign. The substance of her review was factually correct .   3. ✅ Fair Comment & Public Interest   - Her comments were based on facts the seller itself communicated to her - The views were ones a fair-minded person could honestly hold - Shopping on a major platform means reviews are a matter of public interest   4. 📌 Sellers must accept reviews as part of business   "Sellers who use e-commerce platforms must accept ratings and reviews on their goods and services as part of conducting business online. Negative reviews are necessarily part and parcel of conducting business online." — District Judge Chiah Kok Khun   "Not every negative review is defamatory. We need to guard against unmeritorious defamation actions stemming from negative online reviews."   💰 Final Result   - Asia Excel's claim — DISMISSED - Asia Excel ordered to pay S$4,000 costs to Chua Poh Hiok  - No damages awarded to the seller       Key Takeaway   Truthful, fact-based negative reviews — even ones that warn others — are not defamation. Businesses operating on public review platforms must accept that criticism based on their actual policies is protected speech.    

😷 Singapore sees uptick in flu cases, but no signs infections more severe than usual: CDA   Singapore is experiencing an increase in influenza cases, but there is no indication that infections are more severe than usual, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Tuesday (Sept 1).   READ: https://asia1.news/4gtgVsl   Follow @AsiaOnecom for all the latest updates.   Singapore Sees Uptick in Flu Cases — But Infections No More Severe Than Usual: CDA   Published: 1 September 2026, 8:01 AM | Source: AsiaOne / CDA   📈 Case Numbers Rising   - Influenza positivity rate climbed to 36.6% in the week 16–22 August, up from 24% the prior week. - Current levels remain below the 43.9% peak seen in January 2025.   ℹ️ About Flu Seasonality in Singapore   - Influenza viruses circulate year-round here. - Activity typically peaks twice a year: May–August and December–March. - This bimodal pattern aligns broadly with winter seasons in Northern and Southern Hemispheres, though timing shifts yearly due to travel and population mixing.   ✅ Key Advice from CDA   - If you have mild symptoms: Stay home until you recover. - Must go out while sick: Wear a mask, avoid crowds and vulnerable people, keep interactions minimal. - Seek medical help if symptoms are severe, prolonged, or getting worse.   🛡️ Who’s at Higher Risk & Prevention   - High-risk groups: Seniors ≥65, children 6 months–5 years, and people with chronic conditions. - Annual flu vaccination is strongly recommended for these groups. - Where to get vaccinated: - CHAS GP clinics & polyclinics - Participating retail pharmacies (for eligible adults 18+) - Enrolled Healthier SG clinics   Bottom line: Cases are up, but severity is normal — stay home when sick, get vaccinated if eligible.

🇹🇭 PM Wong to visit Thailand on Sept 2 for Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will make a one-day visit to Thailand on Wednesday (Sept 2) for the Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat. READ: https://asia1.news/4cW53gb Follow @AsiaOnecom for all the latest updates.   Here is a Blindspot Analysis of the brief media notification, unpacking the historical context, leadership dynamics, delegation weight, and strategic agenda missing from the headline.   1. Historical Context: Ending an 11-Year Pause What the brief says: PM Wong is making a one-day visit for the Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat.   The Blindspot: This marks the first Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat in over a decade. The last summit of this caliber took place in Singapore in 2015. Reviving the highest-level formal bilateral platform signals a deliberate effort to institutionalize top-level dialogue between the two ASEAN nations.     2. Leadership Dynamics: Establishing 4G-Era Rapport What the brief says: This is the first retreat between PM Wong and PM Anutin Charnvirakul.     The Blindspot: Both leaders represent relative administrative transitions in their respective nations. PM Wong assumed office in May 2024, while PM Anutin (who also serves as Thailand's Minister of Interior) took office in late 2025. Following Anutin’s preliminary visit to Singapore in November 2025, this return visit consolidates rapport at the highest executive tier.     3. High-Powered Cabinet Delegation What the brief says: PM Wong is visiting Thailand for a one-day retreat.     The Blindspot: PM Wong is accompanied by a heavyweight multi-ministry delegation:   Chan Chun Sing (Coordinating Minister for Public Services & Minister for Defence)   Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan (Minister for Foreign Affairs)   Grace Fu (Minister for Sustainability and the Environment & Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations)   Masagos Zulkifli (Minister for Social and Family Development)   Josephine Teo (Minister for Digital Development and Information)   This broad cabinet presence indicates that bilateral talks will extend far beyond ceremonial diplomacy into cross-agency policy execution.     4. Core Strategic Agenda & Concrete Deliverables   Focus AreaKey Initiatives & Context Social Sector AgreementExpected signing of a landmark cooperation agreement focused on social sector development.   Security & Transnational CrimeJoint efforts targeting regional cross-border cybercrime, online scams, and intelligence sharing.   Green & Digital TransitionCollaboration on cross-border energy grids, carbon offset markets, and digital trade corridors.   Food & Supply ResilienceStrengthening bilateral trade commitments in critical agriculture (such as rice supply chains).   5. Economic Weight Bilateral Trade: Reached S$52.4 billion in 2025 (a 17.8% year-on-year increase).     Investment Anchor: Singapore remains Thailand’s largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) (exceeding US$17.5 billion), with growing investments in data centers, semiconductors, and biotechnology.