Food Updates: Dubai Chocolate… But Make It Pepsi?! 7-Eleven Just Dropped This Wild New Drink

Source:

https://www.moneydigest.sg/dubai-chocolate-but-make-it-pepsi-7-eleven-just-dropped-this-wild-new-drink/

ChatGPT:

Singapore's 7-Eleven has launched Pepsi Dubai Chocolate, an exclusive limited-edition soft drink inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate trend. Rather than offering another chocolate bar or dessert, the retailer is bringing the flavour into a carbonated Pepsi, combining the familiar cola taste with dessert-inspired chocolate and pistachio notes. The launch aims to capitalize on consumers' curiosity surrounding one of the biggest food trends of the past two years. (MoneyDigest.sg)

The drink is available at selected 7-Eleven outlets and through the 7-Eleven app while stocks last. As with many limited releases, availability may differ between stores, encouraging shoppers to purchase whenever they spot it. (MoneyDigest.sg)

The product follows the global explosion of "Dubai chocolate," originally made famous by its combination of milk chocolate, pistachio cream and crispy knafeh pastry. The flavour has since expanded into numerous products worldwide, including ice cream, pancakes, brownies, milkshakes and now soft drinks. (Allrecipes)

Unlike a traditional chocolate beverage, Pepsi Dubai Chocolate focuses on recreating the dessert's overall flavour profile in fizzy form. The unusual concept is expected to attract adventurous consumers eager to experience the latest food trend, even if only once.

The launch also demonstrates how beverage brands are increasingly embracing viral social media trends to generate buzz and limited-time demand. Whether consumers end up loving or disliking the flavour, Pepsi is likely to achieve its objective of getting people talking and sharing their first impressions online.

For fans of novelty beverages and collectors of limited-edition drinks, Pepsi Dubai Chocolate represents one of the year's most unusual convenience-store exclusives and another example of how the Dubai chocolate phenomenon continues evolving beyond confectionery.

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Social media & forum reactions

Reddit

• Discussion is highly active across multiple subreddits.

• Initial reaction is disbelief ("Why does this exist?"), but many users admit they still want to try it. (Reddit)

• Those who've tasted it commonly describe it as Pepsi with a pistachio or vanilla-like aftertaste, with surprisingly little chocolate flavour. (Reddit)

• Opinions are split between "surprisingly good" and "one sip was enough." (Reddit)

HardwareZone

• No discussion yet on the Pepsi version.

• Earlier Dubai chocolate threads show mixed opinions, with some praising the flavour while others say the trend is overpriced and overhyped. (HardwareZone Forums)

X (Twitter)

• Users are sharing photos and joking that brands are putting "Dubai chocolate" on everything.

• Many posts express curiosity more than enthusiasm. (Know Your Meme)

TikTok

• Taste-test videos dominate.

• Creators film first reactions, often comparing it to vanilla cola with pistachio notes rather than actual chocolate. (Allrecipes)

Instagram

• Food influencers are posting aesthetic photos and reels featuring the limited-edition can.

• Most engagement revolves around "worth trying?" rather than strong recommendations. (Mini Me Insights)

Facebook

• Convenience-store and food deal groups are sharing sightings at 7-Eleven and encouraging members to grab one before stocks run out. (MoneyDigest.sg)

Threads

• Conversation mirrors X: humorous takes, memes about the never-ending Dubai chocolate craze, and debates over whether the trend has gone too far. (Meme.com)

Overall sentiment

Online sentiment is mixed but highly curious. Most people agree the concept sounds unusual, yet many buy it simply to satisfy their curiosity. Reviews suggest the drink is more pistachio-forward than chocolate-heavy, making it less bizarre than expected, while its limited availability and novelty are driving much of the buzz. (Reddit)

Entertainment Updates: Someone allegedly used a hairdryer to rig Polymarket weather bets

Source:

https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/someone-allegedly-used-a-hairdryer-to-rig-polymarket-weather-bets-155312411.html

ChatGPT:

A report claims that a bettor may have manipulated weather data to profit from prediction markets on Polymarket. The alleged incident took place at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where a public temperature sensor recorded two unusual spikes in recent weeks. These spikes exceeded forecasted levels and allowed certain gamblers to win large payouts, reportedly totaling around $34,000.

Polymarket bases its weather-related bets on official sensor readings, and the specific device in question was located on a publicly accessible road. Investigators suspect that someone used a battery-powered hairdryer to artificially raise the temperature reading, effectively rigging the outcome. On both occasions, the platform had assigned less than a one percent probability to the temperature reaching those levels, making the successful bets highly lucrative.

France’s national weather agency, Météo-France, confirmed it has filed a complaint after detecting physical anomalies on the sensor and irregularities in the data. The case is now being handled by the Air Transport Gendarmerie. While Polymarket has not required any winnings to be returned, the affected sensor has since been relocated to prevent further tampering.

The incident highlights a broader vulnerability in prediction markets that rely on real-world data inputs. When physical systems can be accessed and manipulated, outcomes tied to financial incentives become susceptible to fraud. This raises concerns about the types of events offered for betting, especially as platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi host markets on sensitive geopolitical and legal issues.

Ultimately, the episode underscores the risks of linking financial speculation to real-world, alterable conditions—where even simple tools can potentially distort outcomes for profit.

Entertainment Updates: Viral Monkey Punch's S$19.90 Ikea Plush Toy Now Worth S$442 On Ebay; Sold Out In S'pore Too

Source:

https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/asian/punch-ikea-plushie-sold-out-singapore-854441

ChatGPT:

A baby monkey named Punch — also known as Panchi-kun — has become an unexpected global sensation, and his favourite plush toy is now selling for hundreds of dollars online.

Punch is a seven-month-old Japanese macaque living at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. Born in July 2025, he was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth. Zoo staff stepped in to care for him and gave him a soft toy for comfort — an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush.

Videos of Punch clinging tightly to the stuffed orangutan, especially when struggling to integrate with other monkeys, quickly went viral across TikTok, Instagram, and X. The touching clips, often shared with the Japanese hashtag “Hang in there, Punch,” resonated with millions worldwide. Many viewers saw him as a symbol of vulnerability, resilience, and emotional comfort.

The plush toy — retailing at just S$19.90 in Singapore — has long limbs and a cuddly body. Fans affectionately nicknamed it “Oran-Mama” as Punch hugs it like a surrogate mother.

Following the viral surge, demand for the DJUNGELSKOG plush skyrocketed globally. It has reportedly sold out in Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore. Resale prices have surged dramatically, with listings on eBay reaching as high as US$350 (approximately S$442), according to media reports.

While the full-sized orangutan plush is currently unavailable in Singapore, IKEA’s smaller S$2.90 mini version remains in stock — at least for now.

Punch’s story has not only melted hearts worldwide but also turned an affordable stuffed toy into a highly sought-after collector’s item almost overnight.

Comments:

Cute.

Not buying it.

Sports Updates : ATP Tennis Player Ejected After Obscene Gestures and Umpire Abuse

Source : 

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/atp-tennis-player-ejected-obscene-170029935.html

https://is.gd/IJi5hW

Apple Intelligence :

• Incident Description: ATP player Svyatoslav Gulin was defaulted from a match for making obscene gestures and verbally abusing the umpire.

• Match Situation: The incident occurred during the third set of a match that Gulin was leading comfortably.

• Possible Consequences: The ITF is expected to review the incident and could impose additional penalties on Gulin.