A man, who tried to rape his former flatmate, got his jail sentence increased by more than a year after the Court of Appeal in Singapore found that his conduct during the appeal process amounted to an abuse of the court's process.

On Jul. 3, the Court of Appeal increased 32-year-old Gao Xiong's sentence from six years, six months, and six weeks' jail to seven years, seven months, and six weeks' jail.

He will also receive three strokes of the cane.

Appealed guilty plea

Gao, a Chinese national who was a PhD student at the time of the offences, had pleaded guilty in 2025 to one count of attempted rape and three counts of criminal trespass.

At an appeal hearing in May, where he represented himself, Gao claimed he had been "confused" when he pleaded guilty and was not given an opportunity to address the court.

He also attempted to blame the victim for what happened, and claimed that another flatmate who intervened had prevented him from apologising to her.

Judges rejected his arguments

The Court of Appeal, comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justice Tay Yong Kwang and Justice Hri Kumar Nair, rejected his arguments.

The judges found that Gao had made baseless allegations that sought to undermine the integrity of the earlier court proceedings.

They noted that Gao had been represented by a lawyer, assisted by an interpreter and had been given ample opportunity to understand the charges before pleading guilty.

When Gao appeared uncertain during the hearing, the trial judge even paused proceedings to allow him to consult his lawyer.

The court added that Gao had "utterly lacked any insight into or remorse for his offending behaviour".

Forced his way into victim's room

The offences took place in October 2023.

Gao and the victim, a 22-year-old Chinese national studying in Singapore at the time, had previously rented separate rooms in the same condominium unit.

After Gao moved out, he began repeatedly asking his former flatmate out over text.

Despite being rejected and told to stop contacting her, he continued to pester her.

On Oct. 8, 2023, Gao returned to the condominium to look for her, prompting the victim to call the police.

Although he left when officers arrived, he stayed overnight at a nearby bus stop and continued messaging her.

The following night, Gao returned to the unit after another tenant let him in.

He knocked on the victim's bedroom door and claimed he had left his bank card behind, while also apologising for his earlier messages.

When the victim tried to close the door and said she would call the police, Gao forced his way into the room.

He pushed her to the floor, pulled at her dress, and exposed himself.

Another tenant who heard the victim screaming intervened and dragged Gao out of the room before the assault could escalate further.

Committed more offences while on bail

After being charged with attempted rape in October 2023, Gao was released on bail in May 2024.

While on bail, he committed further trespass offences.

He returned to the condominium twice in an attempt to persuade the victim to withdraw her allegations or obtain her contact details.

In a separate incident at the State Courts, he ignored a "no entry" sign and entered a judge's chambers while insisting on speaking to the judge.

He was remanded again after his bailor withdrew support.

Court sets new sentencing framework

In its written judgment, the Court of Appeal also laid down a new three-stage framework for sentencing criminal attempt offences.

Judges should first determine a starting sentence based on how far the offender progressed in committing the offence.

They should then assess whether a sentencing discount is appropriate depending on whether the offender voluntarily stopped or was prevented by external circumstances.

Finally, judges should adjust the sentence based on aggravating and mitigating factors specific to the offender.

The case is the first before Singapore's apex court involving a criminal attempt offence after changes to the Penal Code removed the previous rule that generally capped sentences for attempted offences at half the maximum punishment for the completed offence.

The People's Action Party (PAP) can continue to govern Singapore well with "good people who are willing to serve", and have different views and ideas, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Jul. 4.

Speaking at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the PAP’s youth wing, PM Wong noted that PAP does not want everyone within it to think the same way.

He added that the party seeks people with different experiences, perspectives and ideas to help it tackle the challenges ahead.

Different ideas

PM Wong, who is also the party's secretary-general, addressed over 1,200 youth activists and participants at the Young PAP YP40 festival at Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

"This diversity is essential for the PAP to keep renewing itself and to continue governing well for the longer term," he said.

Calling for them to "widen the circle", he added: "You do not have to agree with us on every single issue."

"In fact, it’s the opposite."

Some naturally drawn to 'underdog': PM Wong

He added that while some young people are naturally drawn to the "underdog" as opposed to an established political party, the "real competition we face is not within Singapore", but with the rest of the world.

"We are competing against countries with much larger populations, bigger markets, and far greater resources," he said.

He added: "In that arena, Singapore has been, and will always be, the underdog."

PM Wong noted that PAP's past achievements do not guarantee future success.

"Every generation must bring with them their fresh ideas, new energy, and a renewed sense of responsibility to take our country forward," he said.

"The PAP can continue to govern Singapore well only if every generation renews our party with good people who are willing to serve."

Changed world

Pointing out that "we are entering a very different world, a changed world" that is full of geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, PM Wong said politics in many places was no longer about helping societies solve problems.

He added that politicians turned to amplifying outrage to win support, engaging in "performative politics and points scoring over solving serious problems".

Though Singapore has seen some of these tendencies in its own political discourse, PM Wong said the party's answer was to "roll up our sleeves, bridge our divides, and solve problems through our actions", and not to "stoke anger, to deepen divides, or to give in to cynicism".

“So, if you care deeply about Singapore and about our future, if you have ideas about how we can make our country better, then come and join the PAP,” he said at the event.

New initiatives

CNA reported that the event also saw the party's youth wing launching two initiatives — the Young PAP Academy and the YP 40 Under 40 Action Fellowship, which serve as a "launchpad" for the party's next generation of leaders.

The party’s new logo for the youth wing was also unveiled at the event.

The YP40 Festival celebrates the Young PAP's 40 years of advocacy and action for Singapore with the launch of the Young PAP Academy and the YP 40 Under 40 Action Fellowship.

Young PAP activists are supported by the YP 40 Under 40 Action Fellowship through workshops where they can turn their ideas into action, with 40 selected Young PAP activists to be given a S$5,000 project seed grant to realise their plans by mid-2027.

Refused to give in to cynicism

Acknowledging that there will be people who say politics is not worth it, and that nothing will change, PM Wong noted that Singapore was built by young men and women who refused to give in to cynicism.

"They did not feel fully ready, but they stepped forward anyway, and because they did, generations of Singaporeans have enjoyed opportunities that once seemed impossible," he said.

"So I say to everyone, all young Singaporeans, do not lose heart, do not lose faith, do not stand on the sidelines, choose to lead, and choose to take action."

Sembawang residents took the longest time to commute to work in 2025, according to the General Household Survey 2025.

The survey was released by the Department of Statistics (SingStat) on Jun. 30, 2026.

It noted that residents in Sembawang had the highest median travelling time among Singapore towns at 50 minutes.

This was followed by a median travelling time of 45 minutes for residents who stayed in Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong West, Punggol, Sengkang, Tengah, Woodlands and Yishun.

The Straits Times reported that according to the General Household Survey 2015, residents who lived in seven of those 10 towns also had the longest median commute of 45 minutes.

Bukit Batok, Jurong West and Tengah were not included in the previous list.

Personal experiences

A Bukit Panjang resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told Mothership that when she commutes via shuttle bus, it takes one-and-a-half to two hours travel time to get to work in the east.

On days that she takes public transport, she takes a bus to Geylang Bahru before taking a train to Tampines East.

She then takes another bus to work, which makes her travel time more than two hours including waiting time.

A Punggol resident, who takes public transport every day, told Mothership that her 50 to 55-minute travel time includes a five minute walk from her house to the bus stop followed by a 10 minute bus to Punggol MRT.

She then takes the train from Punggol to Serangoon MRT before transferring to Caldecott MRT.

She then walks for 10 minutes to her office.

Urban transport researcher Paul Barter, who is based in Singapore, told ST that most workplaces are located in the downtown core, central region and other areas, including Tuas and Pasir Panjang.

With SingStat noting that almost half of employed Singapore residents worked in the central region, Barter said those living farther from these job centres would naturally take longer to travel to work.

Sembawang

Sembawang West Member of Parliament (MP) Poh Li San said she has not received complaints from residents about long travelling times, she told ST.

She added that this is due to NEL's Admiralty station being within walking distance of many estates.

Residents are also able to reach Woodlands station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) by bus.

Poh also said most of her residents working in the central area can take the NSL or TEL, where they can often get a seat when they board during the morning peak.

She noted that others may work nearer home, including at Woodlands Industrial Park or in Ang Mo Kio.

Bukit Panjang

According to Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa, residents who live farther from Bukit Panjang MRT station, including Fajar and Segar, may find commuting within the town just to reach the MRT station inconvenient and time-consuming, especially during peak hours.

Liang added that the Downtown Line’s indirect loop through the city centre  from Bugis to Bencoolen stations could lengthen some journeys further.

He added that, however, city-bound bus services including 972 and 972M, use the expressways, offering faster connections, and complementing rail services.

Shorter commute times

The Land Transport Authority told ST that since the S$900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme was launched in July 2024, about 244,000 commuters, which include those from Sembawang and Bukit Batok, benefitted daily from 35 new or extended services and over 60 improved ones.

According to the survey, residents of Tanglin had the shortest work commutes in 2025, with the median duration being 25 minutes.

Those who lived in Bukit Merah, Bukit Timah, Clementi, Geylang, Kallang, Marine Parade, Novena, Outram, Queenstown and Toa Payoh were next with 30-minute median commutes.

ST reported that those who lived in these 11 areas were also among those with the shortest commutes in 2015.

Then, Bedok, Bishan and Serangoon residents also had 30-minute work commutes.

Mode of transport and length of time

A larger proportion of high-income households reside in areas including Tanglin, Bukit Timah and Novena, Barter told ST.

This could mean work trips by cars, taxis or ride-hailing vehicles that tend to be faster than public transport.

Samuel Chng, a research assistant professor heading the Urban Psychology Lab at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, said travel time is often less important than whether the trip is reliable, comfortable and predictable when it comes to quality of commute.

The survey noted that in 2025, 60.1 per cent used public transport, an increase from 57.7 per cent in 2020.

The share of employed residents who combined rail and bus services increased to 30.3 per cent in 2025, from 26.4 per cent in 2020.

There was a drop in the proportion that relied solely on public buses, from 15 per cent to 12.9 per cent in the same period.

Those relying solely on buses had the shortest median travelling time of 35 minutes among all modes of public transport.

Commuters who took only rail services had a longer median commute of 45 minutes, while those who used both buses and the MRT or LRT had the longest median travelling time at 56 minutes.

7-Eleven has sued Nike over an upcoming pair of Air Max 95 sneakers.

The convenience store chain accused Nike of copying its signature orange, green, and red stripe design.

According to Reuters, the lawsuit was filed in federal court in Dallas, Texas, on Jul. 2.

Shoes to launch on 7-Eleven Day

The shoes are reportedly slated to be released on Jul. 11.

This date is widely associated with 7-Eleven Day, when participating stores hold their annual Free Slurpee Day promotion.

Slurpees are frozen slushy drinks sold by 7-Eleven.

In its lawsuit, 7-Eleven claimed the upcoming Nike Air Max 95 features a "confusingly similar imitation" of its tri-colour stripe branding.

The company said consumers may mistakenly believe the shoes were sponsored or endorsed by 7-Eleven.

No partnership

7-Eleven said there is no partnership between the two companies.

The retailer also alleged that Nike intentionally designed the shoe to evoke 7-Eleven and benefit from its brand recognition.

The lawsuit pointed to media reports describing the sneaker as being inspired by 7-Eleven.

7-Eleven added that it has used its orange, green and red colour combination for decades in store signage, advertising, merchandise, footwear and other products.

It also said it owns multiple trademark registrations for the design.

Tried to resolve dispute

According to the lawsuit, 7-Eleven said it had repeatedly tried to resolve the matter before taking legal action.

However, it claimed Nike indicated that it would continue advertising the shoe and proceed with its planned Jul. 11 launch.

In a statement, 7-Eleven said it had to "act quickly and decisively" due to the "unauthorised use" of its brand and the upcoming launch on its "birthday", 7-Eleven Day.

The retailer is seeking a court order to block Nike from selling the shoes.

It is also seeking a recall of products that have already been distributed, as well as monetary damages and Nike’s profits from sales of the footwear.

Nike did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

A total of 1,776 persons are investigated for various offences after the Singapore police conducted a series of island-wide multi-agency enforcement operations between Jun. 1 and 28, 2026.

They comprised of 1,173 men and 603 women, aged between 15 and 85.

More than 1,300 operations against a wide spectrum of offences were conducted.

They involved more than 5,600 officers from the seven Police Land Divisions, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Traffic Police (TP), working closely with the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

During the operations, officers conducted checks on more than 17,000 persons.

Of the 1,776 persons hauled up for investigations, 519 were arrested.

The operations form part of the police’s sustained efforts to clamp down on unlawful activities and deter would-be offenders, the police said in a Jul. 5 news release.

Incidents

Jurong massage establishments

On Jun. 4, officers from Jurong Police Division conducted raids against vice activities at massage establishments in a shopping centre and residential premises in the vicinity of Jurong and Boon Lay.

Five women, aged between 36 and 51, were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961.

Yishun anti-gambling raid

On Jun. 4 and 10, officers from Woodlands Police Division conducted two anti-gambling operations in the vicinity of Sembawang Road and Yishun Street 61.

A total of 12 men and five women, aged between 34 and 72, were arrested for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022.

Cash amounting to over $4,740 and gambling-related paraphernalia were seized as case exhibits.

Jalan Mas Puteh massage outlets

On Jun. 6, officers from Clementi Police Division conducted enforcement operations targeting illegal massage outlets in the vicinity of Jalan Mas Puteh.

Two outlets were found to be providing massage services without a valid licence.

Vice activities were also detected at these outlets.

Eight women, aged between 29 and 48, were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961 and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.

Commercial establishments

Between Jun. 10 and 13, officers from Tanglin Police Division with support from CID and HSA conducted enforcement checks at massage establishments, hotels, commercial units and public entertainment outlets in the vicinity of Balestier Road, Selegie Road, River Valley Road, Clarke Quay and Sinaran Drive.

A total of 41 women and four men, aged between 24 and 47, are being investigated for offences under Women’s Charter 1961, Penal Code 1871, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993.

A total of seven vaporisers were seized as case exhibits.

Three massage establishments and three public entertainment outlets are also being investigated for breaches under Massage Establishments Act 2017 and Public Entertainments Act 1958, respectively.

Raids in town

On Jun. 23, officers from Central Police Division conducted a joint enforcement operation with officers from the CNB, SCDF and HSA at Upper Cross Street and Cecil Street.

A total of 24 women, aged between 20 and 44, and a 40-year-old man were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961, the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and the Immigration Act 1959.

Of the 24 women, a 21-year-old woman was arrested for an additional offence of voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty.

Two women, aged 21 and 22, were also found in possession of vaporisers.

One public entertainment outlet was found to have fire safety violations in breach of the Fire Safety Act 1993.

Public entertainment outlets in Geylang and Paya Lebar

On Jun. 26, officers from Bedok Police Division, together with SCDF and HSA, conducted enforcement checks on the public entertainment outlets in the vicinity of Geylang and Paya Lebar.

Six women, aged between 19 and 37, were arrested for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and Immigration Act 1959.

In addition, two women, aged between 26 and 28, were arrested for possession of vaporisers under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993.

Illegal devices on roads in Sengkang and Punggol

On Jun. 26, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division conducted a joint enforcement operation in Sengkang and Punggol, supported by officers from CID and LTA.

During this operation, LTA detected 25 offences and seized a total of 15 active mobility devices.

The offences include the use of non-compliant devices, failure to register personal mobility devices (PMDs), among other active mobility-related offences.

Three teenagers, aged between 16 and 19, were also arrested for being suspected members of unlawful societies.

Traffic police enforcement

Between Jun. 1 and 28, the Traffic Police conducted a series of enforcement operations against drink driving.

A total of 66 motorists were stopped and tested for alcohol consumption at roadblocks set up across Singapore.

Out of them, 15 motorists, aged between 25 and 66, comprising 12 men and three women, failed the breathalyser test and were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Among those arrested for drink driving, two motorists are also being investigated for additional traffic-related offences.

Riding against flow of traffic

On Jun. 12, a 37-year-old male motorcyclist was stopped after he was observed riding against the flow of traffic.

He failed a breathalyser test and was subsequently found to be riding without a valid driving licence, using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage and in possession of substances believed to be controlled drugs.

He was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid driving licence, using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage and suspected drug-related offences.

Used vehicle without consent

On Jun. 26, a 26-year-old male driver was stopped for checks and failed a breathalyser test.

Further investigations revealed that he had allegedly taken the vehicle without the owner’s consent and was driving while holding a Provisional Driving Licence (PDL).

He was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid driving licence, using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage and driving away a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.

A court in China ruled that Molly Tea had infringed upon seven of Louis Vuitton’s registered four-petal flower graphic trademarks, China Daily reported.

The news was reported by media in China on Jul. 2.

The court ordered the milk tea chain to pay 10.3 million yuan (S$1.96 million) to the French luxury brand and cease the infringement.

The Chinese company was also made to issue a public apology, reports added.

The case regarding the similarity over the logos was determined by the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangsu province.

Molly Tea is a Shenzhen-based milk tea company, and a franchise store in Suzhou’s Wuzhong district.

The Louis Vuitton label was founded in 1854 in Paris, France.

Floral emblems

The dispute was over the similarity between the four-petal flower brand emblem by Molly Tea and the iconic monogram motifs by Louis Vuitton.

The French luxury brand initiated the lawsuit in May 2025.

The ruling was made on Jun. 29, 2026.

Molly Tea is going to appeal to a higher court, it was reported.

Since March 2024, Molly Tea and its affiliated firms have filed multiple trademark applications featuring floral designs with the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

They covered restaurant and accommodation services, advertising, and convenience foods.

Only the trademark containing the Chinese characters for “Molly Tea” successfully registered, while most of the other applications were rejected.

Reactions

Opinions online in China have been split since the case came to light.

Some see the resemblance, while others believe there were distinctions, citing the reason that both companies operate in different industries.

Some online commenters went further and claimed the Louis Vuitton’s signature pattern may have been inspired by traditional Chinese cultural motifs.

A lawyer in China said either party have the right to appeal.

The case depends on which party can provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that its design is original and distinctive, it was added.

Moreover, floral patterns and motifs in traditional Chinese culture are part of the public cultural domain for use by anyone.

However, the Chinese Trademark Law follows the “first to file” principle, where the earliest applicant gains trademark rights, while subsequent applications are rejected.

A 51-year-old man was conveyed conscious to the hospital following an accident between a motorcycle and a car along Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) towards Woodlands Checkpoint on the evening of Jul. 4.

The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in response to Mothership's queries that they were alerted to the incident at about 6pm on Saturday.

A 41-year-old man, a car driver, is assisting with investigations.

Police investigations are ongoing.

SCDF conveyed the person to Woodlands Hospital.

Photo of accident

A photo of the aftermath of the accident showed a person lying on the left-most lane of the BKE beside the newly-installed orange mobile speed camera.

A number of motorcyclists stopped to assist the person lying on the road.

One of them was seen redirecting traffic.

Camera new at location

The speed camera at the 9km mark on the BKE towards Woodlands, after the Turf Club Avenue exit, has been operational since Jul. 1, the police said previously.

It was placed at the location since Jun. 16 for testing and calibration.

That stretch of the BKE is known to be accident-prone.

Motorists are advised to keep within the 90km/h speed limit on the expressway at all times, the police said previously as well.

Ng Bee Kia, one of the core members of senior fitness motivation group Team Strong Silvers, has passed away.

He was 80.

His passing was announced on the Team Strong Silvers Facebook page on Jul. 4.

The team comprises men who perform calisthenic workouts regularly and challenge conventional expectations of ageing in Singapore.

The other core members of the team are Victor Chan, 73, Ngai Hin Kwok, 76, and Qian Hong, 68.

Ex-weightlifter

Ng was the oldest member.

He was a professional weightlifter, who clinched a silver medal for Singapore in the Weightlifting category at the 1973 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.

He took a break from sports and worked as a salesman to support his family after he got married.

He went back to working out seriously again after he retired at 61.

Fitness group's routine

The group has been promoting active ageing through various national campaigns since October 2013.

They have even earned the title of "Granfluencers".

Their workouts include moves, such as dips, push-ups, front lever, and L-shape dead hangs, sometimes done in unison, as well as splits, lunges, and even headstands.

A woman in Yunnan, China, recently tried to save her husband from the venom of a cobra bite by sucking it out directly, and ended up getting poisoned herself.

She mimicked a rescue technique she had seen on TV, South China Morning Post reported.

She did not take any protective measures when she put her mouth to her husband's wound and sucked the venom.

Cobra bite

The man had been bitten on the hand by a cobra while working in his field, and soon developed symptoms: his hand grew swollen, and he felt dizzy and weak.

This caused his wife to panic and try to save him, but her attempt backfired.

Shortly after the husband was sent to the hospital, his wife also started to experience numbness in her mouth, tongue, face, and limbs.

Her condition declined, and she felt serious fatigue the next day, which prompted her family to send her to the hospital as well.

What the doctors said

At the hospital, doctors found that toxins from the cobra venom had already entered the bodies of both the husband and wife.

They were treated with anti-venom serum and other medication.

Days later, after their numbness faded and their condition stabilised, they were discharged from the hospital.

The doctors said it was a common misunderstanding that rescuers should suck out snake venom, as the capillaries in human mouths can allow the venom to quickly enter their bloodstream upon contact, causing poisoning.

The hospital staff involved in their treatment also reminded them that when someone is bitten by a venomous snake, they should be taken to a hospital immediately for safety and treatment, according to Jimu News.

Before leaving for the fatal pilgrimage in which a pickup truck drove through a row of monks, one of the monks reassured his mother that he would be safe.

The mum was speaking to local media about her heartbreak after losing her son in the accident.

The Jul. 2 accident involved an 11-year-old boy taking his parents' pickup truck without permission before losing control of the vehicle and ploughing through a procession of monks on a pilgrimage walk.

At least nine monks have died.

Became monk after surviving serious accident

According to Khaosod, Panja Chailert, 69, said that the death of her son, 41-year-old Phra Khamsing Chailert, has left he family struggling to cope.

Phra Khamsing was the youngest son in the family.

The family lives in Thailand's Khon Kaen province.

Panja said that before entering monkhood, Phra Khamsing had survived a serious accident.

His body and abilities never fully returned to normal.

Phra Khamsing later became close to a monk, Phra Yongyuth, who lived at the village temple.

Phra Khamsing himself became ordained in 2025.

He and Phra Yongyuth would often go on pilgrimage trips, but always returned safely.

"I won't die"

Before the latest trip, Phra Khamsing visited his mother and informed her about his intention to join another pilgrimage.

"I was worried, so I asked him, 'Can't you stay, my son?'" Panja said, according to Khaosod.

His reply was, "I won't die."

After learning about the crash, Panja was shocked and overwhelmed.

She asked her husband to call Phra Yongyuth, but they later learned that he had also been injured in the crash.

A nephew who travelled with the pilgrimage group later recounted to family the aftermath of the accident, and Panja believes that her son died at the scene, Khaosod wrote.