I’m an old-school traveller.

I get to the airport early, print out my ticket, and keep some spare cash tucked away.

But have you ever tried getting smaller denominations from money changers? You’ll know it’s easier said than done.

There’s an easier way, whether you're a cautious traveller or a free-spirited “cash is for millennials" type traveller: ShopeePay.

Cross-border payments with ShopeePay available in over 28 territories

You can now scan and pay using ShopeePay in over 28 countries, without needing to carry physical cash or exchange currencies.

This includes some of your favourite travel spots such as Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and the UK.

Payment is easy too: all you have to do is scan local QR codes, such as DuitNow in Malaysia, ZeroPay in South Korea, and Alipay in China, using your Shopee app to pay instantly and securely.

And if you've ever tried breaking a large note at a small roadside stall while travelling, you'll know why that's useful.

Imagine you've just found a street food stall selling something that smells incredible, but the only cash you have is a large note. The vendor looks less than thrilled.

With ShopeePay, all you need to do is scan the merchant's payment code — a common sight nowadays whether you're in a shopping mall or at a roadside stall.

No fumbling for exact change, no carrying worrying amounts of cash, especially as ShopeePay uses biometric authentication for swift and secure transactions.

Users can also stay in control of their spending with competitive exchange rates and no hidden fees, with payments made in Singapore dollars.

Just ensure that your ShopeePay account is activated and verified in Singapore before you set off, and enable overseas payments!

ShopeePay is also offering a limited time offer where users can enjoy S$8 off their first overseas transaction with ShopeePay with a minimum S$20 spend.

So if you’re heading on an overseas shopping holiday, make it a ShopeePay holiday, and get your S$8 off.

Find out more here!

Not heading overseas? There’s a promo for you too!

If you’re shopping in Singapore, you can use ShopeePay to make offline purchases at over 50,000 merchants across the island!

Doing so will earn you Shopee Coins which you can use to offset spending for both online Shopee purchases and offline ShopeePay payments.

If you have a registered ShopeePay Plus account, look out for the NETS QR or ShopeePay logo on the merchant’s SGQR code, then scan and pay using ShopeePay to be automatically awarded coins cashback!

Find out more about the All-Day Cashback promotion via the following link!

Top image via Mothership & Canva

This sponsored article by ShopeePay got this writer checking whether his passport is up to date.

Singapore's first dedicated accommodation for bus drivers has opened beside the Sengkang West Bus Depot on Jun. 29, 2026.

SQ@Sengkang West houses bus drivers from China.

Opened by transport operator SBS Transit, it is eight storeys with one floor dedicated to female bus drivers.

So far, some 200 opted to live there.

Accommodation is provided for free as part of the drivers' employment, but they pay for utilities.

6 residents in 3 bedrooms

A total of 39 apartments contain 234 beds.

Each apartment houses up to six residents across three bedrooms that are equipped with dining, kitchen and laundry facilities.

Two people share one bedroom that comes with air-conditioning, ceiling fans and built-in storage.

Other facilities provided

Gas stoves, refrigerators, cookware, crockery, cutlery, washing machines, dryers and clothing racks are provided.

A grocery delivery service is also available.

There is also a common games room.

But no alcohol is allowed.

Co-living operator Coliwoo will run the facility.

Before this set up, SBS Transit typically provides accommodation for its drivers by housing them in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.

From Jul. 1, iPhone (iOS) users can create and use passkeys to log in to Singpass.

In a media release, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) announced the beta launch of passkeys as a new login method for Singpass users.

GovTech Singapore said that passkeys will be extended to Android users in subsequent phases.

Passkeys will add to existing authentication methods such as QR login, face verification, and SMS One-Time Passwords (OTPs).

In a media doorstop, GovTech Singapore Senior Director, Singpass, Winston Teo said: "Singpass is the foundational digital identity for residents and businesses."

"Passkeys make logging in safer and easier by removing the need for passwords and OTPs, and effectively protects our users from phishing scams."

He added that GovTech Singapore is constantly evolving its security to ensure Singpass remains safe and secure.

How to create passkey

Starting Jul. 1, 10am, iPhone users can create passkeys by updating the Singpass app to its latest version.

Once updated, users can open the app, tap on the banner on the home screen, and follow the instructions below to complete the passkey creation.

How to use passkey login

To log in, users select the passkey option on the Singpass login page and verify their identity using their fingerprints, facial recognition, or their six-digit app passcode.

According to GovTech Singapore, users who have enabled notifications in their settings will receive a push notification in the Singpass app when the feature becomes available to them.

GovTech Singapore said existing authentication methods will remain available to ensure continued access to services.

GovTech Singapore added that if the device is lost or stolen, the Singpass app and passkey on that device will be automatically deactivated when the user sets up their Singpass app on another device.

What are passkeys?

Passkeys are a secure, password-free way to log in to services using public-private key cryptography.

This is the practice of developing and using algorithms to encode data, such as signatures, for security purposes and to validate that a login is taking place with a legitimate service.

When passkeys are created, a unique digital key pair is generated, the public key is registered with Singpass, while the private key is stored securely on the user's device.

Device-based authentication, such as app passcodes or biometrics like fingerprint and face recognition, will protect the private key.

Passkeys are bound to the legitimate Singpass login domain and will only work with Singpass logins on real government websites and private sector services integrated with Singpass.

They cannot be used on fake websites, thus protecting users against phishing scams.

Why use passkeys to log in?

In addition to faster login times, no login credentials are required with a passkey login, significantly reducing the risk of credential theft.

GovTech Singapore said: "Passkeys offer a more secure authentication method than passwords, which can be stolen, and conventional

QR codes, which scammers can mislead users into scanning."

GovTech Singapore added: "Users are strongly encouraged to adopt passkeys, as they provide an additional security layer against phishing scams and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats."

"Phishing scams were the second most common type of scam in Singapore in 2025, with losses amounting to S$39.9 million."

A Bluetooth proximity check will take place when passkeys are used to log in to a service on another device with the Singpass app.

This is to ensure that the passkey is only used for authentication on a nearby device and to prevent remote attacks.

GovTech Singapore added that passkeys cannot be shared or transferred via the cloud, preventing them from being exploited for scams.

Assistance channels

GovTech Singapore will expand its assistance channels to support user adoption of passkeys.

Users who need help can contact the Singpass Helpdesk or visit a ServiceSG counter located in community centres or clubs across Singapore.

GovTech Singapore added that users can give feedback via the Singpass website's contact form or within the Singpass app settings.

For more information on passkeys, visit the Singpass website here.

In a rare look into his private life, martial arts icon Jet Li, 63, opened up about his blended family.

He did so in a Jun. 25 podcast episode with his younger daughter, Jada, on his YouTube channel.

In the video, Jet addressed long-standing public misconceptions and revealed that his wife, Nina Li Chi, has provided extensively for his elder daughters from his first marriage.

Jet has four daughters: Li Si and Li Taimi with his ex-wife Huang Qiuyan, and Jane and Jada with Nina.

Nina's care for her stepdaughters

During the episode, Jada said that she and her elder half-sisters had "very different upbringings", and asked her father how he maintained fairness between his daughters.

Jet explained that despite Chinese netizens criticising him over the years for treating the older sisters "not nice", he has never felt the need to explain himself.

He revealed that even before Jane and Jada were born, Nina had taken the initiative to care for his daughters from his previous marriage.

Nina had told him: "I'll take care of the two girls. I will pay the money [for them] to go to school. I will take care of everything. You don't need to worry."

He agreed to the arrangement, adding that he felt it would help his daughters bond with their stepmother.

And it worked. "They're very close," he said.

An inheritance

Her care for her stepdaughters extended into looking after their practical needs, Jet said.

In addition to funding their education, Nina had set aside money to provide for the girls "until [they're] 100 years old", even if they do not work.

As both elder daughters are now employed, Nina has also assured them that they only need to focus on taking care of their biological mother, rather than worrying about her or Jet.

Today, the family remains close, with the elder daughters meeting up with them annually either in Singapore or the United States.

Jada added that her elder half-sisters continue to take care of her whenever they can.

From financial provider to "real father"

Jada also asked her father how his views had changed about parenthood, during the 10-year gap between his two sets of daughters.

Jet said that the time coincided with the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, which gave him "more time to think about life".

In his early years of fatherhood, he focused on working hard, while letting his mum look after his daughters.

It got to the point that his younger daughters even showed signs of fear while talking to him, he said.

"I thought [giving] enough money, [giving] a good education in the future, [taking] care of their future was good enough."

"I really didn't know how to communicate with [my daughters]."

The biggest turning point, however, was when Jada fell mentally ill. He realised that he had to do more as a father than "just only [paying] money".

"That was the night that my life changed."

After the incident, he decided to focus on becoming a more present father.

Jet thanked Jada jokingly: "You changed my life. Become real father. Before that, I'm just half a father only."

A man, 36, was arrested in Toa Payoh for committing an obscene act and punching a police officer in the face on the morning of Jun. 28.

The police told Mothership that they received a call for assistance at Block 184 Toa Payoh Central at about 9.45am on Sunday.

The man was apparently creating a disturbance in a coffee shop.

As he was being arrested, he punched an officer in the face, the police said.

A TikTok of the incident showed two police officers holding a barefooted man to the ground.

A third police officer was subsequently seen at the scene.

The man was handcuffed and taken away.

The police said the man was arrested for committing an obscene act and voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty.

A 19-year-old police officer suffered minor injuries and was conveyed to hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

If you still think ShopeePay is only for online shopping, you are probably missing a big part of the picture.

ShopeePay — yes, the same one you use to check out on Shopee — also works offline at over 50,000 merchants islandwide and allows you to earn Shopee coins while you are at it.

What’s more, ShopeePay has just launched an All-Day Cashback promotion to make everyday offline spending even more rewarding, and if you're under 25, the deal is pretty hard to ignore.

Here's what you get

If you are under 25, every offline payment at a ShopeePay-accepted merchant earns you five per cent coins cashback, capped at 500 Shopee coins (S$5) per transaction.

That's your kopi, your bubble tea, your lunch at the hawker centre — all quietly stacking up coins for your next Shopee haul.

25 and above? You're not left out. You still get one per cent coins cashback, capped at 300 Coins (S$3) per transaction.

Every 100 Coins is worth S$1, and can be used to offset spending for both online Shopee purchases and offline ShopeePay payments.

Basically, the more you spend offline with ShopeePay, the more you save later.

Just note: you'll need a verified ShopeePay Plus account to be eligible for the promotion.

Where can you use it?

ShopeePay is accepted at over 50,000+ offline merchants islandwide – so chances are, it’s already available in places you frequent.

This includes your favourite F&B spots such as LiHo Tea, IJOOZ, and Old Chang Kee, daily essentials and lifestyle brands like Sheng Siong, Courts, Challenger, Mustafa, BHG, and over 12,000 hawker stalls islandwide — yes, including your regular cai png uncle.

How to use ShopeePay offline

It’s easy. Spot the NETS QR or ShopeePay logo on a SGQR code. Scan the merchant's QR code or show them yours. Done. Coins cashback gets credited automatically, no extra steps needed, and you can use them for your next Shopee order or ShopeePay spend.

How to find ShopeePay on the Shopee app

There are two ways to get to ShopeePay. You can tap on the ShopeePay icon directly on the Shopee homepage, or head to the "Me" tab on the bottom navigation bar and find it there.

If your account isn't verified yet, you'll see a prompt at the top once you're in — just follow the steps to verify and set up your ShopeePay Plus account, and you're good to go.

Scan, pay, earn. Start earning Coins cashback now — find out more here.

This sponsored article made the author wish she was still under 25 so she could earn that five per cent cashback.

This branded article is brought to you by ShopeePay.

Two Singaporean men, both 32, who were arrested for allegedly being involved in the supply of etomidate vaporiser pods (Kpods) as part of a transnational syndicate, were taken back to the crime scene in Sengkang on Jun. 30 at about 2:30pm.

Willy Poh Wei Li and Kong Qi Cong are two of four Singaporean men arrested as part of an enforcement operation conducted by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Jun. 23.

The two accused were seen wearing white polo tees, black shorts and transparent slippers, with their hands and feet restrained as they were led to Block 226D Compassvale Walk, a multi-storey car park.

The accused were guided through the crime scene separately.

They were flanked by HSA officers and auxiliary police.

Willy Poh Wei Li

The first accused, Poh, arrived at the scene in a van at about 2:39pm.

The van stopped for approximately four minutes before Poh, and the accompanying officers alighted from the vehicle at about 2:43pm.

Poh walked through the crime scene located on the fifth storey of the car park, before heading down and leaving the area at about 2:48pm.

His scene visit took less than five minutes.

Poh was arrested at a residential unit located in Tampines.

A total of 111 vaporiser pods were seized.

Kong Qi Cong

The second accused, Kong, arrived at the scene in a separate van at about 2:54pm.

Kong and the investigating officers walked through the crime scene located on the fourth storey of the car park.

He was seen nodding and investigation officers were seen taking notes.

Kong was also seen pointing in various directions.

He then left the premises at about 3:01pm.

His walkthrough took less than eight minutes.

He was arrested at a residential unit located in Teck Whye.

A total of 1,000 etomidate vaporiser pods and cash amounting to more than S$6,000 were seized from there.

Two vehicles believed to have been used in the local distribution of the etomidate vaporiser pods were impounded.

Laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contained etomidate.

The 1,111 etomidate vaporiser pods seized from both men had an estimated street value of more than S$83,000.

Background

On Jun. 23, HSA conducted an enforcement operation and arrested four Singaporean men allegedly involved in the supply of etomidate vaporiser pods as part of a transnational syndicate.

This is the first suspected transnational etomidate vaporiser pod supply syndicate investigated under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA).

The other two men, Tobias Tan Wei An, 27, and Michael Jordan Tan Wei Hui, 31, were arrested separately and are suspected of being involved in conspiracies with other persons to supply etomidate vaporiser pods.

The four men were charged on Jun. 24 and were remanded for one week to assist with further investigations.

The case was adjourned to Jul. 1.

Their arrests follow investigations on an importation case in May 2026, where more than S$800,000 worth of etomidate vaporiser pods were seized from two Malaysian nationals at Woodlands Checkpoint.

Under TVCA, etomidate and its analogues are listed as Specified Psychoactive Substances in the Schedule.

Suppliers can face a jail term of two to 10 years, and two to five strokes of the cane.

Importers can face a jail term of three to 20 years, and five to 15 strokes of the cane.

Further investigations are ongoing.

A video recently circulating on social media showed two boys forcefully opening a cabin partition door at the back of an MRT train.

One boy was then seen repeatedly pressing a control button located inside, causing an alert to sound.

Another can be heard shouting something before closing the door.

Checks by Mothership found that the videos have since been taken down.

Triggered onboard alarm

In response to Mothership's queries, Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains, said the incident happened earlier this year on Feb. 21.

The incident, which took place on a train along the North-South line, was confirmed through CCTV review, Lam said.

"Their action triggered an onboard alarm," Lam said, adding that the train captain at the front train cabin immediately informed the operations control centre.

Station staff at the next station were alerted to investigate the matter, and the boys later alighted at the next station.

A police report was made on the same day, Lam said.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force said they administered conditional warnings to the two boys, aged 11 and 12, for offences under the Rapid Transit System Regulations.

This was after completion of investigations and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers, they said.

Safety risks

Lam said that they take a "serious view" of such incidents.

Unauthorised access to restricted areas of the trains poses "significant safety and security risks", Lam explained.

"Such reckless actions endanger those involved and may also disrupt train operations, affecting our commuters," he added.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will be revoking the licence of a nursing home in Siglap from Nov. 23 due to "serious and systemic" lapses in the safety and care of its residents.

LC Nursing Home currently has 78 residents, who will be taken care of by an interim team deployed there until they are transferred to other homes.

MOH announced this on Jun. 29, less than two weeks after saying it would be revoking the licence of Windsor Convalescent Home over similar concerns.

These actions followed a series of audits by MOH at selected nursing homes to gauge compliance with infection and prevention control practices, and basic custodial and nursing care.

Persistent non-compliances

The ministry conducted multiple audits at LC Nursing Home.

Initially, in November and December 2025, MOH informed the home that they found serious and systemic non-compliance with requirements under the Healthcare Services Act.

It gave the home an opportunity to make improvements while MOH enforced stricter and closer monitoring.

When it conducted a further audit in April 2026, MOH found that LC Nursing Home did not fully implement certain rectifications or sustain rectification of the identified lapses.

There were also new and repeated non-compliances with HCSA requirements.

The lapses

Lapses found at the home include inadequate clinical and nursing care, inadequate infection prevention and control practices, and not ensuring a safe environment for the residents.

The following are some examples provided by MOH:

• Failure to conduct appropriate reviews or monitoring for residents in multiple aspects including falls, restraint practices and pressure injuries
• Failure to adhere to wound care protocols
• Poor medication management such as presence of poorly maintained medication stock, medication errors, and administration of medication by care staff without suitable credentials
• Failure to adhere to food hygiene practices and implement safe food processes with regard to meal preparation for residents
• Failure to implement infection prevention and control measures
• Failure to ensure environmental hygiene, and suboptimal pest control
• Poorly maintained infrastructure and environment, with multiple hazards posing injury risks to both residents and staff

Acknowledged the findings

After MOH sent a notice to LC Nursing Home about the intention to revoke its licence on Jun. 2, the home submitted representations.

They acknowledged MOH’s findings, and did not provide any explanations to refute the non-compliances.

The home assured the ministry they would take remedial actions, but the plan provided was "very brief, without clear milestones set, and did not provide sufficient assurance", MOH said.

Thus, the ministry assessed the home was not able to continue providing nursing home services safely.

Founder's past misconduct

According to LC Nursing Home's website, the home was established in 1994 by Chia Yang Pong and his wife.

The website said that Chia has 30 years of experience in the nursing home and eldercare industry.

Also listed as the home's CEO, he had his name struck off the Singapore medical register in 2004 after being convicted on 80 charges of professional misconduct.

According to the judgement on that case, he used to be the sole licensee of a chain of seven medical clinics known as Grace Polyclinic.

MOH conducted investigations at all branches of Grace Polyclinic in November 2002, which revealed that benzodiazepines had been improperly prescribed for a number of patients.

There was also no proper record of these patients' symptoms and conditions.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Singapore Medical Council accused Chia of "freely dispensing the hypnotic drugs...without any regard to their medical conditions, health, interest or the harm that might come to them", as quoted by The Straits Times.

Though he pleaded guilty, he appealed for the fine imposed on him to be reduced from S$65,000 to $10,000, which the council granted.

According to Zaobao, Chia was once the director at 11 different companies that were in the nursing home and medical industry. Of these 11 companies, six have since been shut down.

414 student-athletes from 119 schools across 41 sports in Singapore have been awarded a total of S$1.115 million in cash scholarships by the Singapore Olympic Foundation - Peter Lim Scholarship on Jun. 30.

Held at the Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre at ITE Headquarters and College Central, the ceremony was attended by Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister of State for Education, David Neo.

Other attendees included SOF's chairman Ng Ser Miang and Singapore's sprint queen Shanti Pereira, who was a recipient in 2014 and 2015.

The scholarships were awarded to 414 student-athletes, including 75 High Performance Under-18 (HPU18) athletes.

Three new sports were also introduced to the scholarship roster: esports (Tertiary category), cricket, and water ski (HPU18).

The scholarship was established in 2010, with entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Lim donating S$10 million to the Singapore Olympic Foundation.

In 2019, Lim donated an additional S$10 million, extending the scholarship through to 2030.

The release noted that they have awarded more than 5,000 scholarships since their inception in 2011.