I'm not afraid to admit it: I'm a GrabCoins hoarder.

For the uninitiated, GrabCoins (formerly known as GrabRewards points) are earned when you make purchases or bookings through the Grab app. Every 500 GrabCoins is worth S$1.

As someone who regularly orders GrabFood while working from home and takes Grab rides to work events, I've managed to accumulate quite a stash over the years.

A week ago, I decided to check my GrabCoins balance by tapping the coins icon in the top-right corner of the homepage.

And what did I find? A whopping 184,368 GrabCoins, with 182,996 of them due to expire by Jul. 31, much to my horror.

Talk about catching it just in time.

GrabCoins now expire after six months

From Jul. 31, 2026, GrabCoins are now subject to a six-month rolling expiry policy.

That means it’s time to stop hoarding and spend them monthly because your GrabCoins expire six months from the month you earn them.

I had completely forgotten that most of mine were expiring at the end of July.

Needless to say, it was time to start putting them to use.

Apart from your balance and expiry date, the GrabCoins page also lists all the available redemption options.

Most people know you can use GrabCoins to offset the cost of Grab rides and GrabFood orders.

But there are plenty of other ways to redeem them too.

For instance, you can exchange your GrabCoins for vouchers at retailers such as 7-Eleven and Sheng Siong, as well as food outlets like Subway and Paris Baguette.

For example, I can redeem a S$5 voucher with just 2,900 GrabCoins.

Another fun way to use your GrabCoins is to enter lucky draws — for example, you can spend 50 GrabCoins for a chance to win an Apple Watch. You know I'll be taking those chances.

Not bad.

If you've been hoarding GrabCoins like I have, you can also redeem bigger rewards, such as a S$20 IKEA gift card for 10,500 GrabCoins.

Or, if you're saving up for your next holiday, you can convert your GrabCoins into KrisFlyer miles too, such as 2,000 KrisFlyer miles for 26,000 GrabCoins.

And if you really wanna get more bang for your buck, there are also monthly GrabCoins Flash Sales that start on the 15th of every month, where selected vouchers — such as S$10 off GrabFood or Grab rides — can be redeemed for almost half the usual number of GrabCoins.

Some vouchers are discounted by up to 60 per cent during the Flash Sale as well. So mark your calendars.

How I earned so many GrabCoins

If you're wondering how I managed to accumulate more than 180,000 GrabCoins, there are quite a few ways to do so.

Normally, they can be earned through everyday transactions such as booking rides, ordering GrabFood or GrabMart, or using PayLater by Grab.

But there are also bonus earning opportunities, such as hosting a group order or ordering from merchants found only on Grab that can get you five per cent back in GrabCoins.

Another great way to earn coins is booking a table on Grab Dine Out to get 1,000 GrabCoins. You can find the full list of bonus “boosters” at the GrabCoins homepage in the app.

Just remember that your GrabCoins expire at the end of every month, six months after you’ve earned them.

So check your balance regularly.

Otherwise, you might find yourself panic-redeeming all your GrabCoins like I did or with no coins to redeem at all. (Although I can't complain about effectively getting free Grab rides for two weeks straight.)

This branded article by Grab made this writer go on a GrabCoin-redeeming spree.

Former People's Action Party Member of Parliament Lim Soo Peng has died at the age of 97.

Lim, who was an MP for Havelock in the 1960s and 70s, passed on Jul. 27, according to an obituary by the Straits Times.

In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong paid tribute to Lim, and said that he was "saddened to learn of" the news.

"As MP, Mr Lim worked hard to improve the living conditions of his residents, laying the foundations for the area’s subsequent urban transformation," PM Wong said.

After his retirement from politics, Lim devoted himself to serving the community, serving as a Home Team volunteer for 55 years.

The former Justice of the Peace also supported inmates and those undergoing rehabilitation in prisons and drug rehabilitation centres.

He advocated for their welfare and eventual reintegration into society.

Lim "believed in listening to people, understanding their circumstances, and giving them a second chance", wrote PM Wong.

"Mr Lim exemplified a lifetime of service and quiet dedication to others. Singapore owes pioneers like him a deep debt of gratitude."

Home Team volunteer

In a 2022 interview with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lim spoke about his 55 years of volunteerism, which led to him receiving the Public Service Medal and the Public Service Star in 1997 and 2001 respectively.

As a volunteer, he would visit prisons and hold dialogue sessions with inmates to gain insights into the issues they were facing.

He then highlighted these to the authorities.

Lim said he hoped to see the enhancement of Singapore's efforts to reintegrate ex-offenders back into society.

He added:

"Personally, perseverance and commitment to the ideals of public service are what have kept me here for the long haul.

It’s in my nature to keep working and volunteering, regardless of my age, as I believe in lifelong work."

Lim was also the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of listed company Chemical Industries (Far East) Ltd, from which he retired as Emeritus Chairman in July 2025 at the age of 96.

A TikTok post that linked a fitness instructor to the resignation of the former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim has been taken down following an order from the Online Safety Commission (OSC).

The TikTok post included a screenshot of a Telegram message which falsely alleged that a female fitness instructor was "the one who caused MP Faishal to resign".

OSC received report regarding TikTok post, other content

Responding to Mothership's queries, an OSC spokesperson confirmed that it received a report in relation to the matter on Jul. 28.

It said that, among other content, the report referenced the TikTok post.

“Following assessment of the report and determination that online harmful activity had taken place, the OSC took action in relation to the post, which was no longer available as of [Jul. 28] evening,” said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson also said that the OSC is currently looking into other content identified in the report and will take appropriate action where necessary.

The OSC began operations on Jun. 29 and serves as a one-stop agency to help victims of online harms seek recourse.

Untrue allegations

The fitness instructor, Rasidah Caudal, took to Instagram on Jul. 27 to deny the allegations.

She shared a screenshot of a Telegram message that claimed she was "the one who caused MP Faishal to resign".

The same image was posted on TikTok on Jul. 26.

Caudal called the allegations "untrue" and said in the caption of her Instagram post that she had been "wrongfully accused".

"I would like to take the occasion to categorically reject these accusations," she said.

She told Mothership that she "will not hesitate to take legal action" against anyone spreading the false rumours.

The new Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad also stepped forward to defend Caudal in a Facebook post.

"It reminds us to be careful with our words and responsible with what we share. Before passing on a claim, let us pause, verify the facts and remember that a few clicks online can cause deep hurt to innocent people," Zaqy wrote.

Six men, aged between 18 and 27, will be charged in court on Jul. 29, 2026, for rioting.

This comes after the police arrested seven men, aged between 18 and 33, for their suspected involvement in a case of rioting that left one 48-year-old man injured.

Investigations are ongoing against the remaining 33-year-old man.

The police said in a press release on Jul. 28 that they were alerted to a fight at Block 243 Yishun Ring Road at about 8pm on Jul. 24.

Officers subsequently found a man with injuries at the car park near the block.

The 48-year-old man sustained head and body injuries and was conveyed unconscious to the hospital.

The police established the identities of the persons involved and arrested them between Jul. 25 and 28 through follow-up investigations and with the aid of images from police cameras.

The offence of rioting carries a jail term of up to seven years and caning.

"The police will not tolerate such brazen acts of violence and blatant disregard of the law. We will spare no effort to apprehend those responsible and deal with them in accordance with the law," they said.

Attack

A 57-year-old resident previously told Shin Min Daily News that he had seen a group of people gathered near the car park, and suspected that a quarrel or fight had broken out.

Another resident, 18, recounted hearing sounds of fighting from below his unit and went to his window to look, where he saw a man being surrounded and allegedly beaten by several others.

The man had apparently fallen to the ground and could not get up, while his attackers kept hitting and kicking him.

A pool of blood was later seen on the ground near the motorcycle parking area, along with scattered debris, a detached shoe sole, and several cigarette butts nearby.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) reported a S$76 million net loss for the three months ended Jun. 30, 2026, even though the total revenue went up by 19.3 per cent to reach a record S$5.71 billion.

It is the national carrier's first quarterly deficit since ​the pandemic ​ended, according to Reuters.

For the same quarter the previous year, the airline recorded a net ​profit ⁠of S$186 million.

In a statement on Jul. 28, the Singapore Airlines Group attributed the loss to surging jet fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict, and a higher share of losses from Air India, in which it holds a 25.1 per cent strategic stake.

Strong demand for air travel

The airline was able to achieve its record revenue largely because of "robust demand for air travel", the group explained.

Over the quarter, passenger revenue went up 18.6 per cent to S$4.58 billion.

SIA and Scoot carried a record 10.9 million passengers, 6.3 per cent more than the previous year.

Cargo revenue also grew by 33.5 per cent, or S$178 million, to hit S$708 million.

High fuel spending

However, SIA's expenditure during this period rose at the same time, by 27.9 per cent to S$5.61 billion.

Most of it is accounted for by fuel.

The airline spent S$2.25 billion on fuel, a surge of 78.5 per cent.

The group shared that jet fuel, typically priced on a lagged basis, more than doubled in cost over the quarter due to the Middle East conflict.

"While SIA and Scoot have adjusted air fares and cargo rates to help mitigate this, these measures do not fully offset the impact of significantly higher fuel prices," the group said.

This ultimately led the airline to record a S$299 million, or 73.8 per cent, drop in operating profit, to S$106 million.

Higher share of losses from Air India

Another factor that contributed to the net loss is the S$42 million losses from its share in Air India.

The Indian flag carrier posted a net loss of 222.38 billion rupees (S$3 billion) for the financial year ended March 2026, nearly double the previous year's 108.59 billion rupees (S$1.46 billion), CNA reported.

The airline's turnaround could take up to a decade, longer than previously projected, said the chairman of Tata Sons, which owns Air India, in a Jul. 27 annual report.

It faces several challenges including persistent supply-chain disruptions in key components, the need to overhaul legacy systems, culture, and fleet, and the need to build a larger technical and airline workforce.

SIA Group assured that, against the backdrop of this net loss, it will "continue to seize growth opportunities, leveraging its well-diversified global passenger and cargo network".

Related stories

A woman who was dismissed during her probation period has been awarded S$30,000 by the Employment Claims Tribunal.

Tribunal Magistrate Joel Tan found that her employer had not proven she fell below its own performance standards, according to a grounds of decision published on Jul. 28.

The woman had been hired as a regional internal control audit manager on Apr. 21, 2025.

Her gross monthly salary was S$11,500.

She was let go on Oct. 16, 2025, shortly before her six-month probationary period ended.

She was told her performance had not met the standards required for confirmation.

Her last day was Oct. 31, 2025.

Both parties are anonymised in the judgment.

What the employer said

The company maintained the dismissal was based solely on performance, pointing to a probation evaluation form in which the woman had scored 71 per cent against a required threshold of 80 per cent, and received an average competency rating of 2.4 out of five against a required three.

The company said the targets and goals had been clearly communicated to the woman.

Her side of the story

The woman raised three grounds for her claim.

She said the poor performance allegations were not substantiated, and that her inability to understand Korean had played a role in her dismissal.

She claimed that key discussions among senior colleagues were frequently conducted in Korean, excluding her from conversations that shaped performance expectations.

She also argued the dismissal was retaliation for what she described as “whistleblowing”.

She had raised concerns about a proposed restructuring of the company's internal audit function, which she believed created a self-review threat inconsistent with audit principles.

The woman, who had 15 years of audit experience, told the tribunal she had anticipated that her supervisor would find fault with peripheral matters rather than the quality of her audit work, and that she felt her supervisor was "evaluating [her] at the wrong side of the audit table".

What the tribunal found

On the competency ratings, the magistrate found that the reporting supervisor had given below-average ratings of two across six of 10 competencies, but never explained to the woman what she needed to do to pass, and had not carried out any of the periodic documented reviews that the company's own probation process required.

Critically, the justification column on the evaluation form was left entirely blank across every entry. The only explanations offered were given verbally at the hearing.

The magistrate found the oral justifications did not withstand scrutiny, describing them as the supervisor's impressions dressed up as a suitability review.

The same problems arose with the performance goals.

The woman received her first formal feedback on her performance goals on Oct. 16, 2025, the very same day she was told she had failed probation.

In one instance, the supervisor had doubled the weightage of a goal from 10 per cent to 20 per cent without telling the woman, after reassigning a separate task to another employee.

The magistrate concluded that an employer who never made its standards clear could not then use an employee's failure to conform to those standards as evidence that they were unsuitable, noting that not knowing a standard and being unable to meet it were two different things.

The tribunal ruled in her favour on the performance ground alone, which was sufficient to decide the case.

It found the language discrimination and whistleblowing claims unproven on the evidence.

The award

The tribunal found she would have remained employed for at least a further three months had she not been wrongfully dismissed, which would have placed the full award at S$34,500.

However, the prescribed claim limit constrained the award to S$30,000.

The magistrate awarded the maximum permissible sum, along with S$300 in costs and S$60 in disbursements.

A 61-year-old man allegedly slapped a woman twice and threw her stroller into a bush during a dispute outside a childcare centre in Tampines.

Police are conducting investigations.

The incident occurred on the morning of Jul. 24 at Block 878 Tampines Avenue 8, reported to Shin Min Daily News.

Two days of conflict

According to a nearby resident who spoke to Shin Min, the two had a dispute the evening before on Jul. 23 at around 6pm.

He heard a loud argument from downstairs and recognised the voice of his male neighbour.

He told Shin Min: "They argued for a while, and the man kept shouting loudly and hurled vulgarities at her. There was no physical contact then. However, the next morning I heard them arguing again, and this time the police were involved.”

The resident said he did not go downstairs the second time, but later ran into the woman and noticed she looked distressed.

She told him she had been slapped twice and had made a police report.

According to the resident, the woman had parked her stroller in the middle of the walkway in front of the childcare centre, which he believed may have obstructed the man's path and triggered his frustration.

The resident noted that the area is a busy spot where children often sit to change their shoes and parents gather to wait for their children after school.

However, he pointed out that it was not raining that day and the corridor was wide enough for people to pass.

"I think everyone should be considerate. There was no need for things to escalate like this, especially arguing loudly and using vulgarities in front of so many young children," he said to Shin Min.

Stroller thrown into bushes

The woman confirmed the incident to Shin Min when reporters visited the childcare centre on Jul. 27.

She said she did not know the man personally, and that he was not a parent of any child at the centre.

After the argument on Jul. 23, the man returned the next day.

He claimed the woman's stroller was blocking the walkway and threw it into a bush.

The woman told Shin Min that her child was so frightened by the incident that she was reluctant to go to school afterwards.

Sparkletots responds

A PCF Sparkletots Preschool spokesperson told Mothership that it was aware of the incident and was still gathering information, and was unable to comment further.

The centre added that it was fully cooperating with police investigations.

In photos published by Shin Min, a "No strollers allowed" sign was pasted on the window of the kindergarten.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed that they received a call for assistance at around 9:35am on Jul. 24 regarding a case of assault at Block 878 Tampines Avenue 8.

A 61-year-old man is currently assisting with investigations.

A video of people forming a human pyramid on the Singapore Flyer has made its rounds on social media.

The video which was posted on Instagram Stories, showed a group of 10 men in what appeared to be a capsule of the flyer.

It appeared to be taken by another individual within the same capsule.

Human pyramid

They were seen forming a human pyramid, where they stacked themselves on top one another.

One individual barely made it to the top of the pyramid, where he managed to stay for a few seconds before he fell off with the rest of the group.

A Mothership reader who wished to remain anonymous said he came across the video on social media and found their actions "disruptive and dangerous".

According to Singapore Flyer's website, one private capsule can fit up to 28 people.

Believed to be overseas visitors

Responding to Mothership's queries, Singapore Flyer said it is aware of the incident, which based on its records, took place shortly after 9pm on Jul. 26.

Based on the information available from the social media post, Singapore Flyer believes the individuals involved were overseas visitors.

It is concerned about the safety risks posed to the guests involved, as well as other guests within the capsule.

"We take this matter seriously as the safety and security of our guests and staff is our highest priority," said Singapore Flyer.

Does not condone behaviour compromising safety

It added that it does not condone behaviour that could compromise the safety of guests, staff, or others within the attraction.

"While no injuries were reported and the incident did not affect the safe operation of the Singapore Flyer, we encourage guests to capture memorable moments during their visit safely and responsibly," it said.

"We remain committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests at Singapore Flyer and will review existing safety measures to assess whether additional reminders within the capsules would help reinforce responsible behaviour."

Large unattended, empty fuel tanks were found at a multi-storey car park in Eunos.

The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to a report of a suspicious item left on the sixth floor deck of the multi-storey car park at Block 39 Eunos Crescent on the morning of Jun. 27, Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights Diana Pang wrote in a Facebook post.

While the tanks contained no fuel, residual fuel vapours remained inside, posing a potential fire and explosion risk if exposed to an ignition source, Pang added.

Preliminary investigations suggest the tanks may be linked to illegal storage or distribution of diesel or petrol.

Photos shared showed the fuel tanks were white containers with metal frames.

They appear to be more than 1m in height and were situated at a corner of the sixth storey of the car park.

Pang expressed gratitude towards the emergency responders for their “swift response and ongoing investigations”.

She also encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant.

“If you notice lorries transporting fuel containers, the transfer of fuel in the car park, or any other suspicious or unusual activities, please report them to the police immediately. Your timely reporting can help prevent potential safety hazards and keep our neighbourhood safe,” she wrote.

They had entered politics for just over a year, and now they have been selected to join the government.

As part of the latest Cabinet reshuffle, first-term Members of Parliament (MPs) Foo Cexiang and Shawn Loh will be taking on additional duties as Ministers of State (MOS) from Sep. 1, 2026, and Jan. 1, 2027, respectively.

Foo and Loh have several things in common: both have large young families, now work in the private sector, and spent a large part of their careers as senior civil servants.

Foo was a director at the Ministry of Transport, where he oversaw private and future mobility. Loh was a director of security and resilience programmes at the Ministry of Finance and served as Budget director in 2024 and 2025.

Given their young age — Foo is 41, and Loh is 39 — the move paints a rather bright future for them in Singapore's next generation of leaders.

If you ask them, though, the road ahead at this point is a little more complicated.

Foo, who will become MOS for Manpower and Trade and Industry, said he's excited to work on creating good jobs for Singaporeans and preparing them for the AI age.

But he also feels "a little apprehension", not knowing what his specific portfolio will entail.

He summarised his emotions about his new post: "Excited, apprehensive, grateful."

Similarly, Loh shared his mix of anticipation and nerves about stepping into the roles of MOS for Education and Health.

"Many in my generation have this feeling when we take on new responsibilities and new accountabilities — we don't know whether we can perform," he said.

"It's a bit of an imposter syndrome," he acknowledged. "But most certainly I'll try my best."

A good start

Holding political office is not a task just anyone can take on.

So why did Prime Minister Lawrence Wong believe these two relatively fresh faces are up for it?

At a Jul. 23 press conference announcing the new Cabinet line-up, PM Wong explained that he was bringing the two men into government because "they have made a good start as MPs".

Which leaves much room for interpretation.

Loh gave his take with humility, saying first that PM Wong was "very generous with his words".

Rather than refer to himself, he went on to commend the work of his group representation constituency (GRC) team.

"We've tried our best, and we've done our best to serve the community here in Jalan Besar GRC," he said.

Echoing his words, Foo believes his own team at Tanjong Pagar GRC has also "done [their] best to try to address" their residents' problems.

Not forgetting to bring joy to their days too. Despite being a self-professed introvert, his face lit up as he shared about joining residents at events to sing, dance, exercise, and just have fun together.

"I really enjoy [these times] from the bottom of my heart," he said, and it shows in the videos, brimming with his playful energy.

Millennial energy

Being young can often be conflated as lacking competence for a job, but Foo and Loh both have over a decade of experience in civil service each prior to their entrance into politics.

Plus, rather than seeing his youth as a downside, Loh sees it as a unique perspective and energy that he hopes to bring to the table in the Cabinet.

Perhaps it is this confidence in his diverse strengths that led him to boldly tell PM Wong he was open to joining any ministry.

When PM Wong spoke to him about moving to the front bench, he "very kindly" asked whether there was a ministry Loh wanted to go to, and any he did not.

Loh turned the question back to him, telling PM Wong to post him wherever he thought he could best contribute to solve the major issues of the country.

"He was taken aback," Loh recalled with a laugh.

"He was like, 'I asked you, and you ask me back?'... But that's pretty much the way in which I'm approaching the new season."

Speaking his mind

Apart from the additional work, becoming a Cabinet member also means some other changes.

For one, questioning the government is a role traditionally designated for backbenchers and opposition MPs.

Political office holders are instead tasked to answer those questions. This means both men will no longer be able to ask questions in Parliament — something that Foo in particular has actively done as an up-and-coming MP.

When we asked him about how he thinks his role in Parliament will change, he said that he "fully intends to continue speaking [his] mind".

In his new capacity, this means doing so in representing the ministry's policies, or even engaging in debate with other Members of Parliament.

"I think [that] doesn't change," he said of his trademark outspokenness.

He added that he also plans to continue engaging his fellow government compatriots in other settings, to represent the concerns of his residents.

Family considerations

Finally, there's the need to figure out a new balance between work and home, as both men are also young fathers with large families.

The job of an MOS will demand more of their time and energy, and they have already started making space for it by making plans to step down from their current roles in private companies.

But they will not be stepping away from their families.

Foo, who has three daughters aged four to nine, has frequently shared on his social media fun moments with his children, including at events with the residents.

In fact, he was on holiday with his family in Ipoh when PM Wong's secretary told him the prime minister wanted to meet him. He did not know then that it was about joining the Cabinet, but he saw no reason to cut short his holiday.

When the meeting happened the following week and he learnt the news, his mind was still on his family.

"One of my considerations was actually to maybe not have too much travelling in the immediate term because my children are still very small," he told Mothership.

As for Loh, this new balancing act does not seem to him like it will be very different from the current one between his roles as an MP, a corporate leader, and a young father.

Still, with four children ranging from five to 13 years old, he admitted that it will be a big challenge.

"I can't promise anyone, including my family, that would be an easy journey, but most certainly, I'll try my best to balance everything."

And trying his best, he feels, is good enough. "You don't have to be perfect in everything," he added.

"For my family, I make sure I'm faithful in the small things — the small promises I make, to wake my kids up in the morning, to try to put them to bed in the evening, have meals, have conversations with them on a very regular basis.

And that's something that I hope to advocate for, not just for myself, but for all families in Singapore."