A 31-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of outrage of modesty.

On Jun. 23 at about 8:30pm, the police received a report that an unknown man had allegedly molested an 11-year-old girl in the vicinity of Woodlands Drive 50.

The man’s identity was established through follow-up investigations with the aid of images from police cameras.

He was subsequently arrested within a day of the report.

The man was scheduled to be charged with the offence of outrage of modesty on Jun. 26.

The offence carries a jail term of three to 10 years and caning.

The police said they have zero tolerance towards sexual offenders who prey on unsuspecting victims and threaten the personal safety of those in the community.

Offenders will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law.

The police also advised victims of molestation to move away from the perpetrators and call the police immediately when it is safe to do so.

While ensuring their personal safety, victims should try to note key details, such as the perpetrator’s physical appearance, clothing, the time and location of the incident.

The 19-year-old French teenager who allegedly filmed himself licking a straw and returning it to an iJooz vending machine is expected to plead guilty on Jul. 13, 2026.

According to CNA, the lawyer of Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien told the district court on Jun. 26 that Maximilien, who was not present at the hearing, would enter a plea on the afternoon of Jul. 13.

Earlier reports stated that Maximilien had previously been charged on Apr. 24 with one count of committing mischief and another count of public nuisance.

Incident

The incident allegedly took place on Mar. 12 at around 2pm at Goldhill Centre in Thomson Road.

Maximilien had allegedly filmed himself removing and licking a straw from an iJooz kiosk before placing it back into the straw dispenser.

His antics went viral after he allegedly posted the video onto his Instagram Story on the same day.

iJooz, which is known for its orange juice vending machines, replaced all 500 straws in the dispenser, valued at S$5.

Internship

The Straits Times reported that the ESSEC Business School student had earlier been allowed to leave Singapore for a school-required trip to the Philippines from May 2 to 25, and subsequently returned to Singapore.

According to CNA, the three-week internship in Manila was a requirement for Maximilien to graduate.

Penalties

If found guilty of mischief, he could be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.

If convicted of public nuisance, he faces a jail term of up to three months, a fine of up to S$2,000, or both.

Two masked men wearing motorcycle helmets allegedly splashed fuel and red paint onto a nasi kandar restaurant before setting it ablaze in Johor, Malaysia.

The incident occurred on the morning of Jun. 19, a day before the restaurant’s scheduled grand opening, Bernama reported.

Fire

In surveillance footage circulating online, the incident occurred at about 3:32am.

The arsonists, armed with machetes, were seen splashing fuel and red paint at the restaurant’s entrance.

They then set the restaurant alight.

Both men fled the premises.

One of them was caught on camera with his feet on fire.

Investigations

According to local police, a call was received at about 3:59am from the restaurant operator.

The incident resulted in losses estimated at RM200,000 (S$62,317).

The motive of the pair’s actions remains unclear.

Local police are searching for the culprits.

The Johor Fire and Rescue Department also said it received a call at about 3:43am.

However, the fire was apparently put out when fire trucks arrived.

No injuries were reported.

Investigations are ongoing.

The restaurant had previously promoted its grand opening, which included free food for visitors.

A district court in Hokkaido, Japan, has sentenced 23-year-old Riko Uchida to 27 years in prison for the 2024 murder of a 17-year-old girl.

The victim died after falling into the Ishikari River from a suspension bridge, where she had been forced to sit naked on the railing.

Retaliation for posting a photo

According to the indictment, the victim had posted a photo of Uchida on social media without her consent, The Japan Times reported.

In her anger, Uchida conspired with others to force the victim into a car at a roadside station, assaulting and confining her before taking her to a secluded bridge on the outskirts of town.

On the night of Apr. 18, 2024, Uchida forced the victim to strip naked, kneel and bow on the ground, and sit on the bridge railing to apologise.

Uchida also filmed the scene.

The group allegedly repeatedly shouted phrases such as "fall off" and "die" before the victim fell to her death.

Court ruling

During the trial, Uchida denied any intent to kill, claiming she did not cause the victim to fall.

She testified that she had walked away from the teenager on the bridge and only heard a scream followed by a thud, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

However, prosecutors labelled Uchida the "ringleader and principal offender" of an "extremely cruel and malicious" crime that "trampled on the victim's dignity", The Japan Times wrote.

The Asahi Shimbun reported that prosecutors successfully argued that Uchida's continuous violence, threats, and psychological torment cornered the victim to such an extreme degree that she felt she had no choice but to fall.

This made the actions legally equivalent to murder, even if Uchida did not physically push her.

A total of four people, who were 16 to 21 years old at the time, were arrested in connection with the case.

Besides Uchida, a 21-year-old woman was accused of conspiring with Uchida and was sentenced to 23 years in jail.

Her testimony contradicted Uchida, claiming that Uchida had physically pushed the victim's back, causing her to fall into the river.

The remaining two were referred to the family court on confinement allegations.

They were sent to a juvenile facility and placed on probation, respectively

A Singapore-flagged cargo ship, the Ever Lovely, was reportedly struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Jun. 25.

Unknown projectile

The BBC reports that the Ever Lovely was struck by an unknown projectile on its starboard side which caused damage to its bridge while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations Security Agency, the incident occurred 14 kilometres southeast of Dahit, Oman.

However, the master of the container ship reported no casualties and no environmental impact, and the BBC reports that the vessel continued through the strait after the attack.

Prior to the war in Iran, there had been an accepted transit route through the Strait.

But in recent months, both Oman and Iran have demarcated separate routes with Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority warning that “any consequences arising from the use of unauthorised routes shall be the responsibility of the vessel's owner, charterer, and master.”

Safe passage

The Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed during the Iran conflict, with an estimated 11,000 sailors stranded in the strait.

On Jun. 17, the U.S. and Iran signed a 14-point deal to end hostilities, which called on Iran to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days.

A UN-led evacuation effort was announced on June 23, but was paused after the news of the attack spread.

Arsenio Dominguez, the head of the UN's International Maritime Organization, which is coordinating the evacuation effort, said that the Ever Lovely did not transit under the IMO's evacuation framework.

The BBC quoted him as saying that in order to ensure a coordinated approach and navigational safety, the evacuation plan will be paused until further clarity is obtained.

During the Iran war, Iran was reportedly charging a toll of up to US$2 million (S$2.6 million) to ensure safe passage through the strait.

The ceasefire deal that it agreed to would mean that it will not charge that toll, but Iran is reportedly considering charging maritime service fees instead.

The relative calm in the Strait of Hormuz allowed the price of oil to fall below US$72.48, which was the price it was at before the start of the war on February 28.

Two Filipino men cycled past a red light and collided with a 65-year-old man crossing the road.

The elderly man suffered a fracture.

Boromeo Judelle David, 32, and Buendia Billy Ray Mercado, 42, pleaded guilty on Jun. 24 to a charge of rash behaviour endangering the safety of others and a charge of rash behaviour causing grievous hurt, respectively.

Friends

In court documents seen by Mothership, both men were good friends.

On Mar. 15, 2025, they decided to cycle from Pasir Ris to Ubi.

At about 5pm, they were cycling along Pasir Ris Drive 3 towards Elias Road.

At that time, the weather was clear, and traffic was light.

David was in front of Mercado.

When they reached the traffic light in front of Pasir Ris Swimming Complex, the light had already turned red.

The pair ignored the signal and continued cycling into the pedestrian crossing area.

According to Shin Min Daily News, dashcam footage shown in court revealed that the pair paused their pedalling for a brief moment and continued to let their bicycles move despite the red light.

Collision

At that moment, the 65-year-old man jogging ran towards them along the pedestrian walkway on their left.

When he reached the traffic light, which had turned green for pedestrians, he turned right to cross the road.

However, David, who weighed about 115kg at the time of the incident, collided with the man.

The man was thrown into the air due to the impact of the collision.

As the man fell onto the ground, Mercado was unable to avoid him and ran over him with his bicycle, specifically over his left leg and right knee.

Mercado and his bicycle toppled over the man, which caused the man to suffer abrasions on his right knee.

Attended

Immediately after the collision, the pair stopped cycling and attended to the man.

David called for medical assistance, and the pair stayed with the victim until paramedics arrived.

The man was conveyed to the Chang General Hospital.

The pair also gave their contact details to the man’s son, who arrived shortly after the incident.

Injuries

According to medical reports, the man was diagnosed with a fracture in both forearm bones just above the left wrist.

He required surgery and a post-operative splint for his left upper limb.

Immobilisation was also required.

The man was eventually discharged from the hospital.

He was given a 50-day hospitalisation leave from Mar. 15, 2025 to May 3, 2025.

The man only resumed work sometime in June 2025.

On Mar. 23, the pair agreed to pay the man S$6,000 in compensation for the incident.

Responsibility

The prosecution urged a two to three-week jail term for Mercado and a four to six-week jail term for David, arguing they bore a responsibility as road users to observe road traffic rules, which were put in place to ensure the safety of others.

While they took some precautionary measures by slowing down slightly as they approached the pedestrian crossing, the prosecution said they still ran the red light.

The momentum of their bicycles carried them forward at a speed that left them unable to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid colliding with the man.

The pair’s lawyer argued that the pair not only kept in touch with the man’s son, but also visited him with a fruit basket.

The pair also voluntarily provided the man monetary compensation and were remorseful.

Their lawyer further argued that the pair did not notice the man as their line of sight was blocked by the traffic light, citing the dashcam video.

Both men pleaded for leniency.

The case was adjourned to Aug. 4 for sentencing.

Looking for a place to have fun with your family and friends? Or are you a big fan of Minecraft?

Here’s something you might want to check out – the Minecraft Experience at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, marking its first-ever stop in Asia.

Running from now to Sep. 13, 2026, visitors will get to fully immerse themselves in an interactive Minecraft adventure, complete with a quest storyline and mob battles in various Minecraft biomes.

Plus, you don’t actually need to be a Minecraft player to enjoy yourself at the exhibition, which was what I discovered to my pleasant surprise when I paid a visit.

Knowing nothing about Minecraft and still having a ball of a time

When I joined the exhibition, I was given the following interactive cube, also known as an “Orb of Interaction", right at the start.

As I soon discovered, this cube is your entire key to enjoying the experience – it allows you to interact with the various displays and figures you will encounter through the adventure, including doing battle with familiar Minecraft mobs such as Creepers and Spiders.

There are also various life-sized statues of such mobs and farm animals located throughout the exhibition (Hint: place your “orb” on the statues to hear what they sound like).

Naturally, I could not resist taking lots of photos of the mobs.

The first area of the exhibition, called “The Forest” provided me with a chance to familiarise myself with the “orb’s” various uses.

Such as hacking down this tree, which I found to be oddly gratifying.

For the next room, I found that I had to run around a bit to place my “orb” on Minecraft’s iconic Crafting Tables to craft various equipment such as swords and axes[c], in a manner similar to the game.

The number of equipment that needs to be crafted might sound like a lot, but together with other participants in the group running around to “collect” materials such as iron and wood for the items, we were done in no time.

Build a village and receive a mission to rescue them

Once this area was complete, our next task was to help build up a village by interacting with the following table.

We then received a mission to rescue them because, unfortunately, all of them were turned into zombies.

This kickstarted my favourite portion of the exhibition: going through three Minecraft biomes – swamps, taiga and ocean – to hunt for the ingredients to rescue the villagers in buried treasure chests.

Why do I say favourite? Because here is where you feel like you are truly in the wilds, with even the floor coming alive as part of the immersive landscape.

(Hint: You can interact with the floor as well!)

Things then began to heat up when we arrived at the next area – a Minecraft mineshaft to battle even more zombies, creepers and spiders so that you can collect another ingredient exclusive only to the mineshaft – gunpowder.

Cue even more furious waving with my cube to take down what felt like a never-ending horde of spiders.

Next, we had to build a Nether Portal with lava and water, using our “orb” to mix them to create obsidian, the building block of the portal.

I decided to relax, after all that hard battling in the mineshaft, and let the others do the job.

This portal brought us to the Nether, where we had to first pass a game of Floor is Lava to reach the Nether Fortress, while looking out for the floating rocks and striders on the ground.

At the fortress, we had to battle against blazes, the mobs of the final level, before facing off against their leader, essentially the “final boss” of the Minecraft Experience, to pick up their loot – blaze rods.

This time, instead of using our “orb”, we had to rely on how quickly and accurately we could throw snowballs at the mobs.

As expected, no one could match the zeal and enthusiasm of the children in the group in pelting the blazes and their leader, and so us adults decided to let these elite warriors do the job.

I admit, I was a little confused as to how battling lava monsters would contribute to saving the villagers but if you are a Minecraft player, you would have probably picked up that the Blaze Rods are meant for “crafting” with the Brewing Stand – the device that will, in turn, allow you to craft the potion to help cure the zombified villagers.

At the end of it all, it was time to use the materials we had collected to rescue the zombified villagers using a Brewing Stand.

This included tapping and shaking our “orb”, and yes, I couldn’t help but shake it like a post-workout protein shake at the gym.

We then got to see how many villagers we managed to save with our other tour members, along with a list of our achievements.

I daresay, we did a pretty great job, myself included.

Treats for completing the quest

Keen to bring back a piece of the experience with you?

You can buy The Obsidian Package online, which is inclusive of a free limited-edition tote bag, a Collector’s Gold Pin, and a VIP Potion Medal & themed lanyard along with other goodies at S$44.90.

All guests will also be able to receive an in-game reward for Minecraft: a rare, limited-edition Minecraft Experience cape!

Discounts galore

Keen on saving the village? Here’s some good news: if you bring your friends and family along, you get to enjoy group discounts of up to 20 per cent off on your tickets!

What’s more, the experience is also available for purchase as a bundle with other attractions at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, including Exploria, Singapore Zoo and Night Safari with a discount of up to 20 per cent, thereby allowing you to make full use of your day at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

You can find out more information about the experience here.

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue location and details:

Duration: Apr. 24 to Sep. 13, 2026

Address: Green Canvas, Exhibition Hall 1 & 2, Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 11am – 7pm | Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 8pm

Monday – Sunday (Public Holidays & School Holidays): 10am – 8pm

Duration: Entry can be booked in 15-minute slots. Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue takes approximately 55 minutes to complete.

Price: From S$46 for adults and S$40 for children

Age Requirement: Open to all ages. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Children aged 0-2 may enter for free (no ticket purchase necessary).

Accessibility: The exhibition is wheelchair accessible.

This branded article made the writer consider becoming a Minecraft player

A 40-year-old Taiwanese man who slept only four to five hours a day and was faced with high work pressure suddenly suffered a stroke, but was able to avoid permanent disability as he received medical treatment in time.

The tech engineer, Zhang, did not know he had high blood pressure, Guang Ming Daily reported, adding that he would often stay up late to watch dramas, read novels and play mobile games.

Received treatment in time

However, after suddenly experiencing symptoms including weakness in his right limbs, slurred speech, and drooling, he was rushed to the emergency room Sin Chew Daily reported.

Despite being diagnosed with an acute ischemic stroke, he avoided permanent disability and his brain function was successfully restored as he received medical treatment in time.

Risk factors

A neurologist at Fengyuan Hospital said that Zhang did not seek medical attention as he had not been experiencing any obvious discomfort.

Noting that the risk of stroke is further increased by long-term sleep deprivation and work stress, he added that recent clinical data show the number of stroke patients under the age of 45 to be gradually increasing.

Guang Ming Daily reported that, on top of genetic factors, other risk factors include poor control of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as long-term sleep deprivation, high work pressure, lack of exercise and smoking.

FAST

The neurologist also said signs of stroke can be quickly identified using the "FAST" mnemonic, including Face (facial drooping), Arm (arm weakness), Speech (difficulty speaking), and Time (get to the hospital immediately).

Those who experience any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, he added.

Patients who arrive at the hospital and complete the assessment as early as four and a half hours after the onset of symptoms can receive intravenous thrombolysis treatment if they meet the criteria, he said.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, this refers to treatment that stops blood clots and can lessen the damage from a heart attack, pulmonary embolism or stroke.

A Japanese influencer who spent four years saving up to attend the 2026 World Cup in North America has hit back at online accusations claiming she could not have funded the trip herself.

Inori, a TikTok livestreamer with over 350,000 followers across social media platforms, posted a selfie at the stadium during Japan's match against the Netherlands on Jun. 15. The photo went viral on X, but also drew a wave of unsolicited scepticism.

Comments included accusations that she had no real interest in football, was only there to be seen, and that a "sugar daddy" had paid for her trip. Some questioned whether she even understood the rules of the game, according to Shueisha Online.

日本🇯🇵vsオランダ🇳🇱

勝ってぇ🥺#W杯 #worldcup pic.twitter.com/UDiR49hS81

— いのり (@_inooori_) June 14, 2026

Four years of saving

Inori told Shueisha Online she had decided to attend this World Cup four years ago, after seeing posts from fans who had made the trip to the previous tournament.

She said:

"Back then I was a university student and didn't have the money to go overseas. But I thought that with four years, depending on what I do, I might be able to make it happen."

The total cost of the trip, which includes flights, accommodation, and tickets, amounted to around ¥3 million (S$24,054). It was also her first time travelling overseas. She booked through a travel agency as she was unfamiliar with arranging international trips on her own.

She added:

"I was always conscious of saving money because I knew it would be expensive. But I didn't think of it as a hardship or effort, I chose ways to keep going that I genuinely enjoyed."

A lifelong football fan

Inori's love of football goes back to her school days, when a friend's father gave her tickets to a Cerezo Osaka match, her first time at a stadium. She later started following the Japanese league, studied sports management at university with a focus on growing female fandom in football, and continues to attend matches regularly.

On watching Japan play live for the first time overseas, she told Shueisha:

"I've watched Japan play in Japan before, but the energy from fans who had travelled all the way overseas was just different. The atmosphere, the heat, the passion of the supporters really came through."

She had also been looking forward to seeing Netherlands footballer Virgil van Dijk in person, having followed him since high school. But when it came to the match itself, she was of course rooting for Japan.

She said:

"Even if I have a favourite player, I want Japan to win."

On the online backlash

Inori said the criticism was hurtful but not entirely surprising, adding that she felt compelled to speak up not just for herself but for female football fans more broadly.

She told Shueisha that some of the accusations, including that she wasn't actually watching the match or that she was paid to be there, were absolutely untrue.

She added that during this World Cup, female fans in particular seemed to be bearing the brunt of online hostility, which concerned her.

"You don't need to draw a line over who is a 'real' fan. I just want excessive online abuse to stop. I want to see more female supporters."

After his ex-girlfriend blocked him on a messaging platform, a Singaporean man shared her nudes on a religious-themed porn group out of spite.

The group chat contained obscene images and videos of tudung-clad women, according to charge sheets seen by Mothership.

The man was caught after the victim went undercover on the platform to investigate.

For his crimes, the accused, 27, was handed two years and eight months' jail and two strokes of the cane, CNA reported.

He was also made to pay S$4,000 in compensation to the victim, who nearly committed suicide and was estranged from her mother due to the incident.

Incident

According to court documents, the victim and the accused were in a relationship in 2016 after meeting in a religious school.

The pair, then 15 and 17, respectively, exchanged intimate photos and videos at the accused's persuasion.

They broke up sometime in 2017 or 2018 after the victim found the accused to be possessive and toxic.

She requested that he delete any photos and videos of her he had, which he agreed to, but was unaware he had kept them for his "viewing pleasure".

On Apr. 12, 2021, during the month of Ramadan, the accused texted the victim to seek forgiveness for his behaviour during the relationship.

He also asked to get back together with her, even though he was in a relationship with someone else.

However, the victim did not respond to his messages and instead blocked him, which enraged the accused.

He decided to humiliate her.

Uploading nudes

Prior to this, the accused had created an account on a pornography social media platform, "MeWe", where he joined several groups, including two involving non-consensual pornography.

One was an open-access group that allowed anyone on the platform to access its content, while the tudung group was a closed group requiring administrator access.

The platform had millions of users at this point.

The accused renamed his account into the victim's name, then proceeded to upload on the open-access group snippets of the victim engaging in a sex act.

Between Apr. 12, 2021 and May 24, 2021, he posted snippets of the same video about 10 times on that group.

Around the same time, he began posting the snippets on the tudung group.

He also posted a series of the victim's photos alongside the snippets in the tudung group.

Some were recent photos retrieved from the victim's Facebook page, while another was a selfie he had of the victim performing a sex act while clad in full religious garb, in which her face could be seen.

Knowing that the victim was attending religious education at this time, and that many of the members of the tudung group were Singaporean or Malaysian Malays, he captioned these photos "SG Madrasah Babe".

Two users were attracted by the accused's post and began following him on the platform, which in turn allowed him to view their pornographic content.

The trio would often discuss rape fantasies amongst themselves.

The accused would also personally send the snippets to other users on the tudung group, some of whom would re-post them.

Discovery

On May 22, 2021, the victim received an Instagram message from an unknown male sexually soliciting her as he was under the impression that she had posted her own nudes on "MeWe".

The victim then realised that someone was impersonating her and asked the man where he had obtained her nudes.

He, in turn, sent her a link to the tudung group.

Suspecting it was the accused who had shared her nudes, the victim was deeply distressed for a few days, but gathered up her courage and decided to undertake her own investigation.

She created an undercover account on the platform and joined the tudung group, where she was horrified to discover her images among many obscene posts of various tudung-clad women.

Realising that one of the user's accounts had various non-obscene photos of female religious leaders, the victim informed one of the religious leaders about it, and then lodged a police report.

Her efforts allowed authorities to investigate the tudung group and to request that MeWe shut it down.

On May 27, 2021, the police found that the group had 79,348 members.

When the news broke that same day, the accused panicked and deleted his MeWe account. He also deleted the intimate videos and photos he had retained of the victim on his cloud account.

He was arrested the next day.

His phone was seized, and the police were able to retrieve snapshots of the videos and photos retained by him.

On Sep. 20, 2023, the accused contacted the victim through an anonymous account on Telegram, trying to apologise to her, but she blocked him.

Victim suffered distress

The victim continued to suffer from distress from the offence.

As of June 2025, she continued to be contacted by her acquaintances about her intimate videos and images circulating on social media.

She did not seek therapy or psychological support as she felt it would be expensive.

The court noted that she tried to end her life but was stopped in time by her sister.

She continued to feel the emotional and mental strain of the impact and lived in constant fear that people would recognise her and that her nudes were still being distributed.

She also became estranged from her religious mother as a result of the incident.

Her friendships were affected, and she had not been able to enter a romantic relationship for five years due to trust issues.

In the immediate aftermath, the victim’s grades were affected due to stress and anxiety stemming from the offence.

She had initially considered being a female religious teacher herself, but decided not to work in the industry anymore, as she was afraid of the shame that would result if her nudes were discovered by others in the industry.

Charges

The accused pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally distributing intimate content of the victim without her consent to humiliate her.

Calling it an egregious case of “revenge porn”, the prosecutor sought 30 to 36 months' jail, three strokes of the cane and S$5,000 in compensation to the victim, saying she was a minor and was identifiable in the snippets.

However, the defence sought 12 months' jail with no caning and S$500 in compensation.

He said as the accused had been driven by anger at the victim’s rejection, he committed the offence on impulse and opportunistically following the rejection of his request for forgiveness.

The judge considered the planning, preparation and premeditation by the accused and the impact his actions had on the victim.

He also noted that the accused had spoken of the victim in demeaning words on the platform.

Given the circumstances, the accused’s culpability was found to be at the "lower end of high".