Local cosplayer and streamer Rurusama has bought a new home.

In an Instagram video shared on Sep. 5, Rurusama showed off the keys to her new abode, writing in the caption:

"Homeowner ERA. I’m so scared... will make videos about renovations & home shopping.. but pls give me advise im honestly more anxious than excited"

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In a follow-up post, she gave a tour of the three-bedroom condominium apartment.

She shared her plans to renovate the unit extensively, as well as her favourite parts of the house.

Notably, she claimed that she chose the unit because of its spacious and "squarish" living room.

She plans to knock down the wall of the adjacent bedroom to expand the size of the living room even further.

She also intends bring in a king-size bed into the master bedroom as an upgrade from her current queen-size one.

The final remaining room will be purposed for her closet and workspace, where she will place her PC.

Finally, she shared that she wants to install RGB lighting in her toilets.

RGB refers to lighting that contains red, green and blue LEDs which can be customised to provide over 16 million different colours.

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Who is Rurusama?

Rurusama, who declines to use her real name, is best known for her cosplaying, where she dresses up as various fictional characters, typically those from Japanese anime.

She gained further fame for her fan interaction services at conventions.

At Singapore Comic Con 2024, she offered fans the chance to be slapped across the face by her for S$20, among other offers.

In 2025, she began her acting career, starring in microdramas. She later took on a role in the 2026 Chinese New Year film "Luck My Life".

Malone Lam, a 22-year-old Singaporean, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to a racketeering conspiracy charge over his role in a cryptocurrency theft ring that stole more than US$260 million (about S$328.7 million) from multiple victims.

According to a report by CNA, in a nearly two-and-a-half-hour court hearing on Sep. 8, he admitted to orchestrating and leading the crime ring, which targeted people with large cryptocurrency holdings through so-called "social engineering" attacks.

The case is believed to be the first bitcoin-related case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

It also involves conspiracy charges relating to wire fraud and money laundering.

RICO is a U.S. federal law aimed at combating organised crime.

Lam, a Singaporean, used to study at Unity Secondary School in Choa Chu Kang, but apparently dropped out by the time he turned 14 and spent time playing games online.

He moved to the United States in October 2023.

He had allegedly been living in the U.S. on an expired tourist visa.

Organised "social engineering" attacks

Lam and his co-conspirators carried out "social engineering" attacks targeting individuals believed to hold large amounts of cryptocurrency.

The group impersonated employees of trusted companies, including Google, to trick victims into revealing sensitive information.

Such information included passwords, seed phrases, and authentication codes.

This allowed the group to gain access to victims' cryptocurrency wallets and transfer their funds.

According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the criminal enterprise operated from at least October 2023 through May 2025.

In August 2024, the group carried out one of its largest thefts, obtaining more than 4,100 bitcoin from a victim in Washington, DC.

The cryptocurrency was worth about US$230 million (about S$290.8 million) at the time.

Lam was arrested a few weeks later in September 2024.

Bought private jets and luxury cars

The group was said to have laundered the stolen cryptocurrency and converted it into payment cards or cash in an attempt to conceal their digital footprint, CNA reported.

However, Lam’s lavish spending reportedly drew the attention of authorities.

He spent millions of dollars on luxury cars, watches, and clothing, as well as private jets, security guards, and rental properties in Miami, Los Angeles, and the Hamptons.

He also amassed a fleet of luxury vehicles, with some reportedly worth as much as US$3.8 million (S$4.8 million).

Lam was also known to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on nights out.

On one occasion, he spent US$569,000 (about S$719,548) at a Los Angeles nightclub.

Lam said he was seeing a therapist

According to CNA, during the Sep. 8 hearing, Lam spoke several times, to confirm that he understood and agreed with the prosecution’s account of the case.

He told the court that he was seeing a therapist regularly and taking medication for depression and anxiety, as well as medication to help him sleep.

When asked by the judge how he pleaded, Lam reportedly let out a long sigh before answering: "I plead guilty, Your Honour."

The U.S. government previously made a new plea offer in November 2025.

At an earlier hearing in May 2026, Lam's lawyer said "significant progress" had been made in the case, though no agreement was announced at the time.

Some of Lam's alleged co-conspirators had also indicated that they were prepared to testify against him if the case went to trial.

The case has been adjourned to Dec. 8 for a status hearing, when the judge is expected to set a date for sentencing.

Lam faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A total of 18 defendants have been charged in the case, with Lam being the 11th to plead guilty.

Lam and his co-conspirators have also been ordered to repay more than US$245 million (around S$309.7 million) in stolen funds to their victims.

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A 14-day-old baby boy in Singapore died after he was found face down on his parents' bed.

A coroner's inquiry on Sep. 8, where both parents were present, ruled that the case was non-criminal, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The infant was found to have died by natural causes, the coroner ruled.

The only witness called to give testimony was the investigating officer.

Incident

The incident occurred on Dec. 7, 2025, when the baby was only 14 days old.

He was his parents' first child.

According to Shin Min, the baby's father awoke at about 6am after hearing his son cry.

He picked up the child from his crib, changed his diaper, fed and burped him before coaxing him back to sleep.

When the baby continued crying, the man decided to make more milk.

Upon his return, he found both mother and son fast asleep.

He did not put his son back in the crib, but instead placed the baby in between him and his wife on their bed.

The child's body was noted to be leaning more towards his father, and there was no pillow or sheet next to him.

Death

When the father awoke again at 8am to make more milk, he found his son lying motionless face down on the bed.

His skin had already turned slightly blue.

The man immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while his wife called for an ambulance.

When paramedics arrived, the boy was still unresponsive.

He was rushed to Sengkang General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 9:21am.

Natural death

An autopsy report found that the baby had no external injuries.

The baby previously did not have any health issues aside from jaundice, which had gradually improved after doctors' visits.

Tests confirmed no abnormalities, and the inquiry concluded that the cause of death was an undetermined natural one.

The timeline, land use plans, construction methods and reclamation profile for the new western island have not been determined, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said in a written reply on Sep. 8.

He was responding to questions filed by 13 Members of Parliament from both sides of the House.

Plans to merge several outlying islands — including Pulau Semakau, Bukom and Sudong — into a larger western island was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally.

'Complex and technically challenging' project

In his response, Chee said that the government is studying plans for a new western island to meet "strategic needs" including in security, energy and industry.

He described the project as "complex and technically challenging" due to scale.

"The government recognises that the existing lands and surrounding waters are an important part of our natural biodiversity, and hold historical and cultural significance for former island communities, including the Orang Pulau and Orang Laut,"  he also said.

It was previously pointed out that some of the reef habitats near Pulau Hantu and Semaku date back almost 8,000 years.

They also serve vital ecosystem functions and their loss will be immitigable.

Chee also assured that stakeholder engagement will continue, including with nature groups, domain experts, descendants of former island communities and community representatives.

Inputs from stakeholders will be 'carefully considered': Chee

The Ministry of National Development previously shared that technical studies will be carried out to inform development plans.

Such studies include feasibility studies, site investigation and surveys, as well as engineering and environmental studies, Chee said.

These will allow for a better understanding of development possibilities and their preliminary impact on areas like geology, hydrology and biodiversity, according to the minister.

He also said that the environmental study report will be made available for public feedback and inputs from stakeholders will be "carefully considered" before plans are finalised.

"As with any development decision, the Government will need to consider many factors, such as ecological and heritage impact, as well as the needs of current and future generations, before making a final decision," Chee concluded.

A new book examining the leadership and legacy of SM Lee Hsien Loong through his tenure as prime minister from 2004 to 2024 was launched on Sep. 8.

Lee Hsien Loong and Singapore details the profound changes the nation underwent during this time, including through global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Divided into four distinct sections, namely economic and finance policy, foreign policy, social policy and politics and society, the book is published by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and edited by its senior research fellow Gillian Koh, former Straits Times opinion editor Chua Mui Hoong, and Nominated Member of Parliament Terence Ho.

The collection of essays was written by contributors ranging from policy experts, diplomats and journalists.

Among them were retired diplomat Tommy Koh, former Singapore Permanent Secretary to the United Nations Bilahari Kausikan and climate action ambassador Ravi Menon.

A time of major change

In her opening speech, Chua called SM Lee's tenure as PM "a time of major change and global crisis".

"Mr Lee led a government consisting of political holders and experienced civil servants who had to anticipate and deal with the disruptions in geopolitics and global economic forces, as well as manage social change and respond to rising political diversity and aspirations amongst Singaporeans."

The book delves into Singapore's stances amidst the global financial crisis and Covid-19 pandemic, among others.

His term saw a reassessment of existing policies to ensure the nation adapted to ongoing changes, all while upholding strategic interests to maintain sovereignty and the principles in keeping to a meritocratic and socially cohesive society, Chua added.

Other contributors similarly described this period.

When asked for a one-word description of SM Lee, Centennial Asia chief executive officer Manu Bhaskaran said "transformative".

Paulin Straughan, a professor of sociology at the Singapore Management University (SMU) said "compassion", adding that the Pioneer Generation Package, launched in 2014, is "probably one of the best social policies in the world".

She attributed the "very strong safety net" that then-PM Lee created to what she found to be a very high life satisfaction rates among Singapore’s pioneer generation, even as they struggled with chronic illnesses and low life savings.

No regrets

Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chan Heng Chee, who was one of the panellists during the book launch, responded to a question if SM Lee may have regretted not pursuing a career as a mathematician instead, given than he was said to be "the most brilliant math student" his tutor at Cambridge University had ever taught.

"He said, 'I dont think I would have been all that good or all that reliable'," she cited SM Lee as having once admitted.

"It would be just his thing to say, no [regrets]. There’s no room for regret when you are a politician."

Lee Hsien Loong and Singapore is available for purchase at Kinokuniya, Popular, and major bookstores across Singapore.

Cinnabon will be closing its last Singapore outlet at ION Orchard on Sep. 22, 2026.

The American bakery chain known for its baked cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting topping said on Instagram that the closure marks the end of its “chapter in Singapore”.

“Until then, the ovens are still warm and the Bons are still baking,” the caption read.

Cinnabon opened its first outlet in Singapore in February 2023 at Raffles City Shopping Centre.

In September 2023, it opened its second outlet at ION Orchard.

In June 2024, it opened its third outlet at Jewel Changi Airport.

Its other two outlets closed in 2026.

The chain has appeared in pop culture, including the critically acclaimed television drama series “Better Call Saul”.

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On Sep. 6, German politics experienced what its Chancellor called a “tectonic shift” as the AfD, or Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany), won elections in the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The AfD has been labelled right-wing, far right, populist, and even fascist in some quarters, and has been steadily gaining in popularity over the past decade.

So what happened, who are the AfD, and what does their election mean for Germany and beyond?

Landtag

Germany is a federal republic, which means it consists of several states which individually hold significant authority over how they are governed, with each having its own parliament.

On Sep. 6, the parliament of Saxony-Anhalt, also called the Landtag, held fresh elections which saw the right-wing AfD party win 43.8 per cent of the vote.

The party won 39 seats, three seats short of an outright majority in the 83-seat body, as reported by the BBC.

The incumbent state governing party, the centre-right Christian Democratic Union, which is also the party of Germany’s current Chancellor (PM) Friedrich Merz, was reduced to 17.2 per cent.

All other parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the Der Linke (The Left), all received under 10 per cent of the vote.

Possible alliance

But perhaps the most important of these parties is now the BSW, a left-wing populist party.

While nominally on the opposite sides of the political spectrum, both parties share populist ideals, with significant overlap in policy goals.

BSW received the minimum percentage of votes to be represented in the Landtag, five per cent, and their five seats could tip AfD over the edge into the majority.

If that were to happen, or if AfD were able to find another coalition partner, they would be the first right-wing party to hold state government in Germany since the end of the Second World War.

Who is the AfD?

So this begs the question: who is the AfD, and what does their election mean?

Germany has a tumultuous history when it comes to right-wing parties, in light of its Nazi government during the 1930's and 40's, famously igniting the Second World War while prosecuting a murderous regime against Germany's minorities.

Because of this, post-war Germany has traditionally banned or otherwise limited far-right parties from political participation, leading to a significant dispute about whether the party is far-right or not, but some facts are not disputed.

The party was founded in 2013 and has grown by leaps and bounds, being represented in the state governments of almost all German states, and is the second-largest German party in the European Union parliament.

It was founded in opposition to eurozone bailouts of Greece, but came to take on more anti-immigration positions in the wake of then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to admit Syrian refugees fleeing from violence in their home country.

But there are also significant differences between how the party is portrayed and how it speaks of itself.

Who people say the AfD is:

Outside of the AfD and other right-wing parties, the AfD has been classified as an extremist-right group, designated as such by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, as reported by the BBC, which labelled it xenophobic, anti-minority, and Islamophobic.

The AfD has been accused of collusion with foreign far-right movements, whether it be working with associates of the Russian government, meeting U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, or receiving congratulations from former Hungarian leader Viktor Orban.

But the most persistent and most worrying accusation is that the AfD houses elements of Germany’s neo-Nazi movement.

While the AfD’s leaders have been careful not to be tainted by the association with neo-Nazi groups, rally attendees have been seen sporting neo-Nazi clothing, and some of their political slogans appear to reference Nazi-era political slogans.

So, despite their purported support for the State of Israel, there are concerns that it is masking a well of anti-Semitic sentiment.

The AfD is also accused of severe Islamophobia, with reports dating back to 2016 showing AfD candidates saying the religion was not welcome in Germany.

What the AfD says it is:

These accusations are dismissed by AfD’s leaders.

The party’s leader, Weidel, points to herself as a rebuttal to many of the accusations of being intolerant.

Weidel leads a party that believes in conservative conceptions of family, but is openly in a long-term relationship with a woman of Sri Lankan origin, and they have two children.

AfD supporters want a more nationalist approach to the economy, but Weidel worked for several multinational corporations (she even spent some time in Singapore and speaks fluent Mandarin, the Guardian reports).

Instead, AfD has simply classified itself as being conservative, or libertarian.

Interviews with supporters by the BBC are anecdotal, but paint a picture of voters frustrated by the inability of traditional parties to improve their lives.

Saxony-Anhalt is perhaps an unsurprising venue for this ‘revolution’, it is hardly a secret that former East German regions have had trouble adapting to a post-Cold War world, its economies benefiting less and suffering more from a globalised economy.

In this vein, the AfD is seen as a vehicle for radical change, change that many seem to feel Germany desperately needs.

Firewall

The victory in Saxony-Anhalt is an important stepping stone for the AfD.

A BBC report quoted an AfD politician as saying that regional government was a chance for the party to show that it was a viable party and would be key to gaining power at a national level.

Until now, the party has been kept from government by other mainstream parties practising what they call the “firewall” strategy, refusing to cooperate with the AfD under any circumstances.

But now the AfD might have won a large enough victory that the firewall cannot contain them.

Germany’s Chancellor Merz and his CDU party are severely impacted by this development, with the AfD winning over many of their traditional supporters.

It sets the stage for an uncertain global environment, and Germany’s government will have to rapidly tend to domestic concerns.

Five persons, aged between 29 and 66, have been identified and interviewed by the police in connection to online comments about the Nepal floods and Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in response to media queries.

Following the floods in Nepal, comments questioning the nationality of the nine missing Singaporeans surfaced online.

Online reactions to Singapore Airlines' investment in Air India also carried racist tones, with Senior Minister K Shanmugam describing the comments as "anti-Indian racist ranting".

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong later called on Singaporeans to reject such views.

SM Shanmugam said at a doorstop on Sep. 5 that he had asked the police to look into these online comments.

SPF said they will continue to investigate and identify those responsible for them.

"The police take a serious view of conduct that may wound racial feelings or incite hostility and ill will between different racial groups," SPF said.

The police also said that they are unable to comment further on the specifics of individual cases as investigations are ongoing.

Does having more portfolios mean getting paid more?

Does a minister also get the Member of Parliament (MP) allowance too?

If you have such questions in mind, here's the answer.

The current practice is to pay all political appointment holders one salary package, even if they hold two or more appointments or portfolio.

The government has also accepted the 2026 Salary Review Committee's recommendation to retain this practice.

"The principle is simple – one person, one salary. Holding more portfolios does not mean receiving more pay," Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing said in his ministerial statement in parliament on Sep. 8.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Chan both gave ministerial statements on the adjustment to political appointment holders' salaries.

This is the first adjustment in 15 years.

The political appointment holders' salaries have to be adjusted so that monetary remuneration will not be a deterrence for talent, from both private and public sectors, to enter political service.

Read PM Lawrence Wong's full ministerial statement here:

Six women, aged 22 to 36, will be charged in court on Sep. 9, 2026 under the Public Order Act.

They were allegedly involved in various incidents at prohibited areas or participated in public assemblies and processions without a permit, and other related offences.

Procession at Istana on Feb. 2, 2024

A 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman will each be charged with one count of participating in a procession without a permit in a prohibited area.

On Feb. 2, 2024, both women participated in a procession without a permit, along the perimeter of the Istana.

The group had assembled along Orchard Road and walked towards the Istana, carrying umbrellas imprinted with watermelon images, a symbol of Palestinian resistance and solidarity, to showcase their support for the Palestinian cause.

The Istana is a security-sensitive area and is designated as a prohibited area.

The police noted that three women, the organisers of the procession, were earlier convicted and fined S$3,000 each in April 2026.

Both the women are also involved in a separate mass kite-flying event at Marina Barrage, the police noted.

The two women will each be charged with one additional count of organising a public assembly without a permit for the separate incident.

Additionally, the 33-year-old woman was issued a stern warning on Sep. 2, 2026 for her involvement in a banner that was hung in support of a cause at Gardens by the Bay on Apr. 15, 2024.

Event outside State Courts on Feb. 2, 2024

A 24-year-old woman will be charged with one count of knowingly committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups, in relation to a chant she had made during an event that was livestreamed publicly on Feb. 2, 2024.

She was leading the chanting of the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which supports the elimination of the Jewish State of Israel.

She will also be charged with two additional counts under the Public Order Act arising from further incidents in Novena and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

This is on top of four counts under the same Act and two counts of refusing to answer a public servant authorised to question, arising from her participation in candlelight vigils on Nov. 22 and 29, 2024, and Jan. 23, 2025, to mark the executions of three convicted drug traffickers on death row, as well as a protest outside the State Courts on Feb. 3, 2025.

The State Courts is a prohibited area.

The 24-year-old woman had previously been issued a 12-month conditional warning on Nov. 30, 2021 for participating in a public assembly without a permit and contravening a "Move-on" direction by the police.

This was in relation to a protest held outside the Ministry of Education Headquarters on Jan. 26, 2021.

Public procession from Novena MRT to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Jun. 7, 2024

The 24-year-old woman charged for her role in leading a chant and a 22-year-old woman will each be charged with one count of participating in a public procession without a permit, for moving from the Novena MRT vicinity to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) located at New Phoenix Park for a letter delivery on Jun. 7, 2024.

The group also issued a statement stating that they had walked towards MHA, with many of them wearing shirts that said, “There Are No Universities Left in Gaza”.

Public assembly without a permit on Oct. 27, 2024 at Marina Barrage

The 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old woman charged with participating in a procession without a permit at the Istana, together with a 32-year-old woman and a second 33-year-old woman, will each be charged with one count of organising a public assembly without a permit.

The four women had each played a role in organising a mass kite-flying event held at Marina Barrage on Oct. 27, 2024, to publicise a cause in relation to the Gaza conflict.

The 32-year-old woman will additionally be charged with one count of using abusive behaviour to a public servant.

Additionally, the second 33-year-old women has been issued a stern warning on Sep. 3, 2026 for her involvement in an incident where a banner was hung at Gardens by the Bay on Apr. 15, 2024.

Public assembly without a permit on Jan. 13, 2025 for staged memorial at NUS

The 24-year-old woman will be additionally charged with one count of organising a public assembly without a permit.

The woman was believed to have organised a public assembly without a permit in front of a building within NUS on Jan. 13, 2025.

The group gathered multiple individuals to place shoes and a white burial shroud at the location to demonstrate opposition to the ties between educational institutions in Singapore and Israel.

Mothership understands that two of the six women are sisters.

They had previously confronted Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, at his Meet-the-People Session on Mar. 12, 2025.

Police advisory

The police said in the news release that public assemblies in Singapore are regulated under the Public Order Act.

Organising or participating in a public assembly without a police permit constitutes an offence, they said.

"The police will not grant any permit for assemblies that advocate political causes of other countries or foreign entities, or may have the potential to stir emotions and lead to public order incidents," they said.

"The peace and harmony between different races and religions in Singapore should not be taken for granted, and we must not let events happening externally affect the communal harmony."

Penalties

For organising a public procession without a permit in a prohibited area, those found guilty can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to six months, or both.

For participating in a procession without a permit in a prohibited area and organising or participating in a public assembly without a permit, those found guilty can be fined up to S$5,000.

For knowingly committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of racial harmony, those found guilty can be jailed up to three years, fined, or both.

For using abusive behaviour towards a public servant, those found guilty can be fined up to S$5,000.