The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has said its enforcement officers could have exercised greater sensitivity, after a video of an elderly woman cyclist kneeling before two of its officers on an overhead bridge circulated online.

Woman kneeling before two LTA officers

The incident took place on Aug. 27 on an overhead bridge near Block 95 Aljunied Crescent, the Straits Times reported.

The clip, posted on Reddit, shows a woman in a yellow shirt kneeling before two men who have since been identified as LTA enforcement officers. She can also be seen gesturing towards a bicycle parked nearby.

Cycling across overhead bridges without dismounting is an offence, as such bridges are primarily meant for pedestrians and have limited space.

In February, LTA posted on Facebook that they detected 391 offences and 57 non-compliant devices at active mobility hotspots, including Pedestrian Overhead Bridges.

Officers involved could have managed situation more sensitively, LTA says

"Our officers carried out their enforcement duties, in line with the rules in place to keep pedestrians safe," the spokesperson told ST.

The LTA spokesperson said the authority empathises with the distress experienced by the elderly cyclist.

The spokesperson acknowledged that enforcement encounters can sometimes be "difficult", particularly when members of the public are distressed, and that the officers involved could have managed the situation more sensitively.

According to the spokesperson, the officers involved have since reflected on the incident and recognise that they could have handled it with greater empathy.

"Enforcement is a difficult job, and our officers have to manage a range of situations while balancing the need to be firm in upholding safety rules with empathy in their interactions with the public," the spokesperson said.

LTA added that it will continue to strengthen its officers' training so that they are better equipped to manage such situations sensitively, while ensuring safety rules are applied fairly and consistently to all users of its public paths.

Mixed reactions

The video of the cyclist and enforcement officers garnered mixed reactions online.

Most Redditors agreed that "the law is the law", and one user, who claimed to live near the bridge, said cyclists crossing it instead of dismounting was a "constant sight".

A few expressed sympathy, calling for more compassion for others. Others empathised with the enforcement officers, saying that they would be at a loss for what to do.

With effect from Jul. 1, 2025, first-time offenders convicted of riding bicycles as well as motorised and non-motorised PMDs on a pedestrian-only path can be fined up to S$2,000 or jailed up to three months, or both.

Top image via Reddit

The wife of a British man who died after severe turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight in May 2024 is seeking damages to help her access specialist support for a spinal injury she suffered in the incident.

Linda Kitchen, 74, has initiated proceedings at Britain's High Court, according to the BBC. Her late husband Geoffrey Kitchen reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack when flight SQ321 from London to Singapore suddenly plunged while flying over Myanmar on May 21, 2024.

Severe turbulence on SQ321 flight

Flight SQ321 experienced drastic changes in altitude within 4.6 seconds while flying over Myanmar.

Kitchen said there had been some turbulence earlier over Europe, but the aircraft was around 10 hours into the flight when it hit the main patch of severe turbulence.

"It was so severe; it felt like the aircraft was dropping," she told the BBC.

As the plane dropped, her husband fell on top of her, crushing her into the armrest of her seat. Other passengers helped move him, and a doctor on board began CPR.

The flight, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was diverted to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok for an emergency landing.

Kitchen was taken to hospital, while her husband remained on the plane. She was told two days later that he had died, she told The Independent.

"When I got separated from Geoff, I knew he was in a bad way, but nothing prepared me for hearing he had died. It was absolutely devastating," she said.

Kitchen spent 10 days in hospital before being airlifted back to Bristol, and needed significant assistance at home after being discharged from a further week in a UK hospital, according to the BBC.

She and her husband, married for 52 years, had been starting a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia when the incident occurred.

Two separate claims filed

Anthe Korelidou, Kitchen's lawyer specialising in aviation cases, said that Kitchen's late husband being fatally injured and her suffering severe injuries "vividly highlights the severity of what happened".

Korelidou added that more than two years on, Kitchen and her family still have questions about what happened and whether more could have been done to prevent their injuries, and that she wants the most thorough investigations conducted.

"The issuing of High Court proceedings is a major milestone in being able to provide Geoff's loved ones with the answers they deserve," Korelidou said.

According to the Independent, court papers reflect two separate claims from the Kitchen family, one filed on behalf of Linda Kitchen and another in her name on behalf of Geoffrey Kitchen's estate.

British court records also reportedly show that six other individuals have separately launched legal action against SIA.

Offered compensation to passengers in 2024

Responding to queries from the Straits Times on Aug. 29, SIA said it was unable to comment on matters before the courts.

SIA had offered compensation to passengers on the flight in 2024, including US$10,000 (S$13,500) for those with minor injuries, and an advance payment of US$25,000 (S$31,800) for those with serious injuries requiring long-term medical care who requested financial help.

The airline also said it would fully refund the airfare of all passengers on the flight, and apologised for the incident.

"Singapore Airlines deeply apologises to all passengers for the traumatic experience on board flight SQ321 on 20 May 2024. We are committed to providing our full support and assistance during this time," the airline wrote in its Facebook post on Jun. 11, 2024.

What were the investigation findings?

TSIB's investigation report, published in May 2026, had also found that the actions taken by the flight crew in response to the sudden turbulence were "understandable and appropriate" for the situation.

It also found that it cannot rule out the possibility that a malfunction of the onboard weather radar prevented the crew from detecting the presence of storm clouds along the plane's flight path.

A zi char shop in Kovan initially thought it had received a fake S$10 note after noticing that the portrait of Singapore's first president, Yusof Ishak, looked different from usual.

It turned out the note was genuine, but had been defaced.

The portrait's moustache had been scratched off and its eyelids marked, giving the late president a somewhat startled look.

Initially thought the S$10 note was fake

Speaking to Mothership, one of the cooks at 21 Seafood, Zhang Xiao Hai, said that the shop was too busy at the time so they couldn't remember who gave them this note.

The incident took place around lunchtime on Aug. 2.

Zhang added that the note felt no different from a regular one in texture.

They noticed the note looked different on the same day when they were looking for change for another customer.

They kept it and later went to check with the banks, who confirmed the note to be real but was deliberately tampered with.

The bank tellers told the owner of the shop that the note had been damaged on the surface by a sharp object, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

The owner said he plans to keep the note as a memento. He believes this is an act of mischief.

The owner told Mothership that OCBC offered to exchange the note with him but he declined.

An employee at the stall later posted about the incident on Xiaohongshu, which drew much discussion online. Many users expressed surprise that such an unusual-looking note was genuine, with some commenting that they would be willing to pay a premium to buy it.

Defacing notes is an offence

Deliberately damaging or defacing a currency note is an offence in Singapore, and if found guilty, could result in a conviction to a fine not exceeding S$2,000.

According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) website, damaged notes lose their face value, and businesses are entitled to refuse them.

Top image courtesy of Zhang Xiao Hai

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) will be strengthening mosque safety by introducing a common framework of safeguarding practices across mosques.

For example, staff will enhance monitoring of informal gatherings involving minors, and intervene where there are concerns of unauthorised teaching or inappropriate boundary crossings.

These and more new initiatives come in light of the case where a 37-year-old "religious influencer" sexually abused two young boys at mosque premises between 2022 and 2023.

Though the man had conducted religious classes at a mosque, Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Zaqy Mohamad previously said he was not an accredited religious teacher under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS), nor was he conducting a formal religious class organised or approved by the mosque.

Mosques 'must remain open and welcoming'

Zaqy further addressed the case in his speech at an aLIVE (Learning Islamic Values Everyday) Service Learning event on Aug. 29. aLIVE is a programme that provides students with opportunities to practise Islamic values by serving the community while developing qualities such as empathy and leadership.

Zaqy noted that the case has understandably caused concern, especially among parents.

When the sexual abuse case made headlines, MUIS announced measures to strengthen security, including patrols and CCTV monitoring.

At the time, Zaqy said he called for MUIS to go further, especially when it comes to informal activities and gatherings involving children and youths.

Speaking on Aug. 29, he reiterated this need to build on existing safety measures, but added that measures and processes alone are not enough.

Zaqy committed that MUIS will work closely with families, asatizah, and young people to help the youths understand appropriate boundaries, recognise when something may not be right, and know where to seek help.

"Our mosques must remain open and welcoming places, and all of us have a part to play in keeping them safe."

Common safeguarding framework across mosques

MUIS will be rolling out the common safeguarding framework across mosques progressively.

It aims to set out safeguarding principles, the responsibilities of mosque personnel, and clear reporting and escalation protocols when concerns arise.

The initiatives include safeguarding awareness training for mosque staff and volunteers so that they can better recognise signs of abuse or neglect, respond appropriately to disclosures, maintain professional boundaries, and understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

There will also be clearer reporting and escalation protocols to standardise the documentation, reporting, and timely escalation of safeguarding concerns.

As for the tighter monitoring of informal gatherings involving minors, staff will be tasked to identify recurring mentoring or teaching activities.

Where necessary, they need to conduct appropriate checks and intervene to protect the youths.

Additionally, periodic audits and spot checks will be conducted with district offices to review physical safety measures such as visibility, lighting, CCTV coverage, and signage.

Safeguarding education

Another new initiatives is to strengthen education for children and youth to protect themselves against unsafe or inappropriate behaviours.

MUIS has already introduced Protective Behaviour learning inserts for aLIVE students to help them recognise such behaviours, and know how to respond and report concerns to a trusted adult.

Age-appropriate infographics will also be shared with the students to reinforce these messages.

MUIS will engage parents and mosque teachers as well to support youths.

They will provide parents with resources to recognise warning signs, speak openly with their children about personal safety, navigate online risks, and know where to report concerns or seek support.

Teachers will be similarly trained to recognise safeguarding concerns, respond appropriately to disclosures or incidents, and follow the relevant reporting and escalation procedures.

Outside of mosque environments, other Islamic Education Centres and Providers will also be encouraged to adopt these resources and practices within their programmes.

A 59-year-old Singaporean man and a 52-year-old woman, a Chinese national, were arrested following early morning raids by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Aug. 27.

The duo are suspected of making false declarations in applications for immigration facilities and committing marriage of convenience offences.

ICA officers went to a rental apartment in Chinatown to look for the woman, and to a public flat in Fernvale in Sengkang to look for the man.

The enforcement operations were conducted simultaneously.

What ICA was looking for

ICA said it began investigating the case following internal screenings.

Preliminary investigations found that the pair had solemnised their marriage in January 2025 but were not living together.

The man had allegedly sponsored the woman's applications for a long-term visit pass, in which she declared she was staying at his residence.

Both work as janitors, but for separate companies.

Before the raid, ICA officers conducted a pre-operation briefing at about 4:10am covering the case background, the identities of the two and the two locations involved.

ICA officers then moved off to both locations at about 4:35am.

Chinatown

Officers began observing the woman's rental apartment at 4:45am.

They entered the residence at about 6:54am and questioned the woman on her marriage and living arrangements.

The ICA officers asked how long she had been staying at the residence, who else lived there, and when she got married.

Officers also questioned the other tenants living in the apartment.

Eight other occupants of the apartment had their details taken down, as they may be called on to assist with investigations later.

Officers also searched her personal belongings, and she was seen producing documents from her luggage and her closet.

Inside the unit, a makeshift bamboo pole had been strung across the middle of the living area to hang clothes.

The room where she was staying contained several beds, with towels hung between them for some semblance of privacy.

A smell of urine emanated from one of the rooms.

The woman was arrested at about 7:35am for suspected false declarations made in applications for immigration facilities.

Fernvale

Officers began observing the man's flat at 4:50am.

They entered the residence at about 5:20am and interviewed the man about his marriage and living arrangements.

He was asked about the whereabouts of his spouse, how the two had met, and whether she lived with him.

His nephew, mother and domestic helper, who were also present, were interviewed as well.

He was arrested at about 7am.

Both were taken back to the ICA for further investigation.

Post raid

After their arrests, both individuals were questioned.

11 arrested in 2 weeks

Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Tan Hwee Wang Mitchell, officer-in-charge of ICA's Intelligence Division, said 11 people had been arrested over the past two weeks for suspected false declarations in applications for immigration facilities, and would be investigated for possible MOC offences.

He said: "ICA will continue to conduct rigorous and regular inland enforcement operations to keep Singapore safe and secure. We also urge the public to report suspected cases of MOC and other immigration-related offences to ICA."

What happens next

Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Justino Guo, deputy officer-in-charge of ICA's Enforcement Division, said investigators work to establish the facts once a case is referred.

He said: "This can include interviewing suspects and witnesses, as well as gathering and examining evidence including physical documents and digital records, such as phone calls, emails, or CCTV footage."

He said cases are then submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) for prosecutorial assessment.

The courts then decide on sentencing if someone is prosecuted and convicted.

He added: "For foreigners convicted of immigration-related offences, ICA may take further action such as deportation and being barred from re-entering Singapore, where appropriate."

The penalties

The marriage of convenience (MOC) offence carries a fine of up to S$10,000, up to 10 years' jail, or both.

Making false statements to obtain immigration facilities carries a fine of up to S$8,000, up to 12 months' jail, or both.

MOC arrests fell sharply last year

According to ICA's annual statistics, 15 people were arrested for MOC-related offences in 2025, down 63.4 per cent from 41 in 2024.

If you live in Punggol, you may have seen Firdaus Daud around.

In fact, he is often spotted alongside Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Moving forward, Kembangan residents may meet him more often instead.

Help serve Kembangan ward with the rest of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights MPs

Firdaus has since been deployed to help serve the residents in Kembangan, the former ward of former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

He will serve as the second grassroots adviser in the ward from Sep. 1, Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng said in a Facebook post on Aug. 29.

He will be second grassroots adviser in both Punggol and Kembangan at the start but will relinquish his duties in Punggol to focus on Kembangan.

Seah, who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, told The Straits Times that Firdaus will also play a key role in matters concerning the Malay/Muslim community in Kembangan.

Seah believes that this addition will "certainly strengthen the team" in serving residents in Kembangan together.

He also assured that he and the other MPs -- Tin Pei Ling, Goh Pei Ming and Diana Pang -- will continue to serve the Kembangan ward.

This announcement comes about a month after Faishal resigned from politics.

Who is Firdaus Daud?

Here are some key details about Firdaus:

• 42-year-old father of two
• Has been a member of the PAP since 2016
• Served in PAP's Chong Pang branch before becoming the vice-chair at PAP's Punggol branch
• Was a GE2025 reserve candidate for PAP
• Became the second adviser in Punggol GRC after GE2025
• A technology lawyer, with over 15 years of legal experience across Asia
• Serves as a fractional general counsel to small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and growth-stage companies under ARLC Legal
• Sits on the board of Pro Bono SG, the charity arm of the Law Society of Singapore, since January 2026
• Serves on the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), and has worked with many youth at risk previously as a volunteer
• One of the four PAP activists who gave speeches at the 2025 PAP party convention on how the party can respond to global uncertainties and ensure Singaporeans do not get left behind

Related stories

Five employees of Korea Artiz Studio's Singapore outlet have filed salary claims between Aug. 10 and Aug. 18, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is now investigating the wedding photography studio for possible offences under the Employment Act.

This is according to a joint statement by MOM, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM), shared with Mothership in response to queries regarding the employees of the temporarily shuttered outlet.

Company failed to make CPF contributions by deadline

According to the statement, TADM received the five salary claims from Korea Artiz Studio employees over the nine-day period, and is arranging mediation between the parties.

Separately, the CPF Board said it had detected non-payment of CPF contributions when the company failed to make payment by the deadline in July 2026. It has since initiated prosecution action against the company, with the case currently before the courts.

MOM, CPF Board and TADM said they will continue to assist the affected workers with their salary and CPF arrears, and reminded employers of their obligations to pay salaries and CPF contributions on time.

Abrupt closure

On Aug. 19, the Singapore outlet of Korea Artiz Studio, a wedding photography studio founded in Busan in 2008, appeared to have abruptly ceased operations.

A notice pasted outside its studio along Bras Basah Road had cited internal operational issues, stating that employees had not received their outstanding salaries and that management had not given a clear response.

The closure came after the studio's Taiwan outlet shut down abruptly on Aug. 10. In Singapore, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it received over 66 complaints from affected couples between Aug. 14 and Aug. 18, involving more than S$271,000 in prepayment losses.

According to its Google listing, the studio is listed as temporarily closed.

Recent Google reviews also showed a notice, which appeared to have been written by an employee, that had been pasted at the door of the studio at Carlton Hotel apologising to customers for the "unexpected situation".

"Due to recent internal operational issues within the company, all employees have currently not received their outstanding salaries. At the same time, we have been unable to obtain any clear or formal response, update, or further arrangements from the company's management," the notice read.

The notice further stated that the studio was unable to confirm or guarantee whether any scheduled services could proceed as planned at this time, adding that customers should avoid making a trip down to the studio until further notice.

Getting help

Employees in Singapore who are not paid their salaries on time can file a claim with TADM, which will help workers recover their salaries either through mediation or by referring the case to the Employment Claims Tribunals for determination.

Those who require assistance can contact TADM through its website.

Top image via Google, MOM/Facebook

The owner of a long-running BBQ stall in Bukit Panjang has died in his sleep, just over three months after closing the business he had run for more than 30 years.

Chua Leong Quay died on Aug. 23 at the age of 71, according to Shin Min Daily News.

His stall, 163 Ikan Bakar BBQ, had operated for 22 years at Blk 163 Gangsa Road before closing on May 10 this year.

Shin Min cited rising costs as the reason for closure.

On medication for a heart condition but overall in good health

His wife of 40 years shared that while Chua was diagnosed with a heart issue more than a decade ago, he had been on medication and was in good health.

After closing their stall at Blk 163, Chua also helped sell chicken cutlets at a night market in Sembawang, his wife shared. However, he wanted to stop working there at the end of August.

Chua was supposed to head to Sembawang for work on the day he passed.

At 10am, his wife noticed he was in bed later than usual, but she didn’t think much of it.

She only sensed something was amiss when she asked him what he wanted for lunch.

"When I touched him, he was already cold,” she shared.

A good husband

Chua's wife told Shin Min that Chua was a good husband. While he's not perfect, he had not ever raised his voice at her and they had learnt to live with each other's shortcomings.

The couple knew each other since young and grew up together in Bukit Panjang. They had a son and a daughter.

The family made a trip to Taiwan in June but Chua did not follow along.

Chua's daughter told Shin Min that she had planned to bring the family to Taiwan again in October, this time with Chua.

More than just a stall

Chua's wife shared that the BBQ stall is more than just a shop to them -- it's their second home where bonds were forged.

Many people reached out after they closed the stall at Blk 163 and the couple had hope to reopen elsewhere.

Just a week before Chua's passing, he asked about the stall at Blk 163 and said he missed it very much.

Chua learnt how to make and sell BBQ dishes from a relative in the 1980s.

The couple began selling grilled dishes in 1989 at Block 378 Clementi Avenue 5, before moving to the Gangsa Road stall in 2004.

The couple had been scouting coffee shops around Clementi, hoping to return to where they first started, but no units were available.

The family thanked everyone for the support during this difficult time.

"We take deep comfort in knowing how much he loved his craft and how many lives he touched," they shared on 163 Ikan Bakar BBQ Facebook page.

A 32-year-old Indonesian man will be charged in court for carrying an offensive weapon at Changi Airport, after a knife was found concealed in his shoe on Thursday.

Told to remove his shoes before going through X-ray screening

According to a Singapore Police Force (SPF) news release, police were alerted on Aug. 27 at about 1:10pm to a male passenger concealing a knife in his high cut shoe at the Terminal 4 Departure Centralised Screening area.

The knife, measuring 19.5cm with a 12cm blade, was found inside the man's sock, wrapped in layers of plastic bags and sealed with tape, the release stated.

It was detected when a Certis Cisco aviation security officer operating the X-ray machine spotted a suspicious sharp object in the man's right shoe, after he was told to remove his shoes before going through the X-ray screening lane.

The man was then escorted to a search room, where the knife and its sheath were found concealed in the shoe.

To be charged with carrying an offensive weapon

The man will be charged with carrying an offensive weapon in a public place, in court on Aug. 29.

If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and not less than six strokes of the cane.

Police said they take a serious view of any attempt to bring offensive weapons into public spaces, and reminded travellers that those found in possession of offensive weapons without lawful purpose will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.

Top image via Singapore Police Force

A woman in China developed blood in her urine after being forced to do 200 squats as punishment for not hitting her key performance indicators (KPIs).

According to South China Morning Post, the punishment rendered the woman unable to stand properly or walk, and she was later diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis.

The condition occurs when damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly and releases harmful proteins into the bloodstream, which may lead to kidney failure.

The woman, surnamed Yang, had recently relocated to Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province.

She started working as a financial consultant at a loan assistance company in June 2026.

After the ordeal, Yang demanded 15,000 yuan (S$2,836) from her manager, who rejected her demands and suggested she take legal action.

Work quota of 200 calls a day

SCMP reported that the role was similar to that of a telesales representative.

Her team manager, surnamed Zhang, mandated that each team member make 200 calls, invite one client and secure one client expressing intention to collaborate every day.

On Jul. 28, after failing to complete her work quota, Yang was given the option to either complete 100 squats or pay 50 yuan (S$9.45) for each unfinished task.

Yang chose to do 200 squats to keep her job, saying, "I have no money".

She recorded herself doing the squats at various spots in the office building as proof.

Urine turned dark

After completing the squats, Yang reported feeling severe pain in her legs.

However, she did not seek medical attention until five days later when her urine turned dark, citing her financial situation.

Her creatine kinase level exceeded 16,000 U/L, whereas a level of 1,000 U/L is typically sufficient for a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis.

Yang avoided kidney failure and said she spent 1,400 yuan (S$265) on treatment.

As she was recovering and could not work or complete her punishment, she resigned on Jul. 30, reported SCMP.

Yang believed the company was purposefully forcing her to quit by imposing unrealistic goals.

Demanded reimbursement

Yang contacted Zhang and demanded reimbursement for her medical fees, transport costs, as well as 15,000 yuan (S$2,836) in compensation for personal injury.

This was to cover her living expenses for 75 days as she could not work.

Yang sought help from a local conflict-resolution television show, and Zhang admitted to violating labour laws to a reporter who interviewed him.

However, Zhang insisted that the incident had nothing to do with the company and said he could not accept Yang's compensation requests.

Yang registered her case with the company's labour inspection unit, and staff assured her they would investigate the matter.

According to SCMP, Chinese labour laws stipulate that employers who insult or use physical punishment on their employees may face up to 15 days of detention.