The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is looking to expand the pool of infant care educators in Singapore.

By 2030, it aims to recruit 1,800 more infant care educators, Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said on Aug. 28.

Making preschool more affordable and accessible

Speaking at ECDA's Teachers’ Day celebrations at E-Bridge Preschool, Goh said the hiring increase will be to meet the expected demand growth as the government aims to make preschool more affordable and accessible.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during the National Day Rally on Aug. 23 that full-day childcare and infant care fees will be progressively reduced from 2028 to S$150 and S$300, respectively, by 2030.

These fees will be "less than half" of today's fees, said the Prime Minister's Office.

Grants for preschools to join government-supported network

In light of this, Goh announced that a new grant will be introduced to help eligible preschool operators that wish to transition onto the government-supported network.

While specific details are still being worked through, the grants will allow a broader range of operators, including smaller operators, to benefit from government support while continuing to offer diverse programmes.

More details are expected to be shared later in the year.

Infant care manpower

Further, to meet an expected rise in demand for infant care educators, ECDA will be expanding the Manpower Hiring Grant (MHG) from September 2026.

The grants provides funding support, including up to 70 per cent in training stipends and up to 50 per cent in course fee subsidies for eligible local and foreign trainees to attain early childhood certification in Singapore.

The expanded MHG will be enhanced across trainee categories, with additional support for infant care certification.

This will include the Assistant Infant Educator (AIE) and Fundamentals Certificate in Infant Care (FCIC) courses.

Funding support will also be extended by three years from Dec. 31, 2030.

ECDA is also exploring overseas partnerships to widen the pool of potential caregiving candidates.

Encouraging infant caregiving

ECDA also aims to encourage more educators to enter infant caregiving through additional support for new and in-service educators.

Currently, more than 2,000 preschool educators hold qualifications that enable them to work in both infant care and other preschool roles.

However, as of August 2026, about 4 per cent are serve as infant educators while the remaining serve the older ages.

More details on the support will be provided at a later date.

"Infant care is much more than routine care," said Goh.

"Our infant care educators create safe, nurturing environments where infants can grow, learn, and develop holistically."

Concluding his speech, he added: "This Teachers' Day, I wish to express my thanks to all our educators for the meaningful work that they do every day."

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) business class passenger was taken away by the authorities after getting caught smoking on board the plane toilet of SQ836 flight from Singapore to Shanghai on Aug. 21

The incident was shared on Xiaohongshu.

Local authorities led the passenger away after the plane landed in China.

Smoking not allowed

A spokesperson for SIA told Mothership that the airline is aware of the incident involving a customer who smoked in a lavatory on board the plane on Friday.

"Smoking, including vaping and the use of e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited on all SIA and Scoot flights. Customers who are caught smoking or vaping on board will be banned from travelling on Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights," the spokesperson said.

What social media post showed

According to a social media post, a cabin crew approached the business class passenger when the flight was about to land at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport.

The cabin crew was heard speaking in Mandarin.

The exchange lasted a few minutes and the passenger’s cigarettes were collected in a plastic bag.

An announcement was subsequently made to inform passengers to remain seated while authorities boarded the aircraft.

The other passengers were then told to disembark while the passenger who was caught smoking had to remain in the cabin.

Local police were seen waiting at the plane's exit.

Cigarette butts wrapped in a napkin were apparently handed over to the police.

The person who posted about the incident then confirmed with airport staff that a passenger was caught smoking in the plane’s toilet.

A 56-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man were arrested on Aug. 26 for suspected drug-related offences.

They were found along 2 Adam Road, near Botanic Gardens, that morning.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at the location at about 10:10am.

A Mothership reader who was passing by the area said they saw several officers gathered under a flyover at around 11:40am.

Suspected drugs, drug paraphernalia, and vapes were found at the scene, the police shared.

Both the man and the woman were conveyed to the hospital — the woman was unconscious, while the man was conscious.

They were arrested subsequently for suspected drug-related offences, which have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

The vape-related offence will be referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Investigations are ongoing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is in touch with the families of Singaporeans affected by the Nepal flash floods, it said in an Aug. 27 statement.

MFA added that the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi and the Singapore Embassy in Beijing are working closely with the Nepali and Chinese authorities.

The Singapore High Commission in New Delhi has deployed a Crisis Response Team to Nepal to render consular assistance to affected Singaporeans in Nepal.

The Nepali authorities have warned that blockage remains upstream on the Nepal-China border river, potentially creating the risk of a second flood, MFA said.

"Therefore, we strongly encourage Singaporeans in the affected areas to remain vigilant, monitor local news, and follow the instructions of local authorities."

Missing Singaporeans

An earlier report mentioned that a total of nine Singaporeans were reported missing after devastating flash floods swept through Nepal's border region with Tibet on Aug. 26.

In an official situation update posted on Nepal Tourism Board’s website on Aug. 27, the board said a preliminary agency-wise record from trekking and travel companies had identified 644 travellers reported missing from affected areas, nine of whom are Singaporeans.

"The information is being verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies," the board said.

According to BBC, at least 389 people have died and more than 900 are missing after devastating flash floods swept through Nepal's northern border region with Tibet on Aug. 26.

E-register with MFA

MFA said that Singaporeans should avoid flood-affected areas, rivers, riverbanks, and low-lying areas.

Singaporeans may eRegister with MFA to be contacted on the latest developments.

Singaporeans in need of consular assistance may contact the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi, the Singapore Embassy in Beijing, or MFA’s 24-hour duty office.

"The Singapore Government is deeply saddened by the loss of lives and extends its condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives."

The Singapore police is looking for a driver who abandoned his car following an accident in Sengkang on the morning of Aug. 27.

The location is opposite the Sengkang Neighbourhood Police Centre.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident along Sengkang East Road towards Buangkok Green at around 6:20am on Thursday.

The accident involved a car that was believed to have self-skidded, police said.

No injuries were reported.

The police added that the car driver left the scene before they arrived, and efforts to locate the driver are underway.

Investigations are ongoing.

Traffic light apparently knocked over

A photo of the aftermath of the incident was posted in the Telegram group @SgRoad.

A car was seen on a traffic island that had been partially cordoned off.

The car's bonnet appeared to have been damaged.

A traffic light was apparently knocked over.

In a separate video posted on TikTok, six police officers were seen next to the car.

One officer appeared to be searching the vehicle.

@sureboh.sg An accident involving a Toyota sedan occurred outside Sengkang General Hospital on 27 August 2026. The time of the incident is unknown. #surebohsg #sgnews #sgtrending #sgviral #singapore ♬ original sound - Sure Boh

A shop owner in China stepped in to help an elderly man when he fainted in her card room, then was asked to pay compensation by the man's family after he passed away.

The family initially demanded RMB 100,000 (S$19,000), but after negotiations, the sum was lowered to RMB 19,000 (S$3,600), which the shop owner eventually paid, Chinese media reported.

This demand for compensation sparked controversy among Chinese netizens, who felt that the shop owner should not be asked to pay for her kind act.

Following the backlash, the deceased's family decided to return the money to the woman, and transferred it to her son's bank account on Aug. 26.

What happened

The incident at the card room happened recently in Hengyang, located in China's Hunan province.

According to CCTV footage, the elderly man, surnamed Luo, went into the card room and sat on a chair near the entrance.

The shop owner, surnamed Xiao, approached him, appearing to notice he was unwell.

She tried to get him to stand up, but when she got him off the chair, he suddenly collapsed and slid onto the ground.

With the help of another man, she carried him outside the card room, then stayed with him until help came.

Xiao's son later told Chinese media that when the ambulance arrived about five minutes later, the elderly man's vital signs were still stable, though he was unconscious.

Compensation

Following his death, Luo's family reportedly asked for compensation because the incident happened at Xiao's business.

They also threatened to place the body outside the card room if she did not pay, according to her son.

Xiao suffered discomfort, insomnia, and a loss of appetite as a result of the incident, her son added. The business also had to be closed temporarily.

Worried about her health, her husband agreed to pay the money demanded.

According to a mediation agreement cited by Chinese media, Xiao paid the compensation out of a "humanitarian concern".

The local authorities investigated the case and said that Luo's family should return this payment to the shop owner, as a way to encourage the community to do good deeds.

In a show of support, the general manager of a Hunan-based rice company visited Xiao's family and gave them RMB 20,000 (S$3,800) to help them through this ordeal.

The family apologised

Luo's family has returned the compensation money in full and apologised.

"There is no need for compensation if no wrongdoing was committed — we realised this today," Luo's son said. "We deeply apologise for troubling netizens and taking up public resources."

Xiao's son expressed gratitude for the support his family received from the community.

He said that the family will be donating some of the money received to charity, and will continue to do good deeds.

A 44-year-old American man shot and killed eight of his relatives, including four children, weeks after his parents told him to move out.

According to ABC News, the shooter, Alan Smith, opened fire as the family gathered for Sunday dinner at their home outside Billings, Montana, on Aug. 23, 2026.

Smith killed four generations of his family, including his grandmother, parents, younger sister and his nieces and nephews.

U.S. authorities reached the scene on the evening of the incident and were greeted by the sound of gunshots before the house was engulfed in flames.

Investigators confirmed that Smith had also shot himself and later died.

Fire burned house to its foundation

A spokesperson for the Billings Police Department, Jeff Stovall, said the investigation was complicated by concerns about the house's structural integrity after the fire burned it to its foundation.

Firefighters put out the blaze at around 1am on Aug. 23 (local time), said Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel.

ABC News reported that the home is in an area not required to have fire hydrants, resulting in a delay that allowed the fire to rage through the house.

The four children Smith killed were aged between seven and 15.

A neighbour told ABC News that Smith's 12-year-old niece "was the hero".

"Charlotte called 911 and she tried to save her family."

Family 'very loving and close'

The neighbour said the family was "very loving and close" and said the children all got along and the parents remained amicable even after divorcing.

"I feel like our entire community is devastated, even people that never knew any of them."

ABC News reported that the Smith family were originally from Seattle, Washington, and his sister, Megan, moved to Montana with her children after her divorce.

Megan second husband was working and not at home when the shooting happened.

Smith's parents had also purchased a home near his sister while his grandmother lived in a nearby retirement home.

Smith stayed with his parents for years until he was asked to move out weeks prior to the incident.

According to ABC News, he unexpectedly returned home before killing his family, and tried to flee before being confronted by law enforcement.

'Many red flags'

According to ABC News, Megan's ex-husband said "there were many red flags" and that "no one listened".

Smith, who attended Eastern Washington University, was reportedly a "hermit" who spent most of his time on the computer and was unable to find or hold a job.

Megan's second husband rushed from the airport in Billings, where he worked, after hearing about an active shooting and calling each member of his family.

He said his children were not supposed to be there, as family dinner was usually on Fridays.

He said, "I don’t think he expected my kids to be there," and "monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did”.

A 58-year-old unemployed Singaporean man, who broke into a Geylang apartment bedroom and hid under the bed, was found and confronted by a tenant.

Charge sheets seen by Mothership stated that when the tenant tried to stop him from leaving, he swung a pen knife and pointed a pair of scissors at him.

He was also found to have controlled drugs on him, including methamphetamine and diamorphine.

Charges

Shin Min Daily News reported that Vincent Tony was sentenced to two years, six months, and three weeks' jail.

He pleaded guilty on Aug. 26 to one count of criminal intimidation, as well as two drug-related charges.

Geylang apartment unit

Charge sheets stated that some time before 7:20pm on Jan. 8, 2026, Tony broke into the apartment unit at Lorong 16 Geylang.

The apartment was unlocked, Shin Min reported, adding that he then entered the bedroom of a 27-year-old male tenant.

At about 7:20pm, the tenant, who is from Vietnam, returned home and found that his bedroom door was ajar and blocked by a table.

When he looked inside and saw that the room was disorganised, he went in to take photos.

This was so that he could send them to his roommate to verify if the latter was responsible.

The tenant then discovered Tony hiding under the bed, Shin Min reported.

Swung pen knife, pointed scissors

He immediately left the bedroom and contacted his colleague for help.

However, Tony had already come out of the room and was attempting to escape when the colleague arrived.

Shin Min reported that the tenant quickly closed the door so that Tony could not escape.

In an attempt to get the tenant to open the door, Tony swung a pen knife at him and threatened to harm him.

The colleague who arrived then seized pen knife from Tony.

However, Tony took a pair of scissors from his bag and pointed it at the tenant, threatening to harm him again.

According to Shin Min, the tenant and his colleague worked together to disarm and subdue Tony.

Drugs for own consumption

Police then arrived at the scene after receiving a report and arrested Tony, who was found to possess Class "A" controlled drugs.

Charge sheets stated that this included one packet containing not less than 4.41g of crystalline substance, which was analysed and found to contain not less than 2.97g of methamphetamine.

He also possessed two packets containing not less than 8.14g of granular or powdery substance, which was analysed and found to contain not less than 0.18g of diamorphine.

Shin Min reported that Tony admitted the drugs were for his own consumption.

He was also found with utensils intended for the consumption of a controlled drug.

They included one piece of aluminium foil and one improvised green bong with two tubing attached.

Still shaken by experience

To this day, the victim is still shaken by the experience, Shin Min reported.

When Shin Min visited the scene on the night of Aug. 26, the tenant said he still remembers the incident vividly though more than half a year has passed since then.

"The whole room was a mess, and I was really scared when I saw him," he said.

"Our belongings had been ransacked, and he had even touched our bottles and jars of liquor."

The tenant described how Tony walked to the window, intending to escape by jumping out, but gave up when he realised the unit was on the third floor.

Having worked in Singapore for five years, the victim said he did not expect to face such a ridiculous situation as he felt the country was safe.

He normally did not lock his room door as he never expected a stranger to break in.

Though he and his roommate did not experience material losses from this incident, Shin Min reported that they will lock the door in future to prevent similar occurrences.

A Singaporean couple who kept four dogs without valid licenses were fined after their pets escaped and charged at a domestic worker who was walking her employer's Labrador retriever.

The retriever suffered a wound that was 9cm long and 7cm deep after the couple's dogs, consisting of two Rottweilers and two Cane Corsos, attacked it.

Both breeds require additional licensing requirements and are restricted as potentially dangerous dog breeds; a person can only own one of a restricted breed unless given prior permission by the Director-General of Animal Health and Welfare.

On Aug. 25, 51-year-old Merissa Leow Hwee Li was fined S$3,100, while her 52-year-old husband, Lionel Tay Wei Yuan, was fined S$5,400, CNA reported.

Dogs escaped through faulty gate

According to court documents seen by Mothership, at around 9pm on Jan. 9, 2024, the victim's domestic worker was walking the Labrador retriever around a Bedok estate.

While passing Sennett Road, the couple's four dogs escaped through the faulty gate without their owners, reported CNA.

The four dogs ran onto the road and began scuffling with the Labrador retriever.

This alerted the dogs' respective owners, who rushed onto the scene.

Together with their domestic workers, the victim and Leow managed to separate the dogs.

Injuries

According to court documents, besides the deep open wound on its neck, the Labrador retriever had multiple puncture wounds on its body, including its rump and ear.

The victim also developed pain in her feet and sought medical attention.

S$3,359.65 was spent on the dog's veterinary treatments and S$706.30 on the domestic helper's medical bills.

On Jan. 10, 2024, a complaint was sent to the Animal and Veterinary Services.

None of the dogs had valid licenses

Investigations revealed that all four dogs belonged to the couple, and none of them held valid licenses.

One of the dogs was registered under Tay's cousin, while another was adopted from Tay's colleague.

In May 2020, Leow contacted the authorities regarding a third dog, saying that the family could not get along with it and asked for the dog's license to be cancelled.

Despite the cancellation, the dog continued to stay at the family's home.

Court documents stated that the couple did not have approval to keep more than three dogs without prior permission.

'True dog lovers'

According to CNA, the couple's lawyer, Benjamin Gabriel Sew, said his clients were not running an illegal dog farm or breeding operation and were "just true dog lovers".

Sew said the couple were not deliberately irresponsible in the ownership of their pets and that one of the dogs they were helping to dog-sit belonged to a cousin who has since died.

Sew added that the couple adopted another dog because they did not want the dog to be put down unnecessarily, not because they had a "flagrant disregard for the law".

The lawyer added that the gate, which was recently serviced, had malfunctioned on the day of the incident, hence the circumstances were not a result of any negligence.

Couple pleaded guilty

Leow pleaded guilty to two charges under the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules for letting her dog be found at large and for owning a Rottweiler without a valid licence.

Seven other charges were taken into consideration for Leow's sentencing.

Tay pleaded guilty to three charges for owning a dog without a valid licence, keeping more than three dogs at his home and keeping more than one dog of a restricted breed, with two other charges taken into consideration during sentencing.

The couple paid their fines in full, reported CNA.

Penalties

An individual can be fined up to S$5,000 for keeping more than one dog of a restricted breed.

For owning a dog without a valid license, or letting a dog you own be found at large, and for keeping more than three dogs at a place that is not a dog farm or pet shop, the penalty is the same as above.

A dead body was found in the wheel compartment of an aircraft at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Aug. 27.

According to local media reports, the body was found at about 6:55am inside the aircraft that had arrived at KLIA2 from Tokyo, Japan at about 6:30am the same morning.

Engineering staff reportedly detected a foul smell coming from the wheel compartment.

After opening it, they saw the body, clad in a white shirt and jeans.

Airport police were informed of the discovery and the forensics unit of the Royal Malaysia Police was called to the scene.

It was found that the victim was believed to be in their 20s, though the body has yet to be identified.

There were also no identification documents found on the body.

Preliminary investigations found that the victim had likely died more than 72 hours ago.

Further investigations are underway.