A 46-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly stabbing another woman at a public housing block in Bukit Merah on Jul. 4.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they received several calls for assistance at around 7:40pm at 7 Kim Tian Place that day.

Upon the police's arrival, officers established that the 46-year-old woman had injured a 43-year-old woman with a knife.

Both parties are known to each other, police said.

The 46-year-old woman was arrested for voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, and a knife was seized as a case exhibit.

The victim was conveyed conscious to the hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Recently broken up

According to Shin Min Daily News, the two women had a tumultuous relationship and recently broke up.

Reporters who visited the scene observed bloodstains at the void deck of the block and a woman nearby talking on the phone.

The woman, who was identified as the domestic helper of the arrested woman, revealed that her employer had been in a relationship with her partner for about five years.

The partner had reportedly blocked her number and taken their two-year-old child to her father's house.

“My employer wanted to see the child, so we came here together to talk to her in person,” she said.

She explained that she stood by waiting for her employer to finish, but the conversation became heated and matters eventually escalated.

KPA Engineering, the Singapore air-conditioning contractor accused of not paying their migrant workers, reportedly had a "history" of failing to pay its workers properly.

Nonprofit organisation Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) said in a Jun. 25 Facebook post that it had first raised the alarm last year.

"Across 2025 and 2026, TWC2 helped six workers with salary issues from this company," the organisation said.

It also questioned "why things were allowed to reach this point".

Since March 2025

On Jun. 22, over 100 migrant workers approached the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Services Centre in Bendemeer.

They were seeking help regarding their outstanding salary payments and housing arrangements.

It was later reported that over 400 migrant workers in total had filed claims over unpaid wages.

One of the firms implicated in the episode was KPA Engineering.

Bad history

While it was only in June that the matter was publicly reported, TWC2 told Mothership that the company appeared to be facing "cashflow problems and difficulty paying salary" as early as March 2025.

In that first case, the worker told TWC2 that he was owed a month's salary.

Then in May 2025, another worker, who was employed as an assistant supervisor, approached TWC2.

He claimed that he had not been paid properly since January 2025, and was owed around S$3,000.

Yet another case emerged in June 2025 — this time with a construction worker, who complained that he was owed S$4,500.

In October 2025 and June 2026, three more workers approached TWC2. Two of them were owed three months of unpaid salary.

A week after the last complaint, news of the workers approaching the MOM Services Centre en masse broke.

Issues claiming

TWC2 said that they helped the affected workers with salary claims and food assistance, to varying results.

For the case in May 2025, the nonprofit helped the worker lodge a claim with TADM.  The employer settled the matter with the worker, and allegedly even promised him a raise to not pursue the matter further.

But in April 2026, he came back to TADM, saying that he was once again facing payment issues.

Screenshots of the submissions, viewed by Mothership, showed two separate claims for S$2,945.95 and S$2,437.76 respectively.

In the June 2025 case, TWC2 similarly helped lodge a report, for S$4,458.28 in unpaid salary.

But the employer initially refused to settle.

"The employer subsequently paid up, but not the full amount he was owed," the spokesperson said.

TWC2 said that this is common in migrant worker disputes. Affected workers, who are "desperate and under pressure", may end up "settling for far less" as they believe some income is better than none.

"But it is not fair to the workers, because the employers are effectively benefitting from a 'discount' when they are the ones who have defaulted in their payment in the first place," TWC2 said.

Such partial settlements are also not differentiated from full settlements in TADM's statistics, the nonprofit said.

Culture of fear

In its Facebook post, TWC2 called for a "centralised wage protection scheme" that allows the authorities to automatically detect when employers fail to pay their workers on time.

This is because many workers are reluctant to lodge salary claims, for fear of losing their jobs, or facing retaliation from employers.

Even when they do raise a claim, there is "no guarantee they will receive their owed salary in the end", particularly if mediation fails and they have to go to court.

"The burden of wage theft should not fall on workers who have to struggle to prove their claims – often while navigating debt, family obligations, and a foreign environment," said TWC2.

The Straits Times previously reported that KPA Engineering had faced signs of financial woes as early as 2023 and 2024, when HSBC and DBS both filed charges against the firm.

HSBC had alleged unpaid debts, while DBS had filed two charges with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) against the firm, to secure all moneys.

The firm apparently still has not paid DBS.

Director's passport impounded

Following the episode, MOM said it has been providing the workers with the necessary assistance, together with TADM.

The ministry is investigating the companies for breaches of employment laws, and has begun placing the affected workers in new jobs.

In the meantime, the director of the firm — a Singapore permanent resident and Indian national who was believed to have fled the country — is back in Singapore and has had his passport impounded.

Ramu Palani Velu, who is the director of the three Singapore companies accused of migrant worker abandonment and four others besides, is assisting with investigations, according to Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash.

A 55-year-old man was tasered and arrested by the police after he was seen allegedly wielding a saw in Bedok.

The alleged incident occurred on the afternoon of Jul. 5 at Block 539 Bedok North Street 3.

In a TikTok video, the man was seen holding what appeared to be a water bottle in his right hand and a saw in the other.

Police officers were seen responding to the incident.

@chen.zhi.wei.1595 Jul 26 - Man holding saw challenge policemen at Bedok♬ original sound - Chen Zhi Wei

In another video circulating online, the man was seen being subdued by police officers.

Officers equipped with firearms and bulletproof vests were also present at the scene.

Another officer was seen holding a saw, presumably taken from the man.

After the man was subdued, he was secured to a stretcher.

In response to queries from Mothership, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it received a call for assistance at about 3:25pm on Jul. 5 at Block 539 Bedok North Street 3.

Upon arrival, officers found a male subject holding a saw and swinging it around.

Despite repeated warnings from officers to drop the weapon, the man refused to comply and kept shouting incoherently.

In order to de-escalate and contain the situation, the officers deployed a taser to stop the man, who was then placed under arrest.

The 55-year-old man was arrested for public nuisance, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and the suspected consumption of a controlled drug.

He was conveyed conscious to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The suspected drug-related offence has been referred to Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), and investigations are ongoing.

SBS Transit bid farewell to Tampines on Jul. 5, handing over bus services in the area to another bus operator, Go-Ahead Singapore (GAS).

The transition marks the end of an era, concluding over 40 years of service for SBS transit in the town.

Exchange of hands

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Sep. 19, 2025 that GAS was awarded the contract for the Tampines bus package.

The Tampines bus package, which consists of 27 routes, was previously operated by SBS Transit from Bedok North Bus Depot.

The contract, worth S$646 million, will span five years, starting on Jul. 5, 2026.

LTA stated that GAS secured the contract after achieving the highest score during the tender process, offering cost savings and a strong framework for large-scale electric bus deployment.

Under the new contract, GAS will begin operations at East Coast Integrated Depot and take over Tampines Bus Interchange, Tampines Concourse Bus Interchange, and Tampines North Bus Interchange on Jul. 5.

It is scheduled to take over Changi Business Park Bus Terminal on Jul. 19.

40 years of service

In a Facebook post on Jul. 4, SBS Transit recounted its long journey serving the town

"It is with heavy hearts, but minds full of cherished memories."

The operator began its service in the area in 1983 under its former name, Singapore Bus Services Limited.

At the time, it operated out of the old Tampines Bus Terminal with just two services.

Over the next four decades, the operator expanded alongside the town's growth, building three bus interchanges to meet demand.

They noted that some of its long-serving bus captains have even watched commuters grow up, graduate, and start their own families.

The company expressed its gratitude to the residents of Tampines for their love and support, and also thanked its bus captains, interchange, and depot staff for their service to the company, whether they are remaining in the company or embarking on a new chapter.

Quoting the Disney movie "Lilo & Stitch", the operator added, "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."

SBS Transit concluded by wishing GAS the best as the operator takes over the routes.

A 24-year-old man has died after he was struck by lightning while stand-up paddleboarding in the waters off Pasir Ris Beach on Jul. 5.

In response to Mothership's queries, police confirmed they were alerted to the incident at 131 Pasir Ris Road at about 4:50pm on Jul. 5.

The man was taken unconscious to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Six others, aged between 13 and 54, were taken conscious to the hospital.

Preliminary investigations found no evidence of foul play, and police investigations are ongoing.

Separately, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said five people, including one who was unconscious, were taken to Sengkang General Hospital.

Two others were conveyed conscious to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Witness accounts

According to Lianhe Zaobao, the group of eight, comprising five males and three females, had been kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding when the incident occurred.

A lightning strike had suddenly hit the 24-year-old man while he was paddleboarding, causing him to lose consciousness.

Noticing what had happened, people on the shore went to help and brought the group safely back to land.

They also called for emergency assistance and administered first aid, but the man remained unconscious.

A witness who took part in the rescue, 40-year-old Muhammad Fairuz, told Zaobao that he had been fishing at the beach when the incident happened.

He said five members of the group suddenly paddled back to shore, with one of them shouting that his brother had been struck by lightning and asking someone to call for an ambulance.

"There were still three people at sea, so another person and I got into two kayaks and paddled out to bring them back," he said.

Fairuz added that five members of the public took turns performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the unconscious man until SCDF officers arrived.

He said the man appeared to be foaming at the mouth and unresponsive, adding that his clothes appeared to have been burnt and torn following the lightning strike.

Another witness, who was having a barbecue nearby, said she saw the man lying unconscious on the ground.

"His hands and feet looked purple and bruised," she said. "There were two women beside him, whom I believe were his family members, and they were crying."

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will visit Jakarta, Indonesia, for the annual Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat on Jul. 6, 2026.

According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), it will be hosted by Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto in what will be their second leaders' retreat.

Strengthen collaboration

The retreat reaffirms the deep and enduring bilateral ties between both countries, as well as the commitment by both governments to deepening bilateral cooperation, PMO added.

It will see the leaders exploring pathways to strengthen collaboration in areas of mutual interest and benefit for Singapore and Indonesia, and receiving updates on bilateral projects undertaken since the last leaders' retreat in June 2025 in Singapore.

They will also exchange perspectives on regional and global developments.

PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, as well as Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology Tan See Leng.

Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam will be Acting Prime Minister in PM Wong's absence.

Singaporean Vanessa Lee, 28, broke the 30-year-old Singapore women’s half-marathon record with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes 4 seconds.

Her record-breaking time saw her placed 29th at the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia on Jul. 4, footage by sportsplus.sg showed.

In 1996, Yvonne Danson set the Singapore women’s half-marathon record with a time of 1:16:29.

Lee's feat has been lauded as she only started running 21km half marathons since 2022, The Straits Times reported.

She will be taking part in the BYD Singapore International Marathon from Dec. 4 to 6.

Another record

Singaporean Shaun Goh, 29, also beat the national record at the Gold Coast Marathon.

He improved his own 10km road mark set in 2024, cutting the timing from 31:00 to 30:41.

He finished 10th in the race.

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The police will be charging a 43-year-old man in court on Jul. 6, 2026 for using criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty.

Scolded vulgarities, spat

According to a Jul. 5 police news release, police officers were attending to a case of fire at Block 381 Yishun Ring Road at about 5:10pm on Jul. 3.

They then encountered the man who scolded vulgarities at the officers, continuously shouted and created a disturbance, preventing officers from managing the scene.

Upon being engaged by officers, the man refused to cease his behaviour and spat on an officer.

He was arrested at the scene.

Challenged officers

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) had earlier said in a Facebook post that they were alerted to a fire at the Yishun block at about 5:15pm on Jul. 3.

As officers attended to the scene, a man reportedly caused a ruckus on the ground floor.

In videos that circulated on social media, the man, dressed in a red top and red shoes, could be seen challenging police officers.

In one video, one of the officers could be heard reasoning with the man during the emergency.

The man could then be seen leaning his body toward the officer, appearing to challenge him by saying, "I cannot hear, I cannot hear".

The man was then seen walking away from the officers and shouting, "Don't talk to me!"

In another video, he could be seen challenging officers to arrest him.

It is unclear what gave rise to the altercation.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the man continued cussing at the officers even as they held him down on the ground and detained him.

He continued to be uncooperative when paramedics attempted to check on him.

The man's antics reportedly lasted for about two hours before he was eventually taken away in an ambulance.

Penalties

The man will be charged with the offence of using criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty, which carries a jail term of up to four years, or a fine, or both.

It added: "The police have zero tolerance towards those who obstruct, harass, or use force against public servants in the discharge of their duties."

"We will not hesitate to take action against those who blatantly disregard the law."

A woman involved in the fight at the People's Park Complex's Beijing Royal Massage Parlor claimed the altercation occurred because she demanded an explanation from a male masseur after realising she had apparently become pregnant with his child.

According to an earlier report, two people were taken to the Singapore General Hospital after a brawl between a man and two women at the massage parlour.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with Mothership that they received a call for assistance at 1 Park Road on Jul. 2 at about 2:30pm.

The police also confirmed that a report was lodged.

Woman involved explains

A video showed a woman in a pink top and a woman in a black cardigan locked in a struggle with a man.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News a day after the news broke about the fight, the woman in black, Wang (transliterated pseudonym), said she had reportedly been in a romantic relationship with the man, Ah Feng (transliterated).

Wang said: "I first visited this massage parlour in early May and thought the service was pretty good."

"When I went there again, [Ah Feng] provided the massage service," she added.

She said: "Later, every time I went back, I would specifically ask him for the massage. Over time, we hit it off and started dating in mid-May."

Pregnant, break-up

Wang told Shin Min that she and the man reportedly had sex several times.

She added that she apparently spent S$400 to go on a date with the man and she would take him out twice a week.

"We would go out to eat and book a hotel room," she added.

Wang later suspected she was pregnant after experiencing physical symptoms.

After visiting the doctor, her pregnancy was reportedly confirmed on Jul. 1.

A doctor's referral letter seen by Shin Min stated: "Preliminary diagnosis indicates pregnancy, prenatal examination required".

She claimed, however, that after telling Ah Feng about her pregnancy, he allegedly broke up with her on the spot and said: "Don't threaten me with the child."

Fight

Shin Min reported that she then visited the massage parlour on Jul. 2 to ask Ah Feng to return her personal belongings and for an explanation.

She said: "Since we were breaking up, I wanted to get my house key and skincare products back, but he said he had lost them all."

"We started arguing about it, and the police came to mediate. He said he would go home to look for them, and then I left," she added.

Since Wang still found it necessary to discuss the child's situation, she returned to the massage parlour with her friend at about 1pm on Jul. 2, but Ah Feng reportedly avoided her.

"He refused to come out to see me," she said.

"I thought since I was already here, I might as well get a massage at the shop," she added, but she was allegedly chased away.

"We pushed and shoved each other and then we started fighting."

Reportedly suffered miscarriage

Wang claimed that Ah Feng allegedly struck her head and abdomen repeatedly during the fight and also threw her to the ground.

This was said to have ultimately caused her to miscarry, she added.

Wang said: "He hit my stomach, choked my neck, and pinned me to the ground. I fainted for a moment, and when I woke up I called the police. I was taken to the hospital and unfortunately miscarried."

Shin Min reported that the doctor asked her to stay in the hospital for observation, but Wang insisted on being discharged before returning for a follow-up appointment next week.

Expenses

Wang noted that she apparently had to pay for all expenses during their relationship.

She added that in the span of two months, she spent S$10,000, as it included the costs for them to be intimate.

Wang supposedly paid about S$1,000 each time they went on a date, as he reportedly asked her for S$520 each time they had sexual intercourse.

She had viewed him as a partner, Shin Min reported, adding that he reportedly only viewed her as a customer.

Friend injured

The fight also saw Wang's friend, Chen (transliterated), getting hit.

She told Shin Min that she had accompanied Wang to the parlour, but did not expect a fight to break out.

Upon seeing her friend get hit, Chen kept shouting that Wang was pregnant and got injured after getting involved in the fight.

Have you ever slept on a hotel bed and wondered where they bought their mattresses from because it was unbelievably comfortable? Chances are, you might find the same one at Four Star.

This award-winning home brand supplies mattresses to hotels and holiday resorts, and will be having a sale with discounts of up to 90 per cent on their mattresses, sofas and other furniture from Jul. 8 to Jul. 12.

These are what you should prepare your wallets for.

Mattresses designed to meet different sleep needs

If you find yourself waking up feeling warm and sweaty, the DETENSE ArcticSilk CU+ mattress range is designed to help with that.

The DETENSE ArcticSilk is crafted for you to stay cool throughout the night. It also combines copper-infused (CU+) technology that is both anti-bacterial and anti-odour making sleep cooler, cleaner, and more restorative.

Can’t wait to bid goodbye to your morning body stiffness? Check out their Chiro+ Back Care mattress which combines chiropedic technology with pocket springs, memory foam and latex.

Don’t worry about your old mattresses as you can trade in to get up to S$580 cashback and opt for a free one-for-one mattress disposal.

For a hotel-like feel, you can dress your bed in Four Star’s signature pintuck bedsheet set that comes in a variety of colours and sizes. The quality fabric offers comfort and durability, plus its design makes it fit into almost any bedroom aesthetic.

Free up space with storage beds

Storage beds are one of the easiest ways to free up space in your bedroom.

With the hydraulic lift system, you don’t have to worry about hurting your back while trying to access your things you’ve kept away.

You can choose between electric and manual, front or side-lift mechanisms and customise your bed with optional drawers to suit your storage needs and room layout.

You can also create a bed that's uniquely yours by matching headboards, colours and upholstery like pet-friendly, easy-to-clean fabric or leather.

3-seater sofas from S$599 and L-shaped sofas at S$799

If you spend your time unwinding and doomscrolling in your living rooms, why not do so with customisable, smooth glider recliners and electric incliners that operate almost without a sound. Your neck, shoulders and back will thank you later.

If you just want a cosy couch just for one, you can get their 1-seater sofa from S$299, while their 3-seater starts from S$599 and L-shaped from S$799.

Support doesn’t end at point of purchase

From purchase to delivery and beyond, it will be as fuss-free as possible.

The mattresses and furniture come with free delivery, GST-inclusive prices, warranties of up to 15 years, zero per cent instalment plans and even free taxi claims back home.

Snag the best deals

Location: Four Star Kallang Flagship Store Level 1, 44 Kallang Place, Four Star Building Singapore 339172

Date: Jul. 8 to Jul. 12, 2026

Time: 10am to 9pm daily

Nearest MRT station: Kallang (700 metres away)

Nearest bus stop: Opposite Kallang Place (bus stop 60051) with buses 21, 26, 31, 853, 853M, 961, 961M, 985, six minute walking distance

This branded article by Four Star made this writer want to buy a new mattress for her ageing parents.