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            <title>Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world</title>
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                    <title>S'pore woman, 55, who slapped maid, twisted her ears & pulled her headscarf in lift, gets 4 months' jail</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/hasnah-hashim-abuse-maid-pull-headscarf/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T17:22:05</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Chloe Loh ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/hasnah-hashim-abuse-maid-pull-headscarf/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ She was also ordered to pay S$5,000 in compensation. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/cover-pic-3.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A woman was sentenced on Jun. 3 to four months’ jail and ordered to pay S$5,000 in compensation after she pulled off her domestic helper’s headscarf while the two were in a lift.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/woman-maid-abuse-headscarf-jailed-compensation-order-court-6158626" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>CNA</em></a>, the woman, 55-year-old Hasnah Hashim, pleaded guilty to two out of five counts of causing hurt, with the remaining charges taken into consideration during sentencing.</p>
<p>She also slapped the 32-year-old Indonesian domestic worker on a separate occasion.</p><p><h2>What happened</h2></p><p>Court documents seen by <em>Mothership</em> stated that the offences took place in August 2024 when Hasnah was still the victim's employer.</p><p>On Aug. 23 that year, both women had gone to the market in the morning and returned home at about 7:23am.</p><p>As the victim reached the ground-floor lobby, she entered a lift first and pressed the button to close the doors just as Hasnah was entering.</p><p>Hasnah managed to stop the doors from closing and stepped into the lift.</p><p>Angered by the incident, she grabbed the victim’s headscarf with both hands and pulled it down forcefully.</p><p>In the process, she also pulled the victim’s hair, causing her pain, and removed the headscarf, which the prosecution said caused humiliation as it was worn for religious purposes, <em>CNA</em> reported.</p><p>The incident was captured on video and later submitted as evidence in court.</p><p>The victim lodged a police report later that day and was taken for a medical examination.</p><p>She was found to have a 2cm bruise on her upper lip, which stemmed from an earlier incident three days prior, when Hasnah slapped the victim after she mistakenly placed a packet of tofu in the freezer.</p><p>Charge sheets further revealed that Hasnah had, on separate occasions in August 2024, hit the victim’s forehead with a mobile phone, pinched her thigh and pulled and twisted her ears.</p><p>These incidents formed the remaining charges that were taken into consideration for sentencing, <em>CNA</em> reported.</p><p>The prosecution added that the victim has remained unemployed since Aug. 23, 2024.</p><p>It said she had been unable to secure work as prospective employers were concerned that her employment could be disrupted if she were required to testify in court.</p><p>Her last drawn monthly salary was S$882.</p><p><h2>Sentencing</h2></p><p>The prosecution sought a jail term of between four and six months, and a compensation order of S$8,500.</p><p>This included S$1,000 for pain and suffering and the remainder for loss of income.</p><p>It noted that the victim had lost about S$18,500 in earnings over roughly 21 months of unemployment, but cited precedent in arguing against full compensation for the entire period.</p><p>According to <em>CNA</em>, Hasnah’s lawyer sought a three-month jail term, arguing that his client was remorseful and deserved leniency.</p><p>He also submitted references from her former domestic helpers, who described a positive working relationship, to show that she had generally been a good employer.</p><p>The defence further said Hasnah had spent about S$14,600 on the victim’s lodging and food during the period she was not working, and proposed a compensation order of S$1,000.</p><p>However, the prosecution argued that accommodation and food expenses were separate from the victim’s loss of earnings.</p><p>The judge ultimately ordered Hasnah to pay S$5,000 in compensation, comprising S$1,000 for suffering and S$4,000 for loss of salary, and sentenced her to four months’ imprisonment.</p><p>If convicted of voluntarily causing hurt, one can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$5,000, or both.</p><p>As the offences were committed against a domestic worker, Hasnah faced double the maximum penalty.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149720</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>NParks to relocate 5 endangered leopard cats in Changi to other suitable habitats in S'pore</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/leopard-cats-changi-relocation/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T17:04:32</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Xueting Wu ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/leopard-cats-changi-relocation/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The plan is part of biodiversity conservation efforts for the species. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/photo_2026-06-03_16-37-41.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The National Parks Board (NParks) has confirmed five leopard cats in the Changi area through a survey, and plans to relocate them to suitable habitats in other parts of Singapore from the second half of 2026.</p><p>The potential relocation sites may include nature areas such as nature reserves, NParks announced in a Jun. 3 press release.</p>
<p>In identifying these sites, NParks consulted the Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG) and mammal researcher Marcus Chua from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum of the National University of Singapore, and considered ecological needs such as the availability of forest cover and suitable prey.</p><p>The three parties will discuss whether to keep or separate the five leopard cats in the relocation, the Director of the NParks National Biodiversity Centre (Terrestrial), Zhou Boyi, told the media on Jun. 3.</p><p>He added that NParks will not be revealing the exact relocation sites, citing concerns about human disturbance and illegal activities such as poaching.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 10572px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/Camera-trap-photo-of-juvenile-1_Photo-Credit-SWAG-1.jpg" alt="" width="10572" height="5332" class="wp-image-1149764 size-full" /> Photo from SWAG
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>NParks made this announcement with SWAG ahead of the <a href="https://fob.nparks.gov.sg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Festival of Biodiversity</a>, happening on Jun. 6 and 7.</p><p><h2>Leopard cats in Changi</h2></p><p>The mainland leopard cat is an adaptable wild cat species native to Singapore and other parts of Asia, according to NParks.</p><p>Locally, the species is listed as critically endangered. To NParks' knowledge, there are currently less than 20 individual leopard cats on the Singapore mainland, Zhou added.</p><p>NParks said that it has been aware of occasional leopard cat sightings in the Changi area since 2019.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='NParks to relocate 5 endangered leopard cats in Changi to other suitable habitats in S'pore' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2024/02/leopard-cat-changi/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p>To better understand their presence and the distribution there, the agency facilitated a survey by SWAG along the Changi coast from July 2025.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 2362px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/SWAG-Volunteer-setting-up-camera-trap_Photo-Credit-SWAG.jpg" alt="" width="2362" height="3150" class="size-full wp-image-1149731" /> Photo from SWAG
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Using 18 motion-sensor camera traps, the team confirmed the presence of five leopard cats — two adult males, one adult female, and two juveniles.</p><p>When asked how the creatures got there, Zhou said it was possible that some from the established population in Pulau Tekong might have swum across the sea to colonise the Changi area.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 400px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/Camera-trap-footage_Photo-credit-SWAG.gif" alt="" width="400" height="226" class="size-full wp-image-1149726" /> Gif from SWAG
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><h2>Protecting their welfare</h2></p><p>NParks decided to relocate the leopard cats from Changi as part of biodiversity conservation efforts for the species.</p><p>Speaking to the media, the co-founder of SWAG, Vilma D'Rozario, described the sighting locations as near a lot of construction and roads where heavy vehicles pass.</p><p>There was a leopard cat roadkill in Changi in 2019 that raised the SWAG's concern about the welfare of the animals there.</p><p>Additionally, with the upcoming developments to the Changi landscape over time, relocation is required to better support the species' health and welfare, NParks stated in the press release.</p><p>Leopard cats generally require access to relatively large, contiguous forested areas to meet their daily ecological needs, NParks added.</p><p>D'Rozario added that she does not encourage people to look for the leopard cats in Changi, to avoid disrupting the relocation process.</p><p><h2>Further assessments before relocation</h2></p><p>Prior to any relocation and release, veterinarians from NParks and Mandai Wildlife Group will first assess the leopard cats to ensure that they are in good health.</p><p>"Any relocation, if carried out, will be undertaken progressively and carefully, with ongoing monitoring, and with the animals’ welfare and long-term survival as the primary considerations," the agency said.</p><p>Zhou also noted other possible risks such as stress during the recapture and the transportation, and the challenges of the animals adapting to the new environment.</p><p>"To mitigate this risk, what we will put in place is to ensure that the travelling and handling operations will be undertaken by trained professionals, and we will also have a vet on standby throughout the trapping period," he said.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149640</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>Starting pay of new local bus captains to go up by S$450 from 2027</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/sg-bus-captain-starting-pay-increase/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T17:00:31</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Gawain Pek ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/sg-bus-captain-starting-pay-increase/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ First year of sign-on bonuses will also go up by S$2,000. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/local-bus-captains-starting-salary-2027.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Starting January 2027, the starting monthly salary of new local bus captains will increase by S$450, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Jun. 3, 2026.</p><p>This will be accompanied by a S$2,000 increase in the first-year sign-on bonuses.</p>
<p>Bus operators have also collectively agreed to make a one-time adjustment to the salaries of all in-service bus captains, LTA also said.</p><p>The announcement was made in a joint news release with the major bus operators and the National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU).</p><p><h2>Average monthly salary increases to more than S$4,000</h2></p><p>The increments, funded by the government, are meant to attract more local bus captains and are implemented in consultation with the National Transport Workers' Union, LTA said.</p><p>With the increments to the starting salary and first year of sign-on bonus for new local bus captains, LTA estimated that most local bus captains can earn S$600 more per month in their first year of service.</p><p>Taking into account increases to the basic pay, overtime, allowances and bonuses, the average monthly salaries of new local bus captains will effectively increase to more than S$4,000, according to LTA.</p><p><h2>One-time salary adjustment for in-service bus captains</h2></p><p>The bus operators — SBS Transit, Go-Ahead Singapore, Tower Transit and SMRT — have also collectively agreed with the NTWU to make a one-time adjustment to the salaries of all in-service bus captains.</p><p>This is to manage "wage relativity, improve retention and recognise the contributions of in-service bus captains", LTA said.</p><p>The bus operators will also continue to improve the attractiveness and safety of the bus captain role, such as by reducing split-shift assignments and shortening continuous driving time on long bus routes, LTA added.</p><p><h2>Strong pipeline of captains needed to deliver enhancements: LTA</h2></p><p>LTA explained that a "strong pipeline of bus captains" is needed to deliver bus connectivity enhancements and sustain essential public bus services.</p><p>Since the launch of the <a href="https://www.mot.gov.sg/what-we-do/public-transport/bus/#7e67aa645d652fadefef49a5b93204d0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme</a> in July 2024, there have been 33 new or extended bus routes and improvements to over 60 existing services, LTA noted.</p><p>However, the bus captain workforce is ageing.</p><p>For every local bus captain recruited, two are leaving the industry due to resignation or retirement, according to LTA.</p><p>The proportion of local bus captains has also declined from 54 per cent in 2021 to 41 per cent in 2025.</p><p><h2>Commitment to take care of public transport workers: Jeffrey Siow</h2></p><p>On the announced starting pay and sign-on bonus adjustments, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow said that they reflect "our commitment to take care of our public transport workers".</p><p>"A larger pool of bus captains will also allow us to improve working conditions, including shift arrangements, and make bus driving a more sustainable career," Siow commented.</p><p>Siow had previously <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/02/bus-captain-salary-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shared</a> in a parliamentary written reply in February 2026 that the government was reviewing the starting salary of bus captains.</p><p>In March, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Member of Parliament Yeo Wan Ling, who is also NTWU's Executive Secretary, shared during her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/2037702127162208" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">remarks</a> in Parliament that the starting basic salary of new bus captains was around S$2,250.</p><p>A significant amount of income depends on overtime, Yeo said at the time.</p><p>The major bus operators had also previously <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/02/sign-on-bonus-bus-driver/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced</a> a S$20,000 sign-on bonus for Singaporeans and permanent residents.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149622</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>Comment: With respect to Pete Hegseth, maybe Asia needs fewer ships & more Shangri-La Dialogues</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/comment-more-shangri-la-dialogues-fewer-ships/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T16:12:31</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Tan Min-Wei ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/comment-more-shangri-la-dialogues-fewer-ships/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ To jaw-jaw is better than to war-war.  ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/Copy-of-Cover-image-60-1.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a> <a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/whatsapp-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth came to Singapore to speak on May 30 with a clear message: U.S. allies needed to spend more on their national defence.</p><p>3.5 per cent was the number cited to be considered a “model ally” and be given priority for weapons systems, defence infrastructure collaboration, to name a few things.</p><p>Those who fell under that number were accused of freeloading on the back of U.S. taxpayers.</p>
<p><h2>Sic vis pacem</h2></p><p>Hegseth referenced that old Roman aphorism “Sic vis pacem, para bellum”, or as he said in English: “those who long for peace must prepare for war.”</p><p>Peace is achieved through deterrence, and words do not deter, he might say.</p><p>So in front of a conference audience, he advocated: Less conferences, more combat power.</p><p>"Sorry to say this here, but more ships, less Shangri-La."</p><p>Left unsaid (because it didn't need to be said out loud) was the implication that those countries should buy American.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Comment: With respect to Pete Hegseth, maybe Asia needs fewer ships & more Shangri-La Dialogues' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/05/us-asian-allies-step-up-defence-spending-pete-hegseth-shangri-la-dialogue/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p>But East Asia spends more and more every year on its security, IISS estimates that from 2025 to 2026, Asia’s spending grew by 3.5 per cent.</p><p>It's not weaponry that East Asian countries yearn for.</p><p>It's dialogue and transparency.</p><p>With all due respect to the SecDef, Asia needs more Shangri-La Dialogue and fewer ships.</p><p><h2>Interlocutor</h2></p><p>From the very first moments of 2026 SLD, at Vietnam President To Lam's keynote speech, he lamented a lack of strategic trust, causing states to “interpret one another's actions through a lens of mistrust and anxiety.”</p><p>“Where trust declines, defensive measures may even be perceived as provocation.”</p><p>To Lam called for transparency, dialogue and substantive information sharing to reduce misunderstandings, a call that was echoed by Australian defence minister Richard Marles in reference to the safety of Australia’s undersea cables.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Comment: With respect to Pete Hegseth, maybe Asia needs fewer ships & more Shangri-La Dialogues' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/05/vietnam-president-to-lam-warns-of-3-foundational-crises-in-2026-shangri-la-dialogue-keynote-speech/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p>Since 2024, there have been numerous <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/chinese-ship-suspected-of-deliberately-dragging-anchor-for-100-miles-to-cut-baltic-cables-395f65d1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">occasions</a> where undersea cables in the Baltic Sea and the Taiwan Strait were cut under suspicious circumstances.</p><p>As this Centre for Strategic and International Studies <a href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-underwater-power-play-prcs-new-subsea-cable-cutting-ship-spooks-international" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">document</a> details: China is often accused of being responsible for such cuts, the Baltic incidents occurred with China-flagged ships, but as the report itself admits: accidents are common.</p><p>In his address on May 30, Marles called on China to be transparent about its maritime operations, saying that it would be a meaningful contribution to regional stability.</p><p><h2>Japan and China</h2></p><p>China for its part was notable by its so-called “absence”.</p><p>For the second year in a row, Minister of National Defense Dong Jun did not make an appearance, but its delegation was impossible to miss.</p><p><iframe width="500" height="737" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMothershipSG%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0Bg8ELDAMhZag8Bb5dh5n295gxQriinDpyjSu4gMLAnKQE7ZK3msf6yZtUx7z6hKyl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p><p>A fairly large group, they took part in breakout sessions at a fairly high level, including a Major General and a former Ambassador to the United States.</p><p>They also made their presence felt by asking questions during plenary sessions, including one incident of chiding Japan’s defence minister for supposedly not apologising for Japan’s Second World War atrocities in Asia, as it did in Australia.</p><p><h3>The Guns of August</h3></p><p>China and Japan's mutual antagonism is pertinent because it appears as if they are being drawn into what is known as a security dilemma.<japan fm="" vid="" p=""></japan></p><p>A security dilemma describes a situation where two or more countries are suspicious of each other’s military intent and lack the means through which to defuse those tensions.</p><p>Instead of engaging in diplomacy to resolve said tensions, they take the logical precautionary step to increase their own security, usually by arming themselves with ever more and ever more advanced weaponry.</p><p>Every single weapons purchase, training scheme, or military exercise is interpreted by the rival as a move with offensive potential that must be responded to, drawing both sides into a never-ending spiral of militarisation and conflict, resulting in a situation where war feels all but inevitable.</p><p>It can be a scary thought because (and yes, this is what the dilemma is), the very thing a country feels is necessary to ensure its safety is the same thing that endangers it.</p><p>The entire pre-First World War period is rife with moments which are explained by the security dilemma, such as the naval arms race sparked by the completion of the battleship HMS Dreadnought.</p><p>The excellent book, <em>The Guns of August</em>, documents the final month before the war, where multiple empires took actions that they knew would antagonise other nations, but felt compelled because they could not otherwise assure their security.</p><p>And for that, they were drawn into a war they did not want, which ultimately destroyed almost all of them.</p><p>So there is literally a historical precedent for fewer ships and more dialogue.</p><p><h2>The finger of blame</h2></p><p>And so, the week just before SLD saw the <em><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/70e922b3-c423-40f2-9c9d-1c64a38e026b?syn-25a6b1a6=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Financial Times</a></em> publish a startling report which detailed China President Xi Jinping “railing against Japan’s remilitarisation” to U.S. President Donald Trump.</p><p>And within my group chats, an idea circulated: maybe Xi doesn’t know about the security dilemma.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 997px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/photo_2026-06-01_20-10-41.jpg" alt="" width="997" height="957" class="size-full wp-image-1149307" /> Image courtesy of Mothership
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Of course he is probably fully aware of it, but on Sunday morning, Japan Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi gave a speech that seemed to confirm the dilemma’s spiral was in full effect.</p><p>Koizumi turned the finger of blame around and pointed it at China saying “There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons.”</p><p>“And yet Japan is labeled ‘new militarism’. Isn’t it strange?”</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Comment: With respect to Pete Hegseth, maybe Asia needs fewer ships & more Shangri-La Dialogues' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/05/japan-china-shangri-la-dialogue/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p><h2>Guns and ships</h2></p><p>The Philippines National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr similarly took to the SLD stage to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/0OmznbzQyuo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">condemn</a> China’s behaviour in the South China Sea, with China <a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1291430419851080&amp;id=100069524035776&amp;mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;rdid=NjkW7xyu3cqKVdme#" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">biting</a> back later that same day.</p><p>And to harken back to the fewer ships theme: one of the friction points between Japan and China is the JS Izumo, a ship that Japan claims was a helicopter carrier when launched in 2015, but China said was an aircraft carrier.</p><p>Well, that ship can now launch the F35B short take off stealth fighter, so China had a point.</p><p>But China launched its own aircraft carrier… in 2012, the PLANS Liaoning, so another instance where more ships are the literal problem.</p><p>As a citizen of Southeast Asia, the best-case scenario here is that it is a security dilemma and that none of these countries actually wants conflict with each other.</p><p>But the security dilemma shows that not wanting conflict is not enough. The opposing sides need to find ways of communicating where they do not assume the worst of each other.</p><p><h2>To jaw-jaw</h2></p><p>And this is where we get back to Hegseth’s words.</p><p>East Asia doesn’t really need motivation to spend more on weaponry and national defence, the motivation can be generated at a moment’s notice.</p><p>What the region needs are more opportunities to convince each other that they do not intend the worst, that security measures are, in fact, precautionary, not aggressive.</p><p>As the former First World War veteran and UK PM Winston Churchill once quipped, “To jaw-jaw is better than to war-war”, and Churchill was not exactly known as a peacemonger.</p><p><h2>Breaking the spiral</h2></p><p>When regional leaders call for more transparency, dialogue and information sharing, it is a call to break the spiral of aggression the dilemma encourages.</p><p>All parties involved clearly need more opportunities to show each other that, regardless of the current level of competition, regardless of historical harms, in the present moment, they mean no outright hostility.</p><p>Spending more money on weaponry doesn’t achieve this, and instead deepens the spiral and the dilemma.</p><p>Asia’s military spend, to underline the point, is not the issue, the continent is spending ever more money, year after year, decade after decade, and there are no indications that it will go down.</p><p>There are already quite enough ships, so let's try more Shangri-La Dialogues.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Comment: With respect to Pete Hegseth, maybe Asia needs fewer ships & more Shangri-La Dialogues' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/05/sld-2026-freeloading-delegation-china-ai-war/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149306</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>Woman in S'pore uses broccoli bouquet for pre-wedding shoot instead of flowers, air-frys it afterwards</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/broccoli-wedding-bouquet/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T15:34:19</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Nadya Pang ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/broccoli-wedding-bouquet/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ She said: "I’m seriously considering cauliflower for that classic white, bridal vibe." ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/broccoli.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>An Indonesian woman staying in Singapore went viral for posting her pre-wedding photo shoot on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DY4xV5iCcoM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a>, complete with a head of broccoli as her bouquet.</p><p>On May 28, Nadia Loewito, who is in her 30s, shared pictures of the unique take on classic florals.</p>
<p>She captioned her post, "I'm thinking cauliflowers for the wedding".</p><p><blockquote><p>"For the girlies who don't want to break the bank for a traditional bouquet, let me put you on broccoli bouquets! (They're so easy to [do-it-yourself] DIY and cost less than S$10."</p></blockquote></p><p>Loewito told <em>Mothership</em> that the choice of bouquet was due to a mix of aesthetics and practicality.</p><p><blockquote><p>"I’ve always thought a head of broccoli naturally looks like a perfect little green bouquet."</p></blockquote></p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 524px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/SnapInsta.to_708517481_18557053036071419_5621153194548627666_n.jpg" alt="" width="524" height="655" class="wp-image-1149713" /> Photo from Nadia Loewito/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><h2>Ribbons, pearls, and broccoli</h2></p><p>Loewito said she did not expect her post to gain traction, "watching it spark so much curiosity and viral debate has been a really surprising experience".</p><p>In her post, Loewito said the simple project only requires "satin ribbon, some adhesive pearls, and a head of broccoli".</p><p>She added in her photo captions that she had a head of broccoli in both her pre-wedding and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVKsjjWCdN7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">engagement shoot</a>.</p><p><blockquote><p>"I genuinely think they're so adorable and chic (optional: have them for dinner afterwards)."</p></blockquote></p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 525px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/SnapInsta.to_708192657_18557053033071419_8737557772886139594_n.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="656" class="wp-image-1149710" /> Photo from Nadia Loewito/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Loewito told <em>Mothership </em>that she did a quick search on Pinterest to see if anyone had tested the idea.</p><p><blockquote><p>"Once I saw a few fun examples, I decided to just go for it."</p></blockquote></p><p>She said that the whole process of decorating the broccoli took less than 10 minutes.</p><p>She added, "It was incredibly quick and easy. Honestly, nature did most of the heavy lifting with the shape."</p><p><h2>Zero-waste option</h2></p><p>Loewito told <em>Mothership</em> that she "loved the idea of a zero-waste option" that you can actually cook and eat afterwards.</p><p>When asked whether the couple consumed the broccoli after the shoot, Loewito said she and her soon-to-be husband, Sheratan, brought it home and air-fried it.</p><p>According to Loewito, who is a former wedding photographer, she had seen almost every traditional floral arrangement and wanted something abstract and avant-garde for herself.</p><p>However, when she looked into her wishlist, she could not justify the cost of the bouquets, which were expensive and would not last past the shoot.</p><p>Instead, she chose to pivot to the broccoli bouquet, calling it "the perfect way to express my love for unique aesthetics without the traditional price tag".</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 525px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/SnapInsta.to_708615326_18557052991071419_8485735910826782011_n-1.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="656" class="wp-image-1149714" /> Photo from Nadia Loewito/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p><h2>Recession indicator?</h2></p><p>The top liked comments on the post said: "This is a recession indicator" and "Is this rage bait?"</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 525px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/IMG_7425.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="260" class="wp-image-1149716" /> Screenshot from Nadia Loewito/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>When asked about her thoughts on the comments, she said: "The 'recession indicator' comment was hilarious, but it definitely wasn't that deep! I just see it as a fun, sustainable alternative to traditional flowers."</p><p>Some commenters also wondered if the bouquet was a joke.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 526px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/IMG_7426.jpg" alt="" width="526" height="361" class="wp-image-1149715" /> Screenshot from Nadia Loewito/Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>Loewito took it in good stead, she said: "People were wondering if it was a joke, or assuming my partner just wouldn't buy me real flowers."</p><p><blockquote><p>"I’d love to set the record straight: it definitely wasn’t a joke or rage bait. It was 100% my choice, and I genuinely preferred a broccoli bouquet over traditional florals!"</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>Broccoli to take backseat in wedding</h2></p><p>The broccoli will not be making a comeback for the wedding, according to Loewito.</p><p>According to a separate <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHpzihEiAr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram post</a>, she is currently in the midst of planning her 2026/2027 wedding.</p><p>However, she said its cousin, the cauliflower, may make an appearance.</p><p>She said: "I’m seriously considering cauliflower for that classic white, bridal vibe."</p><p><blockquote><p>"My comment section has also been flooded with brilliant ideas like squash blossoms and mini purple cabbages, so I’m keeping my options open."</p></blockquote></p><p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DY4xV5iCcoM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: #FFF; 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height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div></p><p></div></p><p><div style="margin-left: auto;"></p><p><div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div></p><p><div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></p><p></div></p><p></div></p><p><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></p><p></div></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DY4xV5iCcoM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A post shared by Nadia Loewito (@nadialoewito)</a></p></p><p></div></p></blockquote></p><p><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149436</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>M'sian woman, 22, arrested for allegedly throwing newborn baby from 10th floor of Johor Bahru flat</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/malaysian-woman-arrested-throw-baby-from-flat/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T15:32:33</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Izza Sofia ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/malaysian-woman-arrested-throw-baby-from-flat/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The baby girl's body was found in the parking area of the flat on May 2. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/Untitled-design-5-4.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p><div style="padding: 12px; background-color: #d9d9d9; line-height: 1.4;"><em><strong>Graphic descriptions ahead. Reader discretion is advised.</strong></em></div></p><p>A 22-year-old woman is <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/06/02/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-throwing-newborn-from-10th-floor-of-jb-flat" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">set to face charges</a> after allegedly throwing her newborn daughter from the 10th floor of a flat in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, killing the baby.</p>
<p>The suspect, who is the baby's biological mother, was arrested at Hospital Sultanah Aminah at around noon on Jun. 2, according to Johor acting police chief Deputy Commissioner Hoo Chuan Huat, per <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/06/02/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-throwing-newborn-from-10th-floor-of-jb-flat" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Star</em></a>.</p><p>He said in a <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/06/02/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-throwing-newborn-from-10th-floor-of-jb-flat" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">statement</a>: "Investigations showed that the newborn baby was still alive when she was allegedly thrown from the 10th floor, resulting in her death."</p><p><h2>Body found in parking area</h2></p><p>According to <em>The Star</em>, police first received a report on May 2 at about 2:40pm after the baby girl's body was discovered in the parking area of the flat.</p><p>Hoo noted that the woman had no prior criminal record, with statements already taken from several witnesses.</p><p><h3>To be charged on Jun. 3</h3></p><p>Following a referral to the Johor prosecution office, the woman is set to be charged at the Johor Baru Sessions' Court on Jun. 3 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, per <em>The Star.</em></p><p>The offence carries a jail term of up to 30 years and a possible fine.</p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149717</post-id>
                </item>

                <item>
                    <title>British surgeon, 50, who amputated own legs due to 'sexual interest', struck off medical register</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/british-surgeon-amputate-struck-off/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T15:19:31</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Ashley Tan ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/british-surgeon-amputate-struck-off/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ He carried out hundreds of amputation operations on others before having his own legs removed in 2019. ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/amputee-struck-off.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p><em><strong>Warning: This article contains details that some audiences may find distressing. Audience discretion is advised.</strong></em></p><p>A British surgeon who amputated his own legs and was sentenced to prison, has been struck off the medical register.</p>
<p>This was after the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel decided on May 29 that his ability to continue as a practising surgeon was impaired by his convictions.</p><p>The panel also deemed him "an extremely high level of risk to public protection with no demonstrable lack of insight or remedial behaviour", <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jv2zvne09o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>BBC</em></a> reported.</p><p><h2>What happened</h2></p><p>Neil Hopper, 50, had a "sexual interest" in amputation.</p><p>He had suffered from body dysphoria since he was a child and felt that his feet were an "unwelcome extra" and a "persisting never-ending discomfort" to him, the court heard previously.</p><p>He carried out hundreds of amputation operations on others before having his own legs removed in 2019.</p><p>He had used dry ice to freeze them.</p><p>Hopper claimed to insurers that the injuries to his legs were not self-inflicted, but the result of sepsis.</p><p>Surgeons subsequently removed his legs and were unaware of the real cause of his injuries.</p><p>In 2025, he was sentenced to two years and eight months' jail, and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order after admitting to insurance fraud and possessing extreme pornography.</p><p>Hopper also bought pornography videos depicting body mutilation, including men willingly having their genitals removed.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='British surgeon, 50, who amputated own legs due to 'sexual interest', struck off medical register' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2025/09/doctor-amputate-own-legs/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p><h2>'Incompatible' with medical profession</h2></p><p>Robert Dudley, a representative from the General Medical Council of the UK, said that "it is apparent to the tribunal [that] Hopper was sexually motivated by the videos and by his own amputation", according to <em>BBC</em>.</p><p>Hopper's consumption of the videos and his association with their maker, a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-68977469" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">convicted</a> Norwegian man who ran a business in extreme body modification, showed that he had a "a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of the public".</p><p>As such, the council found that Hopper's conduct was "incompatible" with the medical profession.</p><p>During the tribunal, Hopper, who had no representative, said that it had taken him years to "come to terms with what [he's] done".</p><p><blockquote><p>"I'm not only ashamed of my actions, I'm appalled I was part of the machinery.</p><p>I cannot convey how sorry I am. It's behaviour I find impossible to understand. I'm so, so sorry."</p></blockquote></p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149709</post-id>
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                    <title>Family asked to leave AirAsia flight from S'pore to Kuching over special seat for daughter with cerebral palsy</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/malaysian-family-flight-cerebral-palsy/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T12:42:13</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Tiana Quek ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/malaysian-family-flight-cerebral-palsy/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The airline said it is reviewing its policies. ]]>
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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/Air-asia-disembark.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A family travelling from Singapore to Kuching said they were asked to disembark an AirAsia flight after boarding because of a special aircraft seat used by their daughter, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy.</p><p>According to the family, they had completed check-in, cleared immigration and boarded the aircraft before being informed that the pilot had decided not to allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved seat on board.</p>
<p>The FAA is the United States' civil aviation authority, and its approval indicates that the device meets certain aviation safety standards.</p><p>The family said they were subsequently asked to leave the aircraft.</p><p>The incident has since drawn attention online, with AirAsia subsequently saying it is reviewing its policies and procedures relating to specialised child restraint devices.</p><p><h2>Family says they were asked to leave flight after boarding</h2></p><p>In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CbL1ye48o/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook post</a> published on May 28, Syarifah Ella Wan Wahab said she, her husband, their three young children and a domestic helper had boarded AirAsia flight AK1776 from Singapore to Kuching on May 26.</p><p>According to Syarifah, her daughter Zara had already been seated in the special aircraft seat when ground staff and cabin crew informed the family that the pilot had decided not to permit its use on board.</p><p>Syarifah said the seat had been declared during check-in at Changi Airport.</p><p>She added that ground staff had asked questions about her daughter’s age, weight, medical condition and the weight of the seat before allowing the family to proceed with boarding.</p><p>Her daughter had previously travelled on numerous domestic and international flights, including with AirAsia, using the same seat without issue.</p><p><h2>Handling of incident</h2></p><p>While acknowledging that the pilot had final authority over safety decisions, Syarifah said she was disappointed by how the situation was handled.</p><p>According to her post, the family <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/05/1451015/family-removed-flight-over-special-seat-child-cerebral-palsy#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">was repeatedly told</a> that the decision was based on airline policy, but was not given a detailed explanation of the specific safety concern involved.</p><p>Syarifah also sought clarification on AirAsia's policies regarding FAA-approved child restraint systems and how they apply to passengers with disabilities or special needs.</p><p>In her post, she questioned whether the policy cited by staff was intended for typically developing infants and toddlers, or whether there were separate considerations for children who require specialised seating because of a disability or medical condition.</p><p>She also called for disability-awareness training for staff and a review of how similar situations are handled in future.</p><p><h2>AirAsia says decision based on safety requirements</h2></p><p><p class="p1">In response to Mothership’s queries, AirAsia said it was aware of concerns raised over the incident.</p></p><p><p class="p1">In the statement, the airline said the decision made at the time was based on safety requirements relating to the suitability of the child restraint device presented for use on board.</p></p><p><p class="p1">AirAsia also said the family may have had different expectations due to previous travel experiences with the airline.</p></p><p><p class="p1">"The safety and wellbeing of our guests will always remain our highest priority," said AirAsia X chief safety and quality officer Captain Saravanan Subramaniam.</p></p><p><p class="p1">"While we empathise with the disappointment experienced by the family, the decision was made in accordance with applicable safety requirements and operating procedures at the time of travel," he added.</p></p><p><h2>Airline reviewing policies</h2></p><p><p class="p1">AirAsia added that it is conducting a review of its guidelines and procedures concerning specialised child restraint devices.</p></p><p><p class="p1">He added that the airline had contacted the passenger directly to provide clarification and assistance.</p></p><p><p class="p1">"For future travel, we encourage guests to present the relevant documentation and certification confirming the suitability of the child restraint device for travel, including for guests with disabilities, so our ground and inflight teams can better assess and facilitate the necessary approvals prior to departure"</p></p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149668</post-id>
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                    <title>Man, 30, allegedly snatched cap with Israeli emblem from other man, 55, & assaulted him on public bus</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/man-snatch-cap-israeli-emblem/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T12:25:51</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Gawain Pek ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/man-snatch-cap-israeli-emblem/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The 55-year-old was warned for the display of a foreign national emblem. ]]>
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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/man-charged-israeli-cap.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A 30-year-old man will be charged in court on Jun. 4, 2026, for voluntarily causing hurt against a 55-year-old man on a public bus.</p><p>The younger man allegedly snatched a cap bearing an Israeli national emblem that the older man was wearing and assaulted him.</p>
<p><h2>Allegedly snatched cap bearing Israeli national emblem</h2></p><p>According to a Singapore Police Force (SPF) news release, the incident occurred on Oct. 27, 2025, at about 10:40pm, along Rivervale Drive.</p><p>Police received a call for assistance regarding a case of assault.</p><p>Preliminary investigations revealed that the 30-year-old man had allegedly snatched a cap bearing the Israeli emblem, which the 55-year-old man was wearing.</p><p>The younger man also allegedly assaulted the older man. Both parties were not known to each other.</p><p>Police established the identity of the 30-year-old man through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras.</p><p>The offence of voluntarily causing hurt carries an jail term of up to three years, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.</p><p><h2>55-year-old warned for display of foreign national emblem</h2></p><p>The 55-year-old was also given a stern warning, in lieu of prosecution, for displaying a foreign national emblem.</p><p>"The police takes a serious view of any act of violence," SPF said.</p><p>SPF also advised members of the public against the public display and wearing of articles associated with foreign conflicts.</p><p>SPF also reminded members of the public "not to import overseas conflicts into Singapore" and to "express their views in a lawful and responsible manner".</p><p>"The police will deal with offenders sternly in accordance with the law," SPF said.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149687</post-id>
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                    <title>foodpanda rider, who wrote customer's unit number on wall outside HDB flat, returns to clean it up</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/06/foodpanda-delivery-scribble/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-06-03T12:15:53</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Belmont Lay ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/06/foodpanda-delivery-scribble/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The rider apparently did so as a photo of the home and its unit number had to be taken to verify the delivery was executed. ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/06/foodpanda-scribble-unit.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A foodpanda delivery rider scribbled the unit number of a customer's home on the wall outside the unit and got called out by the resident.</p><p>The actions of the rider were caught on surveillance camera.</p>
<p>According to the customer, who shared about what happened on social media, the incident took place at about 7:15pm on Jun. 1.</p><p><h2>Cleaned up writing</h2></p><p>The rider has since returned to clean up the writing.</p><p>A foodpanda spokesperson told <em>Mothership</em> that the rider was “attempting to ensure the delivery could be properly verified as part of the proof-of-delivery process”.</p><p>The food delivery platform added that his actions were "inappropriate" and did not meet the standards it expects of its delivery partners.</p><p>The delivery rider subsequently returned to the customer’s unit to clean the wall.</p><p>The foodpanda spokesperson added: "We have since spoken with the delivery partner and reinforced our expectations on proper delivery conduct."</p><p>foodpanda has also offered compensation to the customer.</p><p><h2>Why scribble?</h2></p><p>One commenter on social media explained that it was part of the delivery rider's protocol to take photos of completed deliveries.</p><p>This is to ensure that they do not get accused and penalised for not completing orders.</p><p>The commenter also pointed out that unit numbers of some homes might be concealed, obscured, missing, or difficult to photograph, which could have prompted the delivery rider to scrawl the unit number on the wall.</p><p>However, a photo the resident posted online showed that her unit number could be seen on her gate.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1149649</post-id>
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