A man, Wu Zhijian, was reportedly refused a straw after he bought a drink from a Redhill convenience store on May 1.

The man allegedly returned to the store with two knives.

According to court documents cited by Shin Min Daily News, Wu got into an argument with the store manager after being refused the straw.

After berating the manager, Wu left angrily.

A few minutes later, he returned brandishing two knives.

Wu shouted at the manager, and threatened to harm him, before leaving the scene.

The manager immediately called the police and informed them that Wu lived upstairs.

The police arrested him later that day.

According to Shin Min, during sentencing, the judge pointed out several of Wu's past transgressions, noting his rap sheet extended to 1992, and that he had a higher chance of recidivism.

Wu had also violated the conditions of his remission order from an earlier case, and was ultimately given a harsher sentence of six months' and seven days in jail.

Convicted persons might be issued a conditional remission order, granting them an early release for good conduct and behaviour.

One of the basic conditions of this order is to not commit any offence during the remission period.

A 35-year-old Singaporean man came across a fake photo of Marina Bay Sands (MBS) on fire and decided to send it to the Facebook page of Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with a message containing the word "bomb".

An administrator of SM Lee's Facebook page lodged a police report, and the man was eventually apprehended.

CNA reported that the man, Andie Tan Kok Yong, pleaded guilty in court on Jun. 18 and is awaiting sentencing.

He was charged with transmitting a message which he knew to be false and for obstructing the course of justice by performing a factory reset on his phone after sending the Facebook message.

"Bomb $1,500billion++wit management approved of 1st boss not merlion boss of tan jun yan"

According to court documents, while on Facebook, Tan chanced upon the fake image on Sep. 29, 2025.

Tan saved the image on his phone and sent it to SM Lee's official Facebook page via Facebook Messenger.

He sent the message on Sep. 29 at about 2:57pm, along with the message: "Bomb $1,500billion++wit management approved of 1st boss not merlion boss of tan jun yan".

He did so knowing the image was fake and in order to prank SM Lee, court documents stated.

Police told MBS to step up security

An administrator monitoring SM Lee's official Facebook page saw the image and message.

He took a screenshot of them and lodged a police report.

The police later informed the security at MBS to step up security patrols.

They eventually traced Tan as the culprit.

When questioned by the police, Tan admitted that he was the one who sent the image and message.

According to charge sheets, Tan had also performed a factory reset on his phone sometime between September 2025 and December 2025, after sending the offending image and message.

Prosecution sought four to eight weeks' jail

For knowingly transmitting a false or fabricated message, Tan, if found guilty, is liable to a fine of S$10,000 or to a jail term not exceeding three years, or both.

The prosecution sought at least four to eight weeks' imprisonment.

In his submission, Deputy Public Prosecutor Andrew Chia wrote that Tan had essentially perpetuated a bomb hoax against a high-value target.

He also noted that Tan's message, while not particularly credible, did cause concern and resulted in actions being taken by the police and MBS.

Tan will be sentenced at a later date, CNA wrote.

A South Korean YouTuber who was subjected to a racist gesture during a recent World Cup game has been officially invited by FIFA to attend her country's match against Mexico.

In a statement seen by South Korean media, football's governing body confirmed that Yoon Su-jin, known online as Inocat, accepted the invitation to attend the match in Guadalajara on Jun. 18.

The match coincides with the UN's International Day for Countering Hate Speech, observed by the UN since 2021 to combat xenophobia and discrimination globally. FIFA stated it plans to use the occasion to deliver a "message of inclusion and respect".

The incident

The invitation follows an incident on Jun. 11, during South Korea's opening World Cup match against the Czech Republic in Mexico.

Yoon shared a video on Instagram showing a local man looking into her camera and pulling at the corners of his eyes, a gesture widely recognised as a derogatory racist trope against people of Asian descent.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 이노냥 (윤수진) (@inocat_t)

Following public backlash online, Mexican media outlet Politico MX later identified him as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of the State of Jalisco (CITGEJ).

In response to the public outcry, the association announced that Bernal would be removed from his position.

Bernal later posted a public apology on Instagram, stating that he "sincerely regret(s) everything this situation has caused".

FIFA, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy against racism, also confirmed it has blocked Bernal from accessing his ticketing account.

Moving forward

On Jun. 16, Yoon shared her reflections on the incident on Instagram, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received from Mexican locals since the video went viral.

"What happened was sad, but I could never hate an entire country because of the actions of one person."

To pay forward the kindness she experienced, Yoon revealed that she has donated KRW2 million (S$1,690) to World Vision under her channel's name, Inocat. She added that she hopes the donation will support children in need and inspire them to pursue their dreams.

A 13-year-old girl was apprehended after she was caught allegedly sitting on an air conditioner ledge at a public housing block in Punggol.

The incident occurred at Block 312B Sumang Link on the evening of Jun. 16.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, emergency responders were seen rescuing the girl.

The rescue process took about five minutes.

A photo of the incident showed the girl being held by a man in pink on the ledge.

Two SCDF personnel were also present.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call for assistance at about 6:50pm that day.

The teen was apprehended under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act.

She was subsequently taken to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Helplines

If you or someone you know are in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)

HOME: 1800 797 7977 or +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)

Jakarta police are investigating a 22-year-old man for allegedly sexually abusing a four-year-old Pomeranian named Sissy at a pet café in Jakarta on Jun. 1, according to Jakarta Globe.

The incident took place at Dogs Ministry, a pet daycare, grooming and café facility in the Penjaringan district, while the venue was packed with visitors during a public holiday.

How the facility's manager caught him

Operations manager Yuliana Monica Petronela told Kumparan that the man, identified as OWL, was a regular visitor.

On the day of the incident, after spending time in the facility's lounge area, he moved to the café section, where he picked up Sissy and began playing with and hugging her intensely.

Staff noticed suspicious behaviour and reported to management that he had exposed himself and was forcing Sissy to lick him.

Monica reviewed the CCTV footage, but the angle did not clearly capture the act.

She then made her way to the mezzanine level on the second floor.

"From upstairs I could clearly see what he was doing. Then when I was about to come down, at the top of the stairs, he did it again right below me. So I immediately recorded it," she told Kumparan.

She said she found it particularly shocking given how crowded the venue was at the time.

"It was a public holiday, so the café was packed with visitors," she said.

Monica immediately took Sissy away from the visitor and confronted him. He denied everything at first.

"We asked him, 'What were you doing?' He denied it and said, 'I wasn't doing anything.' Then I showed him the video, and he became silent," she said.

He was also unable to produce any identification documents when asked. Monica then brought him to Penjaringan Police Station.

Not the first time

According to Monica, OWL was not unknown to the staff. About one to two weeks before the incident on Jun. 1, employees had already warned him for forcefully trying to kiss and hug one of the facility's dogs, which appeared visibly uncomfortable. He left after being warned.

When he returned on Jun. 1, staff were already keeping a closer eye on him because of the earlier incident, Monica told Kumparan.

Dogs Ministry later said the family told management during mediation discussions that OWL is a person with special needs, and that similar behaviour had occurred previously.

The facility said this raised broader questions about supervision and prevention.

"If such behaviour has occurred before, how should supervision and prevention responsibilities be carried out so that no other parties are affected?" the company wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dogs Ministry | Dog Cafe • Dog Hotel • Dog Salon • Dog Pool (@dogsministry)

Sissy's condition

Monica said Sissy showed behavioural changes after the incident, according to Jakarta Globe.

Sissy suffered severe psychological distress, and her condition worsened over the following days.

Monica said: “She became stressed, refused to eat, and appeared withdrawn. Three days later, we took her to a clinic for follow-up treatment, and doctors found that her weight had dropped by 800 grams and she was experiencing anaemia.”

Blood tests were also conducted on Sissy to rule out infections or diseases, and came back negative. Dogs Ministry said Sissy has not been relocated during her recovery because staff were concerned that a new environment could cause additional stress.

Police investigations ongoing

Penjaringan Police criminal investigation unit head Sampson Sosa Hutapea confirmed the case is under active investigation, according to Jakarta Globe.

He said: "We have questioned the victim's guardians, witnesses, and the reported individual. At this stage, he is still being treated as a witness while the investigation continues."

He added: "If necessary, we will conduct a psychiatric examination of the individual concerned."

Police noted this is the first alleged animal sexual abuse case handled by Penjaringan Police.

A mobile speed camera has been deployed along the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) towards Woodlands Checkpoint.

In photos circulating online, the speed camera was observed to have been set up by Jun. 16.

The camera is situated at the chevron markings where traffic from Turf Club Avenue merges into BKE.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), all open expressways in Singapore have a maximum speed limit of 90km/h, and between 70km/h and 80km/h in expressway tunnels.

Discussion

Since its installation, online motoring communities have weighed in on its effectiveness.

Some observed that the speed camera was working and have seen “flashes” from it, while others pointed out if it was enough deterrence for foreign-registered vehicles to not speed in Singapore.

Some have said the mobile speed camera's appearance has come as a surprise and should be effective over time.

Technology

According to the Police Life, a Singapore Police Force (SPF) publication, the mobile speed camera is a digital speed enforcement camera that can be deployed at short notice and transmits images of speeding violations wirelessly.

It enables flexibility in deployment and can be shifted to accident- and violation-prone locations for enforcement.

The police said it shapes road behaviour and road safety.

Technology, in the form of the red-light camera, police speed laser camera, fixed speed camera and average speed camera, is also leveraged for traffic enforcement.

After a three-year run, HDB-themed café Lou Shang is set to close its doors for good on Jul. 14.

Owner Sebastian Ang announced the upcoming closure via an Instagram video, reflecting on the business's journey and noting that the decision "did not come overnight."

This was "after months of trying to make the numbers work".

Ang is also the founder of local F&B concepts Mama Diam and Synthesis.

Challenges faced

For several months, financial figures indicated that the business was becoming increasingly "hard to maintain," culminating in losses totalling about S$400,000, Ang told Hatch and Hustle.

In the interview, Ang admitted that "stubbornness" and the false hope that they could eventually turn things around were their biggest pitfalls.

Ang shared in his video that the café also faced several other challenges, such as its location.

Lou Shang shares a shophouse space with its sister concept, Mama Diam.

While the ground floor houses Mama Diam, a nostalgic, 1980s provision shop-themed speakeasy, Lou Shang occupies the upper floor.

Its name translates to "upstairs" in Mandarin.

However, this layout meant the café was difficult for passersby to locate.

Furthermore, the lack of an elevator was an accessibility barrier.

Ang also acknowledged flaws in the pricing of its Western-Chinese fusion menu.

"We designed the menu like how we would design a restaurant. This menu wasn't designed for recurring visits.

End of the day I feel that it's the value that customers pay for. If the things are expensive, and you don't see the value in it, most likely people will not come back."

He admitted that while they succeeded in building a "perfect nostalgia" trip, they failed to design a concept that fit into customers' daily routines.

“Every time I see customers coming in for the first time, they all look pleasantly surprised, but admiration doesn't build habits.”

Ang confessed that "things were smooth-sailing" when Mama Diam opened, but realised later that they had expanded too quickly and "internally, things were all over the place".

One last hurrah

Looking back on the journey, Ang expressed gratitude toward his staff and customers for the memories, conversations, and celebrations shared in the space.

“We might have gotten the numbers and business wrong, but all of this, I think they were all real.”

Moving forward, Ang hopes to use the experience to inspire his team to improve and eventually surpass him.

He welcomes both regular patrons and first-time visitors to drop by before the café closes permanently.

Multiple Gain City outlets have been hit by some fake one-star reviews after their staff were approached by unknown individuals offering negative review removal services.

This comes after a local beauty chain, Sommar Beauty Spa, shared about a similar experience.

Showroom manager approached on WhatsApp

Gain City's Marketing Director, Candy Cao, told Mothership that the first time the electronics chain store had a run-in with the fake review people was in early April 2026.

One of their showroom managers was approached directly about the negative review removal service via WhatsApp.

In one of the messages, the person suggested that they noticed some reviews on Google Maps "that may be harming customer trust and affecting sales".

The alleged scammer then professed to specialise in identifying and reporting "policy-violating reviews".

Payment was only required after successful removal, according to them.

Nature of communication unusual: Gain City

Similar messages were later reported by staff from other locations, Cao shared.

"We found the nature of the communication unusual and chose not to engage further," Cao said.

Cao added that while Gain City had "occasionally received isolated negative reviews" in the past, they observed a "noticeable increase" in suspicious 1-star reviews over the past two weeks.

One-star reviews

Based on screenshots shared with Mothership, the reviews appeared to be one-star ratings with no comments.

According to Cao, the scam affected Gain City's Sungei Kadut megastore, and showrooms in Ang Mo Kio, Marina Square, IMM and Tampines One.

Checks on Google Maps showed that the dubious one-star reviews were a minority of other reviews recently received by Gain City.

Similar to the experience of Sommar Beauty Spa, for some of the accounts that left the reviews, the negative review for Gain City was the only review they had written on Google Maps.

Reported to Google

Gain City has since lodged a report with Google and is working with them to review the affected listings.

They have also lodged a police report.

Cao said that Gain City has a "dedicated task force" that closely monitors customer satisfaction across its "retail, service and digital touch points".

Gain City also has automated alerts for low-rated reviews as well as tools that allow the relevant teams to respond and investigate issues raised by customers.

"Legitimate reviews typically contain details relating to actual customer experiences, products, services or interactions with our staff, and we will always follow up where necessary to improve the customer experience," Cao said.

Cao also said, "We are confident that our customers can distinguish between authentic feedback and suspicious review activity."

She added, "Our priority is to ensure that our online profiles accurately reflect the experiences of real customers."

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched a S$48 million programme to support media professionals in digital content creation.

The four-year Digital Content and Capability Development (DCCD) programme, announced by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How, is designed to help Singapore's media entities compete in an increasingly digital-led media landscape, said the statutory board in a media release.

Short-form storytelling and AI tools

The DCCD programme is built upon two core pillars: digital content development and capability development.

Digital content development supports the creation and distribution of content reflecting how local audiences discover and connect with stories across digital platforms, said IMDA.

It will include the use of relevant formats and narratives to present stories that resonate with youth, adults and seniors.

Meanwhile, capability development supports digital storytelling using emerging formats, technologies and production approaches.

This includes AI-generated content and short-form episodic content across live action and animation.

AI will also be experimented with in workflows and content development, production and localisation to enable media professionals to focus their time on the creative aspects of content creation, said IMDA.

Changing media landscape

Singapore's audience is continually shifting towards digital platforms and formats while short-form videos, microdramas and I-assisted production workflows are gaining traction, said the statutory board.

"Singapore has no shortage of compelling stories to share with the world, and media professionals can use technology and AI to complement their storytelling craft and bring these stories to audiences in new and engaging ways."

The programme is open to all companies within the local media ecosystem, including traditional production houses, digital media companies and tech companies entering the media space.

To qualify for the programme, media companies will need to participate in a biannual accreditation exercise where they will be assessed on their current content development capabilities and track record.

If accredited, they will then be eligible to participate in Calls for Proposals (CFPs).

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released the dates of the 11 gazetted public holidays for 2027.

There will be five long weekends as a result of the public holidays, as highlighted:

• New Year's Day: Jan. 1, 2027 (Friday)
• Chinese New Year: Feb. 6 and 7, 2027 (Saturday, Sunday*)
• Hari Raya Puasa: Mar. 10, 2027 (Wednesday)
• Good Friday: Mar. 26, 2027 (Friday)
• Labour Day: May 1, 2027 (Saturday)
• Hari Raya Haji: May 17, 2027 (Monday)
• Vesak Day: May 20, 2027 (Thursday)
• National Day: Aug. 9, 2027 (Monday)
• Deepavali: Oct. 28, 2027 (Thursday)
• Christmas Day: Dec. 25, 2027 (Saturday)

*Feb. 8 (Monday) will be a public holiday.

Three of the holidays also fall on a Saturday.

Entitlement

In accordance with the Employment Act, employees are entitled to 11 paid public holidays as indicated.

Employers and employees may mutually agree to substitute a public holiday for another working day.

Employees who are required to work on a public holiday are entitled to an extra day’s salary at the basic rate of pay, in addition to their gross rate of pay for that day.

More information on public holiday provisions under the Employment Act can be found here.