The ongoing court trial for Abby Choi saw prosecutors trying to establish intent in the gruesome murder of the Hong Kong socialite.

According to CNN, the lead prosecutor, Charlotte Draycott, said the three people on trial, Choi's ex-husband, Alex Kwong, his father, Kwong Kau, and brother, Anthony Kwong, had bought items like a meat mincer and an electric saw days before the murder.

They have all pleaded not guilty to murder.

Hong Kong media noted that the brother and father looked notably thinner during the trial than in their photos before it.

Footage of the two brothers at a Starbucks before the murder, with Anthony making a "series of gestures" was also brought up by the prosecutor, who suggested this may have been about the attack.

The prosecutor said Choi's murder took place in a car that Alex borrowed.

According to the series of events she put forth, Anthony picked Choi up in the car. Alex got on the vehicle at another location.

The prosecutor said Anthony struck Choi repeatedly in the head inside the car, with a hammer that he bought.

According to the prosecutor, the vehicle was driven to a house in a rural part of Hong Kong; the house was allegedly rented by Kwong Kau.

Later that day, a neighbour heard the sound of an electric saw being used.

That was why the prosecutor claimed it was a "cogitated plan" as each person "played their part", CNN reported Draycott saying.

The timing of the murder was also raised by prosecutors. According to HK01, Choi was on the phone with her mother-in-law while she was in the car.

They were talking about clothes she had bought recently. The last voice message was sent at 2.44am. This is around the time the prosecutors believe Choi was attacked.

The trial is expected to last about eight weeks according to CNN.

First day

The first day of trial saw the prosecutors characterising the murder as the result of a financial dispute.

They argued that Choi's former father-in-law enlisted his two sons, including her ex-husband, to help him kill her after he became "extremely resentful and angry" over her insistence on selling a HK$72 million (S$11.7 million) flat where he had been living, The South China Morning Post reported.

Days after Choi was reported missing in February 2023, the police found some body parts believed to be hers in the refrigerator of a house that her ex-husband's family was renting.

Police later found her head in pots filled with soup and minced meat.

They have all pleaded not guilty to murder.

A 24-year-old man sexually assaulted and filmed his female friend while she was drunk and asleep on his bed.

According to Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min), the man pleaded guilty on Oct. 1.

The judge ordered that the media not disclose any information that could reveal the victim's identity.

Shin Min reported that the victim was a longtime friend of the man, and she would visit his home to play video games and drink alcohol.

On Dec. 12 2025, the two were drinking and playing video games till the early hours of the next morning.

She then fell asleep on the bed.

The offender then assaulted her, at which point she was unaware and did not consent to the act.

When she awoke, she found her clothes pulled back and the man's hand on her breast.

He was also holding his phone and attempting to film the act.

Jailed

The man was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment and one stroke of the cane.

According to Shin Min, the man's mother burst into tears upon hearing the news.

After the judge allowed the man to meet with his parents for 10 minutes, his mother further broke down and fell to her knees.

Their conversation was silent, and neither the man nor his parents said anything while his father cried.

Before leaving, his father gave the man a thumbs-up to say goodbye, and he nodded in response.

A man was nearly hit by a van at Sengkang in the wee hours of Sep. 30.

In a video uploaded to Facebook group SGRV, a man was seen waiting to cross at the junction between Compassvale Street and Punggol Road.

The video was sourced from dashcam footage by a car stopping at the red light.

When the right-turn arrows turned green, vehicles started to make turns onto Compassvale Street.

As one van turned, however, it barrelled right into the path of the man on the pavement.

The man was able to move out of the way in time, and the van crashed into the traffic light pole.

This caused the traffic lights to fall off the pole and the van's left bumper to break off.

After the crash, the driver slowly reversed, dragging what remained of the broken bumper dangling off the van on the road.

The van then simply drove off.

Netizens speculated in the comments that the driver may have been intoxicated.

One commenter said that it was fortunate that the pedestrian was aware of his surroundings and not using his phone.

Under Singapore's traffic laws, the driver had a duty to stop his vehicle and assess the damage done to property and other persons.

More than 391kg of cannabis was detected in an inbound container at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station on Sep. 24, 2026.

According to an Oct. 2 joint statement by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), preliminary investigations found that the drugs were transiting through Singapore and bound for another country.

How it was detected

Based on targeting efforts by the ICA, the container was identified and referred for enhanced checks.

During the checks, ICA’s Image Analysts detected anomalies in the scanned images of the container.

Upon physical inspection, ICA officers found suspected cannabis blocks concealed within boxes containing gloves.

CNB officers were immediately alerted and conducted further checks on the container.

They uncovered a total of 1,290 blocks of cannabis, weighing about 391kg in total.

Investigations are ongoing, the authorities said.

May face the death penalty

Under Section 7 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, those who import into or export from Singapore more than 500g of cannabis may face the mandatory death penalty.

The joint statement added that ICA works closely with CNB to prevent attempts to smuggle drugs across our borders.

"ICA will also continue to leverage technology and data analytics to strengthen Singapore’s border security, prevent the smuggling of drugs and contraband and prevent undesirable persons from entering Singapore."

The Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link service between Singapore and Johor Bahru (JB), Malaysia, will delay its opening for passenger service till the end of February 2027.

According to a statement by the RTS Operations (RTSO), the operator of the cross-border rail service, this is due to the "expected duration of works and the estimated duration required for safety certification from a third party and approval by both grantors."

"Our goal is to provide a safe and reliable service on the RTS link."

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Malaysia's Ministry of Transport published a separate joint media statement which said that the revised timeline is "subject to RTSO obtaining independent safety certification for the RTS Link and securing final regulatory approvals".

The RTS Link service was originally slated to start at the end of 2026.

The delay announcement comes nearly a month after LTA published photos of the completed Woodlands North Station on its Facebook page.

Infrastructure works "remain on track"

The joint statement noted that infrastructure works in both Singapore and Malaysia are "substantially complete and remain on track to support passenger service upon the satisfactory completion of the remaining testing and commissioning activities".

The authorities noted that more time is needed for these activities before commencement, with the RTSO expecting to complete its final system tests and trial runs by Dec. 31, 2026.

"Subsequently, RTSO will need to obtain safety certification from an independent safety assessor."

Regulatory approvals to commence passenger operations can then be granted after "authorities from both countries have reviewed and satisfied themselves with the independent safety certification", said the joint statement.

"The grantors will continue to work with RTSO to facilitate the smooth and safe delivery of the project."

The joint statement added that authorities from both countries "note RTSO’s commitment to completing the remaining activities expeditiously and safely".

Previous developments

The first RTS train arrived at Woodlands North Station on Feb. 4, 2026, according to an LTA Facebook post.

In Apr. 2026, it was reported that rail works were on track despite the war in Iran.

On May 6, 2026, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Edwin Tong, conducted the second reading of the Cross-Border Railways (Border Control Co-location) Bill, highlighting the key features, including he co-location of both countries’ customs, immigration and quarantine facilities, or CIQ facilities and cross-border incident management.

Sengkang-Punggol LRT services will fully resume on Oct. 4 2026.

According to a press release by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), full train services will resume on the Sengkang West Inner Loop two weeks ahead of schedule.

The loop, via SW1 Cheng Lim from Sengkang LRT station, was temporarily closed from Apr. 19 2026 for major upgrading works.

It was initially slated to reopen on Oct. 18 2026.

However, LTA said that the project team was able to expedite the upgrading works on the loop by optimising the sequence of works carried out.

Size of LRT dept to be tripled 

The works aimed to facilitate the tripling of the size of the Sengkang-Punggol LRT depot, in order to accommodate a larger fleet and meet growing ridership demand.

Significant modifications to the existing tracks were made, as well as the connection of new reception tracks from the expanded depot to the existing line.

New signalling systems and equipment were also installed.

LTA also stated that the depot expansion is on track for completion by 2027.

As the works on the Sengkang West Inner Loop come to a close, the weekday peak-period shuttle bus services (Sengkang West Shuttle Bus Service A and Service B) will also cease operations on Friday, Oct. 2 2026.

Enhanced LRT fleet and features

LTA also announced that they will procure eight additional third-generation two-car Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs).

This will bring the size of the Sengkang-Punggol LRT fleet to a total of 41 two-car LRVs by 2030 to meet growing travel demand.

This is in addition to the plan to introduce 25 new third-generation two-car LRVs that are slated to replace the existing first-generation fleet.

According to LTA, the third-generation LRVs will provide smoother and more comfortable rides, with ergonomic seating, brighter and energy-efficient LED lighting, clearer passenger information displays, more visible door-closing indicators and an improved air-conditioning system.

They also incorporate enhancements that support operations and maintenance, allowing greater ease of diagnostics, fault detection, and access to onboard equipment.

Inter-car doors also facilitate safer and quicker evacuations during emergencies.

Extension of free off-peak rides: SMS Sun

Speaking at a media doorstop at Sengkang LRT Depot, Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling shared that the off-peak rail travel programme had performed better than its original target and will extend by another year.

LTA had previously announced that rides on the North East Line and Sengkang-Punggol LRT taken before and after peak hours (before 7:30am, and between 9am and 9:45am) would be free, in order to moderate travel demand during the morning. 

The initial target was to move seven per cent of passengers to off-peak travel timings.

Sun announced that currently, 10 per cent of passengers have moved to off-peak travel, which she called "encouraging".

As such, LTA has made the decision to extend the free off-peak rail travel programme by another year, to encourage more commuters to make use of the free rides.

LTA says that this will achieve a 30 per cent increase in average capacity across Sengkang-Punggol LRT.

A 62-year-old cyclist died after she was run over by a trailer and reportedly dragged for 70 meters in the Defu industrial area on Oct. 1.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that they were alerted to the accident involving a bicycle and a trailer at the junction of Defu Avenue 1 and Defu Lane 7 at about 10:10am.

The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic.

According to Shin Min Daily News, reporters at the scene saw a section of the lane cordoned off with traffic cones.

A still-intact bicycle was lying on the road, and the road bore drag marks, reported Shin Min.

Shin Min stated that around 70 metres away from the intersection, a blue police tent was placed.

Trailer driver left the scene

The 43-year-old male trailer driver had left the scene prior to the police’s arrival and was subsequently arrested for careless driving causing death, said the police.

A renovation contractor identified by his surname, Liu, told Shin Min reporters that several police officers were stationed at the scene and blue tents were set up when he passed by.

Shin Min also spoke with a security guard at the industrial park, who said he was patrolling the area when he received a call.

The security guard noted that when he arrived at the scene, the road was blocked off, and he heard that a Chinese woman was hit by a large vehicle and the driver left without stopping.

Victim's upper half "completely unrecognisable"

According to Shin Min, the police conducted their investigations over a period of seven hours despite torrential rain.

An eyewitness added that the scene was gory and that the woman’s body was only half intact.

A migrant construction worker told Shin Min that he was still shaken by the sight, adding that the upper half of the victim was “completely unrecognisable”.

The worker noted that the victim’s lower body was still “relatively intact and you could still see her legs and shoes”.

“The police even came to our construction site to get buckets of water to clean the ground.”

Police investigations are ongoing.

24-year-old Damian Ong, who was left in critical condition following a Muay Thai charity match, has since passed away.

The man, a Muay Thai student, was participating in the Sep. 12 match when he reportedly suffered an injury.

Traumatic brain injury

Mothership understands Ong suffered a traumatic brain injury following the match and spent about two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition.

He eventually passed away on Sep. 27.

His organs were donated for transplants, saving four lives.

According to a source close to Ong, a memorial walk was held at Tan Tock Seng Hospital before the live transplants, with doctors, nurses, social workers, and loved ones in attendance.

Mothership understands that his donation helped a 58-year-old man who had been waiting for a transplant for four years and four months, and a woman, 68, who had been on the waitlist for over two years.

His donation also helped a 40-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman who have been on dialysis for eight and nine years respectively.

Over 100 people visited him at hospital

Ong was described as a well-loved friend, always helpful and patient with others. He was also considered quiet and down-to-earth by many who knew him.

He was a captain of the basketball CCA in school and was well-liked by teammates.

Over 100 people visited Ong in the hospital when he was hospitalised.

Ong's wake was held at Block 665 Jalan Damai, with the first day of the wake taking place on Sep. 29.

Raise funds for breast cancer

An earlier statement by the Singapore Muaythai Association (SMA) on Sep. 17 confirmed that an incident had occurred during the Amateur Muaythai Championship (AMC) 13 - Fight for Hope tournament at the National Stadium.

The tournament was held to raise funds in support of the Breast Cancer Foundation in its work to promote early detection, provide support, and raise awareness of breast cancer.

In its statement, SMA said that after the incident, medical assistance was rendered by the on-site team, and the individual was conveyed to the hospital.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told Mothership that they received a call for assistance at 7:05pm on Sep. 12 and conveyed one person to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

A police report was lodged on Sep. 13 at about 8am.

SMA added that it has commenced a formal review of the incident and is working to establish the circumstances around it.

They did not provide details as to the nature of the injury or how it happened.

Sport Singapore and The Kallang Group also previously confirmed that they are aware of the incident and are working closely with relevant parties to support the review of the incident.

A man in Guangdong, China seems to have found the secret to a "super cheap weight loss method": potatoes.

After swapping out staple foods like rice and noodles for potatoes, the 43-year-old man, surnamed Chen, lost around 30kg over six months.

His high blood pressure and sugar levels also lowered, while his fatty liver improved.

Potatoes as staple

Chen's diet began after seeing negative results during a health check up, reported China Press.

Instead of drastically changing his meals, he opted to replace the usual staples with potatoes.

Chen would typically eat a fist-sized portion of potatoes for lunch and dinner, and maintain a healthy diet of lean meat, fish, eggs and leafy vegetables on top of it.

The potatoes were only steamed, boiled or baked without oil, while oil-heavy cooking methods like deep-frying and braising were avoided.

His breakfast consisted of eggs with unsweetened soy milk or milk.

After three months, Chen reportedly lost about 20kg, then another 12kg in another three.

By the end of six months, he weighed less than 68kg, a sharp drop from his original 100kg.

Why it works

Steamed potatoes not only contain about two-thirds the calories of rice, but they also have fibre and provide greater satiety.

As the root vegetable is also rich in potassium, it aids in maintaining sodium-potassium balance for individuals with high sodium intake.

This is, however, not a one size fits all solution; individual body types and health conditions have to be taken into consideration, alongside lifestyle factors.

After seeing what he deemed misleading life insurance advertisements on social media by members of his company, an insurance agent in Prudential Singapore decided to report the matter to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under an alias.

After a period, Prudential terminated his contract

He then filed a lawsuit against his former company, was dismissed, appealed, and was overturned again.

The man was eventually ordered to pay over S$120,000 in legal fees.

Whistleblowing

See Jen Sen was an agent, associate manager and agency leader at Prudential for 19 years, according to a judgement paper of his suit against the company.

In October 2020, See, then a Financial Services Director, came across advertisements for life insurance on social media by representatives of Prudential and third parties.

He believed these were not in compliance with MAS' advertising guidelines and raised his concerns with his company's compliance team.

Five days later, he also wrote to Prudential's then-CEO, who referred him to the Chief Risk Officer.

Three months of investigations yielded no result.

On Jan. 7, 2021, See contacted the CEO again, who responded after four days. See then offered some proposals, but these received no response.

Between May 10, 2021 and Oct. 18, 2021, he reported the purported breaches to MAS 13 times under the pseudonym "Patrick Goh".

He was then contacted by and met with Prudential's heads of departments in November the same year,

Termination

See was issued a termination notice on Mar. 7, 2022.

According to the judgement paper, he was given 14 days' notice.

He then sued Prudential for wrongful termination, claiming that the dismissal was due to him being a whistleblower, and a breach of "good faith, mutual trust, confidence and goodwill" in his employment contract.

See also claimed he was entitled to shares and cash rewards the company offered as part of its scheme, and therefore sought

long-term incentives and 72 months of team commissions.

Prudential's defense

However, Prudential argued that the termination was within its contractual right to terminate with notice.

It added that See was not entitled to the reward scheme as he was no longer an employee at the time of payment, and another of his application for a scheme was invalid.

Prudential also lodged a countersuit against See, as it claimed that See did not lodge his complaints through the proper channels laid out by the company.

Both suits dismissed

See's wrongful termination suit and Prudential's countersuit were dismissed by the High Court on Nov. 10, 2025.

See's claim that his ex-company had fired him as "retaliation" for his whistleblowing to MAS was found by the judge to lack basis.

However, Prudential's claim that See had ignored company guidelines was also found to be void, as there was evidence that See had attempted on multiple occasions to use internal channels as per the guidelines, such as sending an email to the CEO more than once.

He had only contacted MAS after receiving no replies. Prudential's counterclaim was therefore dismissed.

Nonetheless, See was ordered to pay over S$80,000 in legal costs, according to Shin Min Daily News.

He appealed this ruling, but was dismissed and ordered to pay another S$40,000 in legal fees.