A 61-year-old woman allegedly drove her Porsche into the ground-floor café of a hotel along Persiaran Gurney in Penang, Malaysia, at 11:47am on Jun. 7, after reportedly mistaking the accelerator for the brake.

The woman, from Bukit Mertajam, had driven to the combined hotel and condominium building in Persiaran Gurney to pick up her grandson and was waiting at the ground-floor lobby when the incident occurred.

What happened

According to Sin Chew Daily, the woman appeared unfamiliar with the vehicle's controls and allegedly stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, sending the Porsche crashing through the entrance of the hotel café. A counter inside the café stopped the car from going further.

A female staff member was badly frightened by the impact, though no one was injured. The café had no customers at the time. The woman got out of the car in a panic and was also uninjured.

The Porsche sustained damage on all sides, including its mirrors, and all four airbags deployed on impact.

Northeast police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rozak Muhammad said in a statement that preliminary investigations suggest the woman mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake as she was about to leave.

He said:

"No fatalities or injuries were reported. The extent of losses is still under investigation."

Café to remain closed

A hotel representative told Sin Chew Daily that staff had immediately cleared the scene and locked the café, barring entry to others.

The representative said:

"The hotel will seek compensation from the driver, but the loss amount cannot be estimated at this time, and the café is expected to remain closed for an extended period."

Investigations ongoing

The case is being investigated for careless and inconsiderate driving, an offence punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a maximum fine of RM10,000 (S$3,200).

A 20-year-old American university student who went missing while on holiday in Japan has been found dead in a mountainous area outside Kyoto.

James “Weston” Higginbotham, an Auburn University student from Alabama, was found by a volunteer search-and-rescue group on Jun. 7, after he was last seen on May 29 near Kyoto’s Yamashina area.

Family is heartbroken

Kyoto police said Weston’s body was found at around 2:35pm on Jun. 7 by volunteers searching the mountains in the city’s Yamashina area, according to CNN.

Police added that no foul play is suspected, and said they would not disclose the cause of death.

“The grief we feel is impossible to put into words,” Nancy Higginbotham, Weston’s mother, said in a Facebook post.

"We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like."

Last seen on May 29

Weston had been in Japan with his parents and brother when he went missing on May 29, reported CNN.

His mother had earlier shared in a Facebook post on Jun. 6 that he was last seen entering the Higashiyama mountain range from the Yamashina Station area in Kyoto.

Weston had left his family to explore Kyoto on his own, after a disagreement with his mother over her use of ChatGPT to help navigate their trip.

His family later saw, through the Life360 location-sharing app, that he had taken a train and visited several stores.

They texted him to ask where he was going, but his location was turned off shortly after, which his mother said was out of character for him.

His parents believed he may have been heading towards a nearby hiking trail, according to CBS News. His mother had earlier said she feared he could have been injured or lost.

Search efforts involved police, dogs and helicopters

Search efforts were later focused on the wooded areas around Yamashina, where Weston had last been seen on CCTV walking alone towards a path leading to a hiking trail.

Police began searching the forest on Jun. 2, as reported by CNN, but the operation was affected by a storm that brought strong winds and heavy rain to the region that night.

A 72-hour police search, which involved more than 100 officers, K-9 units and helicopters, ended on Jun. 6.

His family then launched their own search effort on Jun. 7, with help from local residents and a hired search-and-rescue team, focusing on parts of the Yamashina forest that had not been covered by police.

In her Facebook post on Jun. 6, Nancy appealed to experienced hikers, trail runners, outdoor groups and locals familiar with the area to help search trails, wooded areas and remote sections of the Higashiyama mountain range.

Family asks for privacy

After Weston was found, his family thanked those who had helped share his story and supported the search.

“We are deeply grateful to the countless people across the United States, Japan, and around the world who shared Weston’s story, prayed for our family, offered encouragement, and helped in the search efforts,” Nancy wrote.

She added that the family had shared their story publicly in the hope of finding him, and asked for privacy as they deal with the loss.

His mother described him to CNN as someone who loved nature, hiking and learning about the world.

He had also become vegan about a year ago, as part of his focus on protecting the environment.

She said:

“He just loves to go outside and go for a walk at a trail or go for a small hike, no matter what time of day.”

She added that his dream was to travel and visit mountains and other places where he could experience different cultures.

The government is closely monitoring the rising costs of food prices, especially for hawkers, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

Speaking to the media during a community visit to the Canberra ward of Sembawang GRC on Jun. 6, Fu shared that the authorities have been in close contact with hawkers and food distributors.

She added that the worry about the cost of living is "real and pressing" and is a priority for the government.

"So far, we know that from a wholesaling point of view, wholesale prices have remained stable. But obviously, all the sectors are impacted by logistics costs, so if you are further down the distribution chain into retail, you will find that the cost of moving goods has impacted the cost of food prices," said Fu.

"So we are watching that very carefully, particularly with our hawkers. We understand that the cost of food is a big part of their expenses, and we stand ready to assist them if needed."

Fu further emphasised that sustaining hawkers and their livelihoods is a priority for the government.

Community help

Beyond government assistance like CDC vouchers and one-time cost-of-living payments, Fu shared that the community can also help manage the rising cost of living.

"We have various schemes that the Canberra Division is putting out, whether it is cheaper drinks or cheaper groceries at discounted prices. I think all these little bits help to keep (the) cost of living in control, so we hope that more communities and businesses can step forward also to address these issues."

Fu added that households can help as well by being more adaptable and flexible with their food choices, such as purchasing essential groceries whose prices are frozen by supermarkets to manage their expenses.

"Together with the government, with the businesses, with the community, and households, we can weather this together," said Fu.

Chairman and founder of EagleWings Yacht Charters, Julian Theng, shared that it was "tough" to see the yacht EagleWings III on fire.

In an Instagram story, Theng added that "a piece of [his] heart sank" with the Eagle Wings III after it caught fire on Jun. 7 morning.

"It was tough seeing Eagle Wings III go up in flames. So sudden and unexpected that a piece of my heart sank with it," he wrote.

He shared that when he arrived at the scene, he saw the captain and hugged him.

"So grateful that the crew is safe and that no one was injured," said Theng.

"Farewell EagleWings III, we will miss you. The awesome memories will live on."

Theng founded EagleWings Yacht Charter in 2016, the charter arm under EagleWings Group.

The EagleWings III was one of five luxury yachts under their fleet that allowed groups to sail to nearby islands like Lazarus Island.

The information page for EagleWings III has since been removed from the EagleWings Yacht Charter website.

In flames

On Jun. 7, a fire broke out on the 112ft superyacht berthed at  ONE15 Marina Sentosa Cove.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the fire at about 8:10am.

SCDF land-based resources arrived at the scene within seven minutes and deployed a water jet from the pontoon to fight the fire, which fully engulfed the yacht.

During the firefighting effort, the yacht began drifting away from the pontoon, prompting the activation of an SCDF Marine Vessel for support.

At the height of the firefighting operation, two water jets from the pontoon and one water monitor from the SCDF Marine Vessel were deployed.

When Mothership visited the scene at around 10:15am, firefighters were still working to extinguish the fire.

No injuries were reported.

A 50-year-old woman was killed after gunmen opened fire on a car at a petrol station in Hammond, Louisiana, U.S., apparently believing their alleged target was inside the vehicle.

According to ABC News, Patricia Shepard was sitting in the car when the suspects pulled up and fired between 70 and 80 rounds into it at a Chevron station early Thursday.

Stalked the wrong car

Hammond Police Chief Edwin Bergeron Jr. said at a news conference that the suspects had been trailing the car from a farm before the shooting, believing their target was inside, per ABC News.

He said:

"At some point [the alleged target] was in the vehicle, and then exited the vehicle to ride with someone else."

The car then left the farm and headed to the petrol station, with the suspects following close behind. When the driver got out and went inside the station, the suspects moved in.

Bergeron said their car "pulled up next to it... and began shooting."

"Absolute innocent victim"

Bergeron was unequivocal about Shepard's role in the incident.

He said:

"She was not involved."

He described her as an "absolute innocent victim" and addressed the suspects directly at the press conference:

"We will not rest until the scumbags like this go to jail... for them to roll up and kill an innocent woman in a car because they thought it was somebody else."

An 87-year-old driver allegedly lost control of his car after entering a car park along Ghim Moh Road, hitting a 69-year-old female pedestrian and colliding with two other cars.

The accident occurred on Jun. 6 at around 5:20pm, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

Accident involved three cars and a pedestrian

In response to queries from Mothership, SPF said it was alerted to an accident involving three cars and a pedestrian along Ghim Moh Road.

A 69-year-old female pedestrian, the 87-year-old male car driver and his 85-year-old female passenger were conveyed conscious to hospital.

Car allegedly swerved after entering car park

The accident happened at the car park in front of Block 19, Ghim Moh Road, according to Shin Min Daily News.

The driver was believed to have been driving his 85-year-old wife to dinner when the accident happened.

A reader had alerted Shin Min to the incident, saying that a Mercedes-Benz sedan had struck a pedestrian and collided with two other vehicles in the car park.

When reporters arrived at the scene at around 7:30pm, the Mercedes-Benz and one of the damaged vehicles, a Toyota sedan, had already been towed away.

Car parts were seen strewn across the ground, and there was a pool of blood on the pavement.

Car owner heard loud bang, then screaming

According to Shin Min, one of the affected car owners, Wei, 68, said he was at home when he heard a loud bang followed by screaming.

When he looked out, he realised that his car, an Opel sedan parked downstairs, had been hit.

Based on what he understood, the white Mercedes-Benz had apparently swerved to avoid the pedestrian after entering the car park, before losing control and hitting a black Toyota sedan.

The Toyota was then pushed to the side and hit Wei’s Opel.

Photos provided by Wei to Shin Min showed that the front of the Toyota was badly damaged, with its bumper and licence plate dislodged.

Wei’s car sustained a minor dent on the front left side, as well as scratches along the left body panel.

Pedestrian found lying by roadside

Wei said the driver and his wife were in the Mercedes-Benz at the time.

Both appeared badly shaken after the accident, he told Shin Min.

The female pedestrian was knocked down and found lying by the roadside, with both her shoes having fallen off.

The driver and his wife later got out of the vehicle to check on her condition.

Wei said:

“There were many onlookers at the scene, and police cars and ambulances arrived within minutes.”

Police investigations are ongoing.

A 22-year-old Singaporean is documenting his unique journey as a bus captain for SMRT on TikTok.

However, Jayrius revealed that at the age of 21, he was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure.

In his video comments, Jayrius recounted receiving the devastating news on his 21st birthday.

Doctors were unable to explain why his kidneys suddenly failed.

He added that he is currently looking for a donor.

Working with SMRT

Jayrius also shared that SMRT has been "very nice" by hiring him when other companies would not and by offering flexible work arrangements that allow him to rest during his dialysis treatments.

When people ask him why he became a bus captain, Jayrius explained that beyond passion, he found it "very fulfilling and very exciting".

"I just enjoy serving the public and helping you get to your destination with ease and comfort. Plus driving a bus, it's like a mobile office, isn't it?"

SMRT's youngest bus driver

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Jayrius is SMRT's youngest bus driver.

Speaking to the Chinese media, Jayrius recounted that he had been fascinated with buses and the public transport system since he was five years old.

As he grew up, he developed a strong interest in the transportation industry and a desire to work in it.

Thus, after completing his national service, he decided to become a bus captain.

During his physical examination, the doctors discovered some abnormalities and what Jayrius thought was a minor ailment had become end-stage kidney failure.

"That was a very difficult period. I was reluctant to accept it and wondered if it was a misdiagnosis," Jayrius told Zaobao.

He shared that he was frustrated with the diagnosis, but told himself he could not stay depressed forever.

He wanted to fulfil his dream of driving a bus, and though he was not sure if any company would accept him given his diagnosis, SMRT eventually hired him.

Breaking stereotypes

Jayrius shared that his family felt that being a bus driver was a profession for middle-aged people, Zaobao stated.

His family believed there was limited room for advancement in the job and even opposed his decision to drive a bus.

But nothing would change his decision.

After working as a bus captain for about seven months, Jayrius looks forward to a new day on the job.

"I feel very fulfilled by being able to safely transport passengers to their destinations and connect people with places."

When asked about his future, Jayrius told the Chinese media that his biggest wish was to find a suitable kidney donor and receive a kidney transplant.

"I hope that one day I can receive a transplant and be truly free to do what I want to do."

Speaking to Mothership, Jayrius shared that his family eventually changed their mind and fully supports his career.

"I learnt that being a bus captain requires you to be very patient, do not rush and always worry about safety no matter what," he added.

He said that while the transport industry has many different roles besides bus captains, being a bus captain is a very stable and meaningful career which brings him fulfilment.

A person was rescued from a ledge outside the sixth-floor of Block 499C Tampines Avenue 9 on the morning of Jun. 7.

In response to queries from Mothership, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at about 7:10am.

Person seen on ledge outside sixth-floor unit

A video of the incident, posted by SgfollowsAll on their telegram channel, showed a person seated on a ledge outside a residential unit.

In the video, the person could be heard saying: “I don't want anyone to come up.”

Firefighters and a police car could also be seen at the foot of the block.

The caption of the video claimed that the person was a young man in his 20s.

He was later apprehended under Section 7 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008. No injuries were reported.

SCDF deployed safety life air pack

SCDF told Mothership that when its officers arrived, a person was seen standing on a ledge outside a unit on the sixth floor.

SCDF subsequently deployed a safety life air pack, while rescuers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) were also on standby as a precautionary measure.

SCDF confirmed that the person was eventually rescued from the ledge.

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)

A South Korean military court has sentenced an army staff sergeant to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of murdering his wife by neglecting her for months until her body was covered in maggots.

The verdict, revealed this week, came after a trial that heard harrowing testimony from medical professionals who treated the woman when she was finally brought to a hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi, in November last year.

Left bedridden for months

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the woman, who was in her 30s, became bedridden in August last year after developing panic disorder and depression. For more than three months, her husband allegedly provided no medical care or protection, with the woman surviving largely on snacks, bread, and juice.

She developed bedsores, which were left untreated and progressed into necrosis, eventually killing her.

The sergeant only sought help on Nov. 17, when he called emergency services to say his wife was going in and out of consciousness, per Korea JoongAng Daily.

Responders found her seated on a chair, her body covered in filth.

An emergency responder who spoke to the SBS programme Unanswered Questions described the scene:

"Her entire body was contaminated with feces, and tens of thousands of maggots were spread all over her body."

She went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and died of sepsis the following day.

Doctors describe what they found

The attending physician told the court the scene was unlike anything he had encountered in his career.

He said:

"There were so many maggots that we tried to wash them away with saline before moving her to a ward. But no matter how much we cleaned, they kept appearing. We couldn't remove them all, so we had to wrap her in bandages on the spot."

The doctor also contradicted the sergeant's claim that he had failed to notice the state of his wife's body because air fresheners in their home had masked the smell.

He explained:

"The treatment room was filled with the stench of a decaying body. The smell clung to her clothes and her entire body."

A forensic pathologist from the National Forensic Service told the court it was only the second time in 15 years he had seen maggots on a living person.

Sergeant denied charges

When pressed by prosecutors on whether he had detected any unusual smells at home, the sergeant said he had noticed only "a smell like stagnant water." He denied the charges throughout, claiming he was unaware of his wife's critical condition and that she had not wished to receive treatment.

The court rejected his account. In its ruling, it found that the neglect had gone on long enough that her death was entirely foreseeable, and concluded there had been intent to kill.

The court also noted that he had continued to make implausible excuses and showed no remorse.

Although the sergeant reportedly broke down in tears on the hospital floor when his wife was admitted, the attending doctor told the court he questioned the sincerity of the reaction.

Family confronted him in court

During the trial, the bereaved family attempted to rush toward the sergeant after growing frustrated by his demeanour. They were restrained by court officers.

The family said:

"We felt so wronged because he never once showed any sign of remorse or regret, so we couldn't help but attempt to confront him."

Prosecutors want harsher sentence

The military prosecutor's office has since announced its intention to appeal, saying:

"A harsher sentence should have been imposed."

A Malaysian representative on Season 16 of MasterChef: Global Gauntlet has won this week’s “World Cup Cookoff” challenge with a roti canai dish inspired by her family and culture.

Jamie Tan, who is representing Malaysia under Team Asia-Pacific, emerged as the overall winner of the challenge after preparing roti canai with Malaysian coconut curry, coconut rice, and cucumber and pineapple salad.

Best World Cup watch-party food challenge

The challenge required contestants to create the ultimate World Cup watch-party food.

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A post shared by MasterChef (@masterchefonfox)

An Instagram post by the official MasterChef on Fox account shared on Jun. 5 showed Tan’s dish first being named the top dish in the Asia-Pacific region, before beating the winning dishes from Europe, Africa and the Americas to claim the overall challenge victory.

Her win earned her a US$2,500 Home Depot gift card and an Immunity Pin, which protects her from elimination in a future challenge.

Dish usually takes hours to make

During the episode, Tan said she had chosen to make “a roti canai with a Malaysian coconut curry”, along with rice and a pickled cucumber and pineapple salad.

Explaining the dish to the judges, she described roti canai as “a flaky flatbread” commonly eaten in Malaysia.

However, she acknowledged that it was a risky choice for the challenge, as the dish normally takes much longer to prepare.

“Usually takes a few hours to rest and make,” she said with a laugh.

Tan later also shared in an Instagram reel on Jun. 5 that she was “scared” to make the dish because it takes over eight hours, but she only had 60 minutes to complete it.

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A post shared by jaime (@igumdrop)

She also reflected that cooking was “not about being perfect”, and that recreating what her father had given her allowed her to feel proud of herself.

Inspired by her father

The dish had a deeper personal meaning for Tan as well.

In the episode, Tan said the challenge reminded her of the large gatherings her father used to organise for the family.

She also said her father worked at Home Depot and used to make the curry for her before leaving for work.

“The curry cooks really fast, it’s something I’ve cooked a lot at home," she added.

Tan admitted that the dish carried extra pressure because of its personal significance and that she wanted to win the challenge for her father.

Tan later told First for Women that the challenge felt like a “full circle” moment, tying together her father’s sacrifices and the dish she grew up eating.

The win was made even more meaningful by the US$2,500 Home Depot gift card, which she said she could use with her father, and that she hopes to buy a house for her parents one day.

Judges praise dish

When Tan’s roti canai was named one of Team Asia-Pacific’s top dishes, she could be seen tearing up on the episode, saying she was surprised, happy and proud of herself.

“I cannot believe that the judges think my dish is a top dish,” she said.

“To win on a night where I’m honouring my parents for all their hard work… It's incredible. I’m confident that I made my mom and dad proud tonight.”

Judge Gordon Ramsay praised Tan for taking on an ambitious dish within the limited time.

“It looks beautiful. Jamie, what I’m most impressed with, is traditionally, that takes hours to make. The fact that you had the confidence to attempt it tonight, I’m just happy for you.”

After tasting the dish, Ramsay said the curry was “delicious”.

“It’s fragrant, it’s warm, it’s sour, it’s everything you want. I mean, it feels like you’ve been making it for the last six hours. Well done.”

Why the win mattered

Speaking to First for Women after the episode aired, Tan said the win was especially meaningful as the dish represented her family, culture and her father’s sacrifices.

She said roti and curry are a classic Malaysian staple, bringing together Malay, Indian and Chinese influences and reflecting Malaysia’s multicultural identity.

Growing up, she said, the dish was eaten often at family gatherings, whether for Sunday breakfast, celebrations or special occasions.

Tan added that her parents did not come from privilege, but their sacrifices allowed her to stand on a national stage and showcase a dish that represented her family’s story.

“There’s so much meaning in culture and family,” she said.

“My parents didn’t grow up with education, and our family certainly didn’t come from privilege. But because of their sacrifices, I was able to prove myself, stand on a national stage, and showcase a dish that represents my dad’s passion, our culture, and our story.”