A physical altercation broke out at a children's play area in a Hong Kong mall after a girl was slapped by an elderly woman.

It resulted in three people, including the girl, being sent to the hospital for injuries, The South China Morning Post reported.

Police were called to the scene, and they arrested the elderly woman, her daughter, and the girl's mother.

The incident happened on Aug. 26 in the atrium of APM shopping mall, located in Hong Kong's Kwun Tong district.

Footage of the slap, circulating online, shows the elderly woman shoving the girl, then slapping her across the face, causing her to fall on the ground.

However, following investigations, the police believe that the woman, aged 68, may have been hit first by the girl's mother.

What happened?

The day of the incident, APM mall had a sports-themed playground at its atrium.

The elderly woman, a 68-year-old surnamed Leung, and her 34-year-old daughter surnamed Ng, brought Ng's son to play there.

Another woman, surnamed Tsui, also 34, had separately brought her 5-year-old daughter, The Standard reported.

The dispute allegedly began when the two children argued over a basketball installation.

After Leung shoved and slapped the girl, the girl's mother confronted both Leung and Ng, and further scuffling ensued.

A man who intervened at one point went towards Leung and yelled in Cantonese, "Did you just hit a child? I saw you."

Ng also confronted Tsui while holding an umbrella and told her, "You cannot leave."

According to The Standard, there is another video that shows Tsui allegedly slapping Leung across the face during a heated exchange before Leung slapped the girl.

The girl reportedly had a swollen right cheek due to the slap, while her mother and Ng also had minor facial injuries.

Charged

All three women involved have been charged with fighting in a public place, SCMP reported.

Leung faces an additional count of common assault.

They are all scheduled to appear in court on Sep. 3.

Ng has also been suspended by her employer, insurance provider AIA, following the dispute.

In a statement on Aug. 27, an AIA spokesperson said the company held its advisers to strict standards of professional conduct and did not condone any form of violence.

According to the Hong Kong Free Press, Tsui and her daughter are allegedly from mainland China, holding two-way permits that allow them to travel to and from Hong Kong.

Yassin Kampung restaurant stores in Singapore appeared empty weeks after debt recovery collectors were seen at an outlet.

When Mothership visited Yassin Kampung outlets at Admiralty and Marsiling after 8pm on Tuesday, Aug. 25, both were closed.

Boxes were seen inside the outlets and no staff or customers were present.

The opening hours of Yassin Kampung's Admiralty and Marsiling outlets are from 11am to 11:30pm and 10am to 11pm, respectively.

Calls to the two stores of the family restaurant chain on Aug. 27 subsequently went unanswered.

According to Stomp, men wearing "A.S.K Credit Collectors" were seen outside Yassim Kampung at Admiralty recently.

Instagram accounts down

Checks by Mothership on Aug. 25 showed that "yassinkampung" was unavailable on Instagram.

Responding to Mothership's queries, A.S.K Debt Recovery confirmed that its staff visited a number of outlets, including Yassin Kampung's Admiralty outlet.

The spokesperson said the purpose of the visits was to follow up on an alleged outstanding debt of more than S$60,000 owed by Yassin Kitchen Pte Ltd to its client, a food supplier company.

Before making the visits, they said they had made "numerous attempts" to contact relevant personnel, but that their "calls and attempts to communicate with them have not received any meaningful response."

Recovery process

As part of its recovery process, its staff subsequently visited the company's office premises in an attempt to speak with the relevant representatives and resolve the matter.

However, the office was reportedly closed at the time of their visit.

The spokesperson added that its staff then left a letter of demand at the premises, together with the contact details of its manager.

"However, the staff at the outlet declined to receive the documents or engage with our representatives," the debt recovery company spokesperson said.

He pointed out that there was no intention to cause any disturbance to the outlet, its employees or its customers.

The spokesperson also said "calls, messages, office visit and visits to the relevant outlets" has yet to lead to a "meaningful response".

"From our perspective, the situation demonstrates the difficulty faced by suppliers when substantial amounts remain outstanding despite repeated attempts to obtain payment or even establish communication with the debtor," the spokesperson said.

Mothership has reached out to Yassin Kitchen Pte Ltd for more information.

A 37-year-old man was sentenced to nine months’ jail on Aug. 27 after pleading guilty to assaulting a 78-year-old man who later died from a head injury.

Jimmy Yar Hock Long had shoved the elderly man, Goh Kim Inn, after seeing Goh hit Yar's father on the head with an umbrella.

Goh fell and hit his head on the ground, and died two days later at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), Yar pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was sentenced to 9 months' jail.

History of altercations

Court documents seen by Mothership revealed that Goh and Yar's father, Yar Mui Cheoh, had been involved in several previous altercations.

Goh had assaulted Yar’s father in January and March 2024, and was subsequently given two police warnings on Aug. 20 that year.

Yar’s father was also issued a warning for fighting with Goh in a public place on Mar. 21, 2024.

Hit his head and became motionless

On May 25, 2025, Yar’s father was crossing the road with his family at a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Wolskel Road.

Goh then approached the group from behind and struck Yar’s father on the head with an umbrella.

Upon seeing this, Yar rushed towards Goh, grabbed him, and pushed him onto the pavement.

Goh fell and hit his head on the ground.

He became motionless after the fall.

Yar’s sister then called for the ambulance and Goh was rushed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

He died of a head injury two days later.

Hurt caused was of the "most severe variety"

The prosecution sought a sentence of 10 to 12 months' imprisonment for Yar, arguing that the injury suffered by Goh was particularly severe.

"The hurt caused in this case is of the most severe variety," it said.

The defence, however, argued that Yar should receive no more than eight months’ jail, ST reported.

One of Yar’s lawyers said that Goh "was certainly not a helpless victim".

"Mr Yar then intervened spontaneously because of the surprise assault on his father and his concern for his elderly father’s safety," he was quoted as saying.

The lawyer also said that Yar’s father undergoes regular kidney dialysis and is recovering from stage-four cancer.

Yar’s bail has been set at S$20,000, and he is expected to begin serving his sentence on Sep. 28.

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is looking to expand the pool of infant care educators in Singapore.

By 2030, it aims to recruit 1,800 more infant care educators, Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said on Aug. 28.

Making preschool more affordable and accessible

Speaking at ECDA's Teachers’ Day celebrations at E-Bridge Preschool, Goh said the hiring increase will be to meet the expected demand growth as the government aims to make preschool more affordable and accessible.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during the National Day Rally on Aug. 23 that full-day childcare and infant care fees will be progressively reduced from 2028 to S$150 and S$300, respectively, by 2030.

These fees will be "less than half" of today's fees, said the Prime Minister's Office.

Grants for preschools to join government-supported network

In light of this, Goh announced that a new grant will be introduced to help eligible preschool operators that wish to transition onto the government-supported network.

While specific details are still being worked through, the grants will allow a broader range of operators, including smaller operators, to benefit from government support while continuing to offer diverse programmes.

More details are expected to be shared later in the year.

Infant care manpower

Further, to meet an expected rise in demand for infant care educators, ECDA will be expanding the Manpower Hiring Grant (MHG) from September 2026.

The grants provides funding support, including up to 70 per cent in training stipends and up to 50 per cent in course fee subsidies for eligible local and foreign trainees to attain early childhood certification in Singapore.

The expanded MHG will be enhanced across trainee categories, with additional support for infant care certification.

This will include the Assistant Infant Educator (AIE) and Fundamentals Certificate in Infant Care (FCIC) courses.

Funding support will also be extended by three years from Dec. 31, 2030.

ECDA is also exploring overseas partnerships to widen the pool of potential caregiving candidates.

Encouraging infant caregiving

ECDA also aims to encourage more educators to enter infant caregiving through additional support for new and in-service educators.

Currently, more than 2,000 preschool educators hold qualifications that enable them to work in both infant care and other preschool roles.

However, as of August 2026, about 4 per cent are serve as infant educators while the remaining serve the older ages.

More details on the support will be provided at a later date.

"Infant care is much more than routine care," said Goh.

"Our infant care educators create safe, nurturing environments where infants can grow, learn, and develop holistically."

Concluding his speech, he added: "This Teachers' Day, I wish to express my thanks to all our educators for the meaningful work that they do every day."

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) business class passenger was taken away by the authorities after getting caught smoking on board the plane toilet of SQ836 flight from Singapore to Shanghai on Aug. 21

The incident was shared on Xiaohongshu.

Local authorities led the passenger away after the plane landed in China.

Smoking not allowed

A spokesperson for SIA told Mothership that the airline is aware of the incident involving a customer who smoked in a lavatory on board the plane on Friday.

"Smoking, including vaping and the use of e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited on all SIA and Scoot flights. Customers who are caught smoking or vaping on board will be banned from travelling on Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights," the spokesperson said.

What social media post showed

According to a social media post, a cabin crew approached the business class passenger when the flight was about to land at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport.

The cabin crew was heard speaking in Mandarin.

The exchange lasted a few minutes and the passenger’s cigarettes were collected in a plastic bag.

An announcement was subsequently made to inform passengers to remain seated while authorities boarded the aircraft.

The other passengers were then told to disembark while the passenger who was caught smoking had to remain in the cabin.

Local police were seen waiting at the plane's exit.

Cigarette butts wrapped in a napkin were apparently handed over to the police.

The person who posted about the incident then confirmed with airport staff that a passenger was caught smoking in the plane’s toilet.

A 56-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man were arrested on Aug. 26 for suspected drug-related offences.

They were found along 2 Adam Road, near Botanic Gardens, that morning.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at the location at about 10:10am.

A Mothership reader who was passing by the area said they saw several officers gathered under a flyover at around 11:40am.

Suspected drugs, drug paraphernalia, and vapes were found at the scene, the police shared.

Both the man and the woman were conveyed to the hospital — the woman was unconscious, while the man was conscious.

They were arrested subsequently for suspected drug-related offences, which have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

The vape-related offence will be referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Investigations are ongoing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is in touch with the families of Singaporeans affected by the Nepal flash floods, it said in an Aug. 27 statement.

MFA added that the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi and the Singapore Embassy in Beijing are working closely with the Nepali and Chinese authorities.

The Singapore High Commission in New Delhi has deployed a Crisis Response Team to Nepal to render consular assistance to affected Singaporeans in Nepal.

The Nepali authorities have warned that blockage remains upstream on the Nepal-China border river, potentially creating the risk of a second flood, MFA said.

"Therefore, we strongly encourage Singaporeans in the affected areas to remain vigilant, monitor local news, and follow the instructions of local authorities."

Missing Singaporeans

An earlier report mentioned that a total of nine Singaporeans were reported missing after devastating flash floods swept through Nepal's border region with Tibet on Aug. 26.

In an official situation update posted on Nepal Tourism Board’s website on Aug. 27, the board said a preliminary agency-wise record from trekking and travel companies had identified 644 travellers reported missing from affected areas, nine of whom are Singaporeans.

"The information is being verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies," the board said.

According to BBC, at least 389 people have died and more than 900 are missing after devastating flash floods swept through Nepal's northern border region with Tibet on Aug. 26.

E-register with MFA

MFA said that Singaporeans should avoid flood-affected areas, rivers, riverbanks, and low-lying areas.

Singaporeans may eRegister with MFA to be contacted on the latest developments.

Singaporeans in need of consular assistance may contact the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi, the Singapore Embassy in Beijing, or MFA’s 24-hour duty office.

"The Singapore Government is deeply saddened by the loss of lives and extends its condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives."

The Singapore police is looking for a driver who abandoned his car following an accident in Sengkang on the morning of Aug. 27.

The location is opposite the Sengkang Neighbourhood Police Centre.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they were alerted to an accident along Sengkang East Road towards Buangkok Green at around 6:20am on Thursday.

The accident involved a car that was believed to have self-skidded, police said.

No injuries were reported.

The police added that the car driver left the scene before they arrived, and efforts to locate the driver are underway.

Investigations are ongoing.

Traffic light apparently knocked over

A photo of the aftermath of the incident was posted in the Telegram group @SgRoad.

A car was seen on a traffic island that had been partially cordoned off.

The car's bonnet appeared to have been damaged.

A traffic light was apparently knocked over.

In a separate video posted on TikTok, six police officers were seen next to the car.

One officer appeared to be searching the vehicle.

@sureboh.sg An accident involving a Toyota sedan occurred outside Sengkang General Hospital on 27 August 2026. The time of the incident is unknown. #surebohsg #sgnews #sgtrending #sgviral #singapore ♬ original sound - Sure Boh

A shop owner in China stepped in to help an elderly man when he fainted in her card room, then was asked to pay compensation by the man's family after he passed away.

The family initially demanded RMB 100,000 (S$19,000), but after negotiations, the sum was lowered to RMB 19,000 (S$3,600), which the shop owner eventually paid, Chinese media reported.

This demand for compensation sparked controversy among Chinese netizens, who felt that the shop owner should not be asked to pay for her kind act.

Following the backlash, the deceased's family decided to return the money to the woman, and transferred it to her son's bank account on Aug. 26.

What happened

The incident at the card room happened recently in Hengyang, located in China's Hunan province.

According to CCTV footage, the elderly man, surnamed Luo, went into the card room and sat on a chair near the entrance.

The shop owner, surnamed Xiao, approached him, appearing to notice he was unwell.

She tried to get him to stand up, but when she got him off the chair, he suddenly collapsed and slid onto the ground.

With the help of another man, she carried him outside the card room, then stayed with him until help came.

Xiao's son later told Chinese media that when the ambulance arrived about five minutes later, the elderly man's vital signs were still stable, though he was unconscious.

Compensation

Following his death, Luo's family reportedly asked for compensation because the incident happened at Xiao's business.

They also threatened to place the body outside the card room if she did not pay, according to her son.

Xiao suffered discomfort, insomnia, and a loss of appetite as a result of the incident, her son added. The business also had to be closed temporarily.

Worried about her health, her husband agreed to pay the money demanded.

According to a mediation agreement cited by Chinese media, Xiao paid the compensation out of a "humanitarian concern".

The local authorities investigated the case and said that Luo's family should return this payment to the shop owner, as a way to encourage the community to do good deeds.

In a show of support, the general manager of a Hunan-based rice company visited Xiao's family and gave them RMB 20,000 (S$3,800) to help them through this ordeal.

The family apologised

Luo's family has returned the compensation money in full and apologised.

"There is no need for compensation if no wrongdoing was committed — we realised this today," Luo's son said. "We deeply apologise for troubling netizens and taking up public resources."

Xiao's son expressed gratitude for the support his family received from the community.

He said that the family will be donating some of the money received to charity, and will continue to do good deeds.

A 44-year-old American man shot and killed eight of his relatives, including four children, weeks after his parents told him to move out.

According to ABC News, the shooter, Alan Smith, opened fire as the family gathered for Sunday dinner at their home outside Billings, Montana, on Aug. 23, 2026.

Smith killed four generations of his family, including his grandmother, parents, younger sister and his nieces and nephews.

U.S. authorities reached the scene on the evening of the incident and were greeted by the sound of gunshots before the house was engulfed in flames.

Investigators confirmed that Smith had also shot himself and later died.

Fire burned house to its foundation

A spokesperson for the Billings Police Department, Jeff Stovall, said the investigation was complicated by concerns about the house's structural integrity after the fire burned it to its foundation.

Firefighters put out the blaze at around 1am on Aug. 23 (local time), said Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel.

ABC News reported that the home is in an area not required to have fire hydrants, resulting in a delay that allowed the fire to rage through the house.

The four children Smith killed were aged between seven and 15.

A neighbour told ABC News that Smith's 12-year-old niece "was the hero".

"Charlotte called 911 and she tried to save her family."

Family 'very loving and close'

The neighbour said the family was "very loving and close" and said the children all got along and the parents remained amicable even after divorcing.

"I feel like our entire community is devastated, even people that never knew any of them."

ABC News reported that the Smith family were originally from Seattle, Washington, and his sister, Megan, moved to Montana with her children after her divorce.

Megan second husband was working and not at home when the shooting happened.

Smith's parents had also purchased a home near his sister while his grandmother lived in a nearby retirement home.

Smith stayed with his parents for years until he was asked to move out weeks prior to the incident.

According to ABC News, he unexpectedly returned home before killing his family, and tried to flee before being confronted by law enforcement.

'Many red flags'

According to ABC News, Megan's ex-husband said "there were many red flags" and that "no one listened".

Smith, who attended Eastern Washington University, was reportedly a "hermit" who spent most of his time on the computer and was unable to find or hold a job.

Megan's second husband rushed from the airport in Billings, where he worked, after hearing about an active shooting and calling each member of his family.

He said his children were not supposed to be there, as family dinner was usually on Fridays.

He said, "I don’t think he expected my kids to be there," and "monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did”.