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            <title>Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world</title>
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            <link>https://mothership.sg</link>
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                    <title>Car hits boy, 11, on kick scooter at Ang Mo Kio pedestrian crossing, driver, 42, assisting with investigations</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/car-hit-boy-amk-pedestrian-crossing/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T18:16:37</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Shauna Yap ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/car-hit-boy-amk-pedestrian-crossing/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The driver apparently refused to help the boy call his family. ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/honda-crossroad-hit-boy-amk.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a></p><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 42-year-old man is assisting with investigations after he allegedly hit a boy with the sports utility vehicle (SUV) he was driving at a pedestrian crossing at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10.</p>
<p>The police told <em>Mothership</em> that they were alerted to the accident on Sep. 22 at about 7:55pm.</p><p>Police investigations are ongoing.</p><p><h2>What video showed</h2></p><p>A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1301802351962359" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">video</a> by SG Road Vigilante on Facebook identified the pedestrian as an 11-year-old boy.</p><p>The dashcam footage showed a boy on a kick scooter crossing the road.</p><p>The green man traffic light sign showed that pedestrians had the right of way at the time.</p><p>However, a white car, believed to be a Honda Crossroad making a discretionary right turn, apparently failed to give way.</p><p>The car could be seen on video hitting the boy.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 800px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter-7.gif" alt="" width="800" height="347" class="wp-image-1174859 size-full" /> GIF from SG Road Vigilante/ Facebook
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</p><p><h2>Driver allegedly unhelpful</h2></p><p>The caption of the post claimed that the the boy lost his phone in the accident, according to the boy's mother.</p><p>The driver of the car, it was alleged, refused to let the boy use his phone or call his family.</p><p>The driver apparently took the boy to the void deck of his block, but did not bring him up to his home.</p><p>Someone else apparently helped the youth back home.</p><p>The boy's mother apparently said the boy was fine after a visit to the doctor.</p><p>However, the boy started throwing up the next day.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>2 boys trapped at Yishun block parapet after home electronic door lock ran out of battery</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/yishun-teens-trapped/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T18:09:27</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Rafael See Toh ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/yishun-teens-trapped/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ They tried to climb back into the home via the window but failed. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/cover-photos-part-2-4.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>A 13-year-old boy and his friend ended up trapped on a parapet between the second and third floors of a public housing block in Yishun.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260929-9754762" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Shin Min Daily News</em></a>, the boy’s home electronic door lock apparently ran out of battery.</p>
<p>The duo were stranded after they thought they could try to climb out of the stairwell to enter the flat through a window.</p><p>The incident at Block 333A Yishun Street 31 occurred on Sep. 28 at about 1pm.</p><p><h2>Rescue</h2></p><p>Emergency responders were called to the scene.</p><p>A ladder was set up, and a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer was seen climbing it to reach a boy in a red top.</p><p>Police officers were stationed at the foot of the block.</p><p><h2>Door</h2></p><p>A 15-year-old boy, apparently the 13-year-old’s older brother, told <em>Shin Min</em> that his family used an electronic door lock, but the battery had run out.</p><p>The 13-year-old boy and a friend then reportedly climbed out of the stairwell in an attempt to enter the flat through the window.</p><p>But they could not pull it off.</p><p>“When we were notified about the incident, we rushed back and saw the police talking to them downstairs. Both of them were fine,” the elder brother said.</p><p>The 13-year-old was not injured.</p><p>The family reportedly replaced the door lock’s battery following the incident.</p><p>The friend also purportedly went home on his own.</p><p>In response to media queries, SCDF said it received a call for assistance at around 12:50pm on the day of the incident.</p><p>Upon SCDF's arrival, two persons were seen on a parapet between the second and third floors.</p><p>SCDF firefighters brought the two persons to safety using a ladder.</p><p>No injuries were reported.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>My family was sick & we were running out of essentials. Could free same day delivery save the day?</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/shopee-buy-today-get-today/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T18:00:18</pubDate>


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

                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Branded ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/shopee-buy-today-get-today/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ No minimum spend needed for the things that cannot wait till tomorrow. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Shopee.jpg"/> <p>Some errands can wait until the weekend, but what happens when you need something today?</p><p>My family had been recovering from the flu for the past few days, so we were going through tissues much faster than usual, and the laundry was quickly piling up.</p><p>That morning, I realised we had blown through most of our tissues and were down to our last few laundry pods. At that rate, we'd run out of both before the next day.</p><p>Normally, that would mean taking the train to Bishan, picking up what we needed and hauling everything home.</p>
<p>Not exactly how I wanted to spend my morning, especially when I had other things to get done.</p><p>As a frequent user of Shopee, ordering the essentials online was an obvious alternative. The difference this time was that I needed them that day.</p><p>It was around 9am, three hours before the 12pm cutoff for Shopee's Buy Today, Get Today, where eligible <a href="https://shopee.sg/m/fulfilledbyshopee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fulfilled by Shopee (FBS)</a> items ordered before noon can arrive later the same day with free shipping and S$0 minimum spend.</p><p>That left one question: could I get what we needed by the end of the day and skip the Bishan run altogether?</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 501px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-12.14.01 PM.png" alt="" width="501" height="375" class=" wp-image-1174743" /> Photo from Mothership
  </figcaption>
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</p><p><h2>What else could I get delivered that day?</h2></p><p>As I added the items on my shopping list to cart, I started looking around the dedicated FBS page to see what else was available for same day delivery.</p><p>We were also running low on a few household staples, including paper towels and other cleaning products.</p><p>Given that these were some of the heavier and bulkier things I'd normally have to carry home, getting them delivered that very same day with no minimum spend free shipping felt like a no-brainer.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-3.15.22 PM.png" alt="" width="500" height="251" class=" wp-image-1174746" /> Photos from Mothership
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</p><p>What surprised me, though, was how much further the selection went.</p><p>I had assumed Buy Today, Get Today would mainly come in handy for household essentials.</p><p>Instead, I also found eligible FBS products across beauty, electronics, home and living, gifts, baby products and pet supplies, including laptops, air fryers, diapers and pet treats.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 501px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-3.16.37 PM.png" alt="" width="501" height="675" class=" wp-image-1174747" /> Photo from Mothership
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</p><p>As someone with sensitive skin, I even found myself browsing skincare.</p><p>When a Torriden sheet mask caught my eye, I used seller chat to check whether it was suitable for sensitive skin.</p><p>The response was a reassuring "yes dear". The only other person who regularly calls me "dear" is probably my mum, so that’s a win.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/IMG_0099.png" alt="" width="500" height="1084" class=" wp-image-1174748" /> Photo from Mothership
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</p><p><h2>And there were savings too</h2></p><p>As I browsed, I noticed some products came with bundle deals, and eligible FBS products also had an exclusive 25 per cent off product voucher.</p><p>This could be stacked with the FBS no minimum spend Free Shipping voucher, which meant I could get eligible items delivered that same day without having to hit a minimum basket size for free shipping.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-3.21.44 PM.png" alt="" width="500" height="425" class=" wp-image-1174749" /> Photo from Mothership
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>With everything sorted before the 12pm cutoff, there was only one part of the experiment left. Would it actually arrive that day?</p><p><h2>From screen to doorstep in the same day</h2></p><p>After placing my order, I received regular delivery updates, so I could keep track of its progress while getting on with the rest of my day.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-12.23.09 PM.png" alt="" width="500" height="955" class=" wp-image-1174750" /> Photo from Mothership
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</figure>
</p><p>At about 9:46pm, the delivery arrived. Everything was neatly packed, with items that needed additional protection carefully wrapped.</p><p>And there it was: the household haul I'd ordered that morning, sitting at my doorstep before the day was over.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-24-at-10.33.45 AM.png" alt="" width="500" height="402" class=" wp-image-1174751" /> Photo from Mothership
  </figcaption>
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</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 500px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-3.25.45 PM-1.png" alt="" width="500" height="280" class=" wp-image-1174754" /> Photo from Mothership
  </figcaption>
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</p><p>For me, that was the part that landed. I'd started the morning realising we were about to run out of everyday essentials.</p><p>By that night, I'd restocked what we needed and discovered that the same day selection extended well beyond a typical grocery run.</p><p>No waiting until tomorrow. No hauling bulky household supplies home from Bishan.</p><p>And, perhaps most importantly, the same day part really did mean the same day, without having to hit a minimum spend.</p><p>If you're keen to try Buy Today, Get Today for yourself, orders must be placed before 12pm, Monday to Sunday (excluding public holidays), to qualify for free islandwide same day delivery.</p><p><em><strong>This sponsored article by Shopee made sure this writer and her mum didn’t have to make their dwindling tissues last another day.</strong></em></p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>5 men, a farmer & Trump: The RAF Fairford situation explained</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/raf-fairford/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T17:51:42</pubDate>


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


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/raf-fairford/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ What happened? ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Copy-of-Cover-image-2026-09-28T185959.890.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>On the morning of Sep. 27, five men were spotted acting suspiciously near a small village in Southwest England.</p><p>A farmer who spotted the five made a call to the police.</p><p>This quick phone call to the police has unfolded into an all-out domestic security incident in the United Kingdom in years, causing the evacuation of the village, a local airbase on alert, and a response from Donald Trump.</p>
<p>But what's happened, and what's the fallout?</p><p><h2>What happened?</h2></p><p>Around 1am on Sep. 27 (UK time), local police in Gloucestershire were alerted to three suspicious vehicles heading towards RAF Fairford, a military airbase that supports U.S. military air force aircraft, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c85ydnwqpzyzo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>BBC</em></a>.</p><p>Police responding to the call later arrested five men in a village called Whelford, about 3.2km away from the airbase.</p><p>They were concerned enough that a police cordon of 400m was set up around a number of vehicles, and a bomb disposal team was deployed to the village.</p><p>The 85 occupants of the village were also asked to evacuate their homes, with a community centre set aside to house those who could not turn to family or friends.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/27/arrests-suspected-terrorism-charges-explosives-found-near-raf-base-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Guardian</em></a> published a picture of the five men sitting by a road, topless with their arms restrained behind their backs.</p><p>Bomb disposal robots were seen operating near the vans.</p><p><h2>What is RAF Fairford?</h2></p><p>RAF Fairford is a World War II-era British Air Force base in the southwest of England.</p><p>At its founding, it <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62drgvk263o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">supported</a> airborne operations by British and American forces, but after the war was used by the U.S. Air Force 501st Combat Support Wing .</p><p>At the present moment, it is predominantly used by USAF heavy bombers such as the B-1B Lancer, the B-2A Spirit, and the B-52H Stratofortress.</p><p>The base has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/world/europe/iran-uk-raf-fairford-starmer-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">supported</a> bombers and air refuelling tankers in both Gulf Wars in 1991 and 2003, and is also know for hosting a major international air show, the Royal International Air Tattoo.</p><p>Perhaps most significantly, ever since Mar. 1, the base has been used to support heavy bombers carrying out missions against targets in Iran.</p><p>A British Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said that the U.S. was using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the Middle East region, as reported by the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62drgvk263o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBC</a></em>.</p><p><h2>Aura farming</h2></p><p>There is some dispute over whether the five men were known to authorities or not, but there is a straightforward answer in this particular case.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et?post=asset%3Afa6d2b91-cee9-404d-9f5e-2bb2bd84cb96#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>BBC</em></a> spoke to a farmer who allegedly first reported the men, apparently foiling whatever plans they had.</p><p>The farmer said she was making her way home from a party after 1am when she found the road blocked by three white vans.</p><p>She then spotted men wearing hoods and masks lingering near the treeline.</p><p>When the men realised she was there, they ran away in two directions, some into a field and some towards a neighbouring village, tipping the farmer off that “something highly unusual was taking place.”</p><p>She tried, but failed, to call the Ministry of Defence, resorting to calling the police as a fallback.</p><p>The police responded quickly, flooding the village with armed police within 10 minutes.</p><p>One of the vans was seen sporting company branding of a fake company "Fuel 2You", although there is a similarly named company called “Fuel2U”, which delivers diesel.</p><p>The company, when speaking to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et?post=asset%3A15dda3e6-b5c7-4a62-83df-1012fbf3b015#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>BBC Verify</em></a>, said that the vans bore no relation to the company, with everything from the logo design, to the phone number listed, being different, and all their own vehicles were accounted for.</p><p><h2>How have the authorities reacted?</h2></p><p>Perhaps the most notable reaction to the incident has come from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that authorities had the suspects<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et?post=asset%3Ad1820f4c-6ffe-4bb3-aa62-15814951a7fd#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> "under view"</a> for “a long time, and we got them.”</p><p><blockquote><p>“We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort, and working with the British worked out great.”</p></blockquote></p><p>An analyst working for the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et?post=asset%3A5c61c901-7b8f-488c-8c14-c1626c4f0b4e#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>BBC</em></a> said that there seemed to be an inconsistency between what Trump had said and how close the men had gotten to the airbase before the police were alerted by the member of the public.</p><p>Added to this was British authorities telling the press that the police operation was not intelligence-led, suggesting that the arrests were made solely due to the tip-off.</p><p>Coincidentally, most of the relevant UK ministers are gathered at the Labour Party Conference, being held in Liverpool from Sep. 27 to 30, with several giving speeches to the conference.</p><p>British Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting spoke rather cryptically to <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/fairford-latest-details-on-raf-bomb-plot-suspects-coming-very-soon-trump-says-13527288?postid=12534008#liveblog-body" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Sky News</em></a>, on the one hand, thanking the member of the public for acting “quickly and thoughtfully”, then saying that, “with respect, though, she does only have a partial picture.”</p><p>Streeting was asked about a connection between the foiled attack and Iran by the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et?post=asset%3A4a22c594-49f9-4f23-acb8-4d24c20c1929#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>BBC</em></a>, but declined to draw a connection, saying that investigations were ongoing.</p><p>However, he did say that "we know that Iran and their proxies wish to do us harm. We know that they hate our democracy.”</p><p>British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the party conference that the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c65y7nl29k0et?post=asset%3A260ce170-a654-4f95-937a-7146edab5b92#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">events</a> at RAF Fairford were “a reminder of the threats our country faces.”</p><p><blockquote><p>“We will all stand up for our security against those who would do us harm.”</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>Released on bail</h2></p><p>As of Sep. 29 however, the five men have been released on bail.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/28/men-arrested-raf-fairford-counter-terrorism-police" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Guardian</em></a> reports that the five are all British, in their 20s, and from London, and that the police believe that it was unlikely that they were close to setting off an attack near the base, as no explosive material had been found in the three vans.</p><p>However, the UK's head of counter-terrorism policing said that the investigation into their actions continued, and that the men remain subject to "stringent conditions."</p><p>He suggested that that the police continued to consider multiple possible angles, including that the men may have been used as proxies, knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.</p><p><em>The Guardian</em> also reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps had threatened the airbase earlier in the year, although Iran's embassy in the UK denied any involvement in the incident.</p><p>Trump, for his part, was surprised at the men's release, saying "I would not have released them," while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told press that the incident "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor."</p><p>&nbsp;</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>Suspicious activity involving 31 M'sian cross-border taxis detected by vehicle On-Board Units: Sun Xueling</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/sun-xueling-erp2-obu-cross-border-taxi/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T17:23:45</pubDate>


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


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/sun-xueling-erp2-obu-cross-border-taxi/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ LTA will commence formal enforcement actions against offenders from September 2026. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/OBU.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>60 instances of suspicious activity involving 31 Malaysian cross-border taxis were detected between May and July 2026 through vehicle On-Board Units (OBUs).</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HQaHUZk1L/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook post</a> on Sep. 28, Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Transport Sun Xueling said the drivers were notified of their offences and reminded of relevant penalties.</p>
<p><blockquote><p>"LTA will commence formal enforcement actions against offenders from September 2026."</p></blockquote></p><p>Responding to <em>Mothership's</em> queries, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesperson stated that the "suspicious behaviours relate to travel patterns of foreign vehicles that warrant further investigation".</p><p><blockquote><p>"Vehicle-specific data, such as where the vehicle was at a specific time, will be used by LTA for purposes such as payment, charging and enforcement, including enforcement against non-payment of ERP charges, unauthorised use of vehicles on public roads and illegal cross-border taxis."</p></blockquote></p><p><h2>ERP2 system</h2></p><p>The gantry-based Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system will be phased out from Jan. 1, 2027.</p><p>It will be replaced by the satellite-based <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/06/erp-2-system-study/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ERP2</a>, which uses Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology to determine a vehicle’s location to implement charges.</p><p>Sun said: "The ERP2 system is designed primarily for payment and charges.</p><p>To travel on public roads, all Singapore-registered vehicles must install an ERP2 OBU.</p><p><a href="https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2026/5/news-releases/trial-new-road-signs-markings-erp-2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A two-phase trial</a> was run from March to July 2026, featuring new road signs and markings such as oval blue ERP symbols.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Suspicious activity involving 31 M'sian cross-border taxis detected by vehicle On-Board Units: Sun Xueling' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/06/erp-2-system-study/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p>According to an <a href="https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/newsroom/2026/9/news-releases/new-road-markings-signs-erp-2-transition-oct-26.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LTA news release</a> on Sep. 28, these "ERP charge zone" symbols and signs will be gradually implemented from October 2026.</p><p><h2>Detecting suspicious activity</h2></p><p>The ERP2 system will also enhance LTA's ability to manage traffic and give LTA better tools to detect and enforce vehicle-related offences.</p><p>This includes "the provision of illegal cross-border taxi services", added Sun in her Facebook post.</p><p><blockquote><p>"We will continue working with the relevant authorities to safeguard the livelihoods of our local taxi and private-hire drivers, and ensure safe cross-border journeys for our commuters."</p></blockquote></p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1174702</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>Adult bus & train card fares in S'pore to go up by 12-13 cents, highest value increase ever</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/fare-adjustment-2026/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T17:00:48</pubDate>


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


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/fare-adjustment-2026/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The fare adjustments will take effect on Dec. 26, 2026. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/cover-pic-42.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>Public transport card fares for adult commuters in Singapore will increase by 12 to 13 cents per journey from Dec. 26, 2026, the Public Transport Council (PTC) said on Sep. 29, 2026.</p><p>This is the highest absolute value increase in fares to date.</p>
<p><h2>Changes to fares</h2></p><p><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/raised-fares-infographic.png" alt="" width="1080" height="1350" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1174784" /></p><p>The fare adjustments, which will take effect from Dec. 26, 2026 are:</p><p><ul></p><p> 	<li><strong>Adult card fares:</strong> 12 cents more per journey for distances of up to 3.2km, and 13 cents more for distances of more than 3.2km.</li></p><p> 	<li><strong>Student, senior, and person with disabilities card fares:</strong> 5 cents more per journey.</li></p><p> 	<li><strong>Adult cash fares:</strong> 20 cents more per journey.</li></p><p> 	<li><strong>Student, senior and person with disabilities cash fares:</strong> 10 cents more per journey.</li></p><p></ul></p><p>There will be no fare adjustment for card fares under the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme (WTCS).</p><p>The prices of all monthly passes will also remain unchanged, to help heavy users of public transport cope with the cost increases, said PTC.</p><p>About 190,000 WTCS cardholders and 126,000 monthly pass users will benefit from these.</p><p>PTC added that with card fares increasing while monthly pass prices remain unchanged, about 110,000 additional commuters who currently pay by card could potentially benefit by switching to a hybrid monthly pass.</p><p><h2>Driven by "significant increases in energy prices"</h2></p><p>The maximum allowable fare adjustment is determined in part using a formula that takes into account various costs affecting public transport operations, as well as wage growth and cost-of-living indicators.</p><p>PTC said the fare formula quantum for 2026, 5.3 per cent, is higher than that in 2025.</p><p>The council largely attributed this to significant increases in energy prices between July 2025 and June 2026 as a result of the Middle East conflict.</p><p>That formula quantum together with a deferred quantum of 9.4 per cent from previous fare review exercises, produced a maximum allowable fare adjustment of 14.7 per cent.</p><p>Both SBS Transit and SMRT applied for a fare adjustment of 14.7 per cent, citing cost pressures arising from elevated energy prices amid geopolitical developments, as well as a competitive labour market for attracting and retaining workers.</p><p>However, the council decided to grant only an adjustment of 7 per cent this year.</p><p>The remaining 7.7 per cent will be deferred to the next fare adjustment exercise.</p><p>"Ultimately, our decision reflects the delicate balance that we have to strike each year: keeping public transport affordable for commuters today, providing more help to those who need it, while ensuring that our public transport system remains financially sustainable for the longer term," said PTC chairperson Janet Ang.</p><p><h2>Public transport fares remain affordable</h2></p><p>PTC noted that economic growth is forecast to remain comparable to 2025, while inflation is expected to be higher.</p><p>Singapore’s labour market also continued to expand in the second quarter of 2026 despite ongoing global uncertainty, it said.</p><p>PTC also noted that public transport fares in Singapore remain affordable, with the proportion of monthly household income spent on public transport remaining low and stable.</p><p><h2>Government to provide almost S$200 million in subsidies</h2></p><p>Separately, the government will provide close to S$200 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies to support commuters and public transport operators, covering the cost of deferring the full allowable fare adjustment.</p><p>This is in addition to more than S$2 billion in annual operating subsidies for public transport.</p><p>The government will also invest around S$5 billion each year over the next five years to build new public transport infrastructure and renew existing infrastructure and assets.</p><p>This includes major service improvement initiatives such as the S$1 billion committed to strengthening rail reliability, as well as the S$1 billion Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, which is already benefiting about 300,000 commuters daily.</p><p><h2>Value of public transport vouchers to be increased</h2></p><p>The government will also provide further assistance to lower-income resident households through Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs).</p><p>For this year’s fare adjustment exercise, each eligible household will receive S$80 in vouchers, up from S$60.</p><p>The eligibility threshold will also be raised so that more households can benefit.</p><p>Resident households with a monthly household income per person of not more than S$2,100 will qualify, compared with S$1,800 previously.</p><p>About four in 10 resident households are expected to qualify, an increase of around 60,000 households.</p></p> ]]>
                    </content:encoded>
                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1174512</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>US man, 49, moves across the world for pregnant 28-year-old S'porean girlfriend</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/90-day-fiance-the-other-way-singaporean-cast/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T16:24:21</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Shauna Yap ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/90-day-fiance-the-other-way-singaporean-cast/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ TLC's latest season of "90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way" features a Singaporean among its cast. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Article-Cover-Pic-2000-x-1050-2026-09-29T152212.597.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>TLC's latest season of "90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way" features a Singaporean among its cast.</p><p>The new season follows five new couples, including Jonathan and Ally.</p>
<p>Ally, 28, is from a rather familiar place: Woodlands, Singapore.</p><p>Jonathan, 49, is from Groton, Connecticut. He is a divorced father who, according to the <a href="https://www.tlc.com/shows/90-day-fiance-the-other-way/photo-galleries/90-day-fiance-the-other-way-season-8-couples-bios" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">show</a>, still lives with his ex-wife.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/photo_6186164756939477225_y-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-1174676" /> Photo from alimnaaaa/ Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>The show follows Americans who move abroad to be with their partners.</p><p>It is a spin-off of "90 Day Fiancé", which follows couples where one partner travels to the U.S. to live with their fiancé for the first time on a fiancé visa.</p><p>At the end of the 90-day period, each couple must decide whether they want to get married.</p><p><h2>How they met</h2></p><p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd1oH49hE9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);"></p><p><div style="padding: 16px;"></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd1oH49hE9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background: #FFFFFF; line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> </a></p><p><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div></p><p><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></p><p></div></p><p></div></p><p><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div></p><p><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewbox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div></p><p><div style="padding-top: 8px;"></p><p><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></p><p></div></p><p><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div></p><p><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"></p><p><div></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></p><p></div></p><p><div style="margin-left: 8px;"></p><p><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div></p><p><div style="width: 0; 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/reel/Dd1oH49hE9v/?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 90 Day Fiance (@90dayfiance)</a></p></p><p></div></p></blockquote></p><p><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p><p>In their introductory <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dd1oH49hE9v/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">video</a>, Ally introduces herself as "Alimna" and tells the story of how they met.</p><p>She said that just two years ago, she was out partying and enjoying herself.</p><p>"And then, one night, I met this really hot guy from America," she said. "And he was the best sex I've ever had in my entire life."</p><p>Ally added that it was "crazy" to be six months pregnant, as this was not something she had expected.</p><p>Jonathan, 49, shared a bit about himself as well. "I don't have what you would call a typical job," he said, explaining that he designs and manufactures sonar equipment.</p><p>He described himself as a "nerdy, mad scientist" who somehow landed a hot girlfriend on the other side of the world.</p><p><h2>Baby on the way</h2></p><p>However, their new life together in Singapore comes with its challenges: Jonathan has little money saved and no job lined up.</p><p>In addition, Ally’s devout Muslim parents apparently do not know one crucial detail — she's pregnant.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/photo_6186164756939477231_w-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="size-medium wp-image-1174680" /> Photo from alimnaaaa/ Instagram
  </figcaption>
</figure>
</p><p>TLC's 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way premieres on Oct. 4 (U.S. time).</p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1174656</post-id>
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                <item>
                    <title>M'sian single mum, 32, suffers miscarriage in S'pore, funeral parlour arranges pro bono sea burial</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/malaysian-woman-miscarriage-funeral-guru-pro-bono-foetus/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T16:21:57</pubDate>


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


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/malaysian-woman-miscarriage-funeral-guru-pro-bono-foetus/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Rest in peace, little one. ]]>
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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/funeral-guru-miscarriage.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 Malaysian woman working in Singapore suffered a miscarriage at the six-month mark of her pregnancy and was at a loss as to how to give her foetus a proper send-off.</p><p>The woman, identified as 32-year-old "Mary", spoke limited English and was unfamiliar with Singapore's funeral proceedings, according to <a href="https://www.zaobao.com.sg/publication/xin-ming-ri-bao" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Shin Min Daily News</em></a>.</p>
<p>The single mother, who worked as a clerk at a local mini supermarket, was facing financial difficulties as she earned less than S$1,500 a month.</p><p>But she was eventually able to carry out a sea burial for her unborn child as local funeral parlour, Funeral Guru, offered its services pro bono.</p><p><h2>A proper send-off</h2></p><p>According to the company's director Karen Ong, Mary miscarried on Aug. 27.</p><p>The woman then contacted numerous funeral companies, but failed to receive a response, until she was referred to Funeral Guru.</p><p>When Ong first met Mary, she recalled sensing that the grieving mother was feeling very down, she told <em>Shin Min</em>.</p><p>"She was very scared when we were processing the paperwork to claim the body," said Ong.</p><p><blockquote><p>"She was even hesitant to go into the morgue office. We accompanied her through the process, she was very quiet throughout and hardly spoke to any of the staff."</p></blockquote></p><p>Funeral Guru recounted in a Sep. 4 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid028yhAcV9xjBLNp8a9jy29CpLYiYNo7s8XDNebFzkVGapi3532utc1AAnz2uqK5bM4l&amp;id=61574790604713" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> post the process of picking up the body at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH): "Our hearts sank when we received the body of this little angel this morning at SGH Mortuary."</p><p><h2>Bag of baby items</h2></p><p>On the day of the send-off, Mary prepared a bag containing baby items that she hoped to send off with her child, <em>Shin Min</em> reported.</p><p>The funeral team also prepared a small white casket, as well as purchased additional clothes, toys and a pacifier, who was dress as a prince before being brought to the crematorium.</p><p>"We wanted to give him the dignity and care he deserved, right until his final journey," the funeral parlour's post added.</p><p>Due to the small size of the casket, it had to be manually pushed into the cremation chamber.</p><p>"It was a heartbreaking moment for everyone involved," the post added. "A heartfelt thank you to our silent sponsors and supporters who made this possible."</p><p><h2>Final rites involved three religions</h2></p><p>The final rites were led by religious leaders of three different faiths.</p><p>The nearly 20-minute <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02i9RriUp1xNoSUcjM7PFgLk1PFHJH7KjcJHEdbkhzGn7R43WDGqWLPyxRavyEe8V1l&amp;id=61574790604713" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sea burial</a> took place near Changi Ferry Terminal.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 2048px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/funeral-guru-miscarriage-02.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="2048" class="size-full wp-image-1174793" /> Images via Funeral Guru/Facebook
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/funeral-guru-miscarriage-03.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="2048" class="size-full wp-image-1174794" /> Images via Funeral Guru/Facebook
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</p><p>It was led by a Taoist scripture recitation, followed by a Christian prayer, and a Buddhist scripture reading.</p><p>Ong personally scattered the baby's ashes into the sea and offered her own prayers.</p><p><h2>Offering pro bono burial services</h2></p><p>In a separate <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02GSiDS4gMiAhZUWZVYfS28b2dhcoQVsSUeVXP84uR2BTMNw7kqzu4tqFfuvThTksxl&amp;id=61574790604713" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a> post, Funeral Guru added that it remains committed to providing pro bono funeral assistance to families and individuals who are in need:</p><p><blockquote><p>"At Funeral Guru, we believe that every life deserves dignity, regardless of race, religion or background. Everyone deserves a meaningful and dignified final farewell.</p><p>Every life matters. And the ability to say goodbye with dignity should not depend on one’s financial circumstances."</p></blockquote></p><p>In a <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/04/pro-bono-funeral-daughter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">previous interview</a> with <em>Mothership</em>, Ong, a former SCDF paramedic, said the pro bono outreach started in January 2026.</p><p>The company helps with the costs of caskets, cremation, a hearse, ash collection, and sea burials.</p><p>They have partnerships with other funeral service providers, which helps them lower the usual cost for a direct cremation, which would typically cost around S$1,688.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>S'porean man, 26, dies in 3-vehicle crash in M'sia while returning home from ORD trip with friends</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/singaporean-man-dies-msian-accident-ord-trip/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T15:58:45</pubDate>


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


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/singaporean-man-dies-msian-accident-ord-trip/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ He had just completed national service in July and was preparing to begin the next stage of life. ]]>
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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/singaporean-dies-msian-car-accident-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 26-year-old man recently died in a three-vehicle crash that occurred along the Senai-Desaru Expressway in Johor, Malaysia on Sep. 19.</p><p>The man was a Singaporean who had recently completed his national service.</p>
<p>He was returning home from an ORD trip with friends when he met with the fatal accident.</p><p><h2>Accident</h2></p><p>According to <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1536285/one-killed-six-seriously-injured-three-vehicle-crash-kota-tinggi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New Straits Times</em></a>, the Sep. 19 crash involved:</p><p><ul></p><p> 	<li>a Perodua Myvi carrying four passengers and a driver,</li></p><p> 	<li>a Proton Exora with one passenger,</li></p><p> 	<li>and a Mazda driven by a 30-year-old man.</li></p><p></ul></p><p>The Singaporean, Chua Bing Xuan, was travelling in the Perodua Myvi, which was driven by a 21-year-old.</p><p>The local police chief superintendent said that authorities received reports from the public about the crash at 11:50am on Sep. 19.</p><p>He also said that the crash was believed to have occurred when the Perodua Myvi attempted to overtake a vehicle but crashed into the oncoming Proton Exora.</p><p>Six others were seriously injured in the accident.</p><p>Malaysian media reports did not identify Chua as a Singaporean.</p><p><h2>On the way home from ORD trip</h2></p><p>Chua's family has taken to social media to remember him.</p><p>In one of their <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@chuatian/video/7690489959899286790" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">posts</a> on TikTok, a family member pointed out the absence of Chua's nationality in Malaysian media reports.</p><p>Speaking to <em>Mothership</em>, the TikTok user shared that he was Chua's older brother, and one of the two siblings.</p><p>Going by Kris, the older brother said Chua had just completed his national service about two months ago in July.</p><p>He was on an ORD trip with four of his NS friends, who are Permanent Residents.</p><p>"They had gone to Desaru together and were on their way back when the accident happened," Kris said.</p><p>The group of friends were travelling together in the same car at the time of the accident.</p><p>One of them was driving, and Chua was seated in the front passenger seat.</p><p><h2>Shock, tears</h2></p><p>According to Kris, they learned about what happened to Chua when a funeral undertaker knocked on their doors at around 4pm on Sep. 19.</p><p>"When we were told that Bing Xuan had passed away, our hearts sank. We were in complete shock and tears just started flowing," the older sibling recalled.</p><p>The family then rushed to the hospital in Malaysia to identify Chua's body and bring him home.</p><p>For that, they enlisted the help of a funeral parlour and reached out to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who rendered assistance.</p><p><h2>Not speculating on cause of accident</h2></p><p>Commenting on the accident, Kris said that the family understood that it is still under investigation.</p><p>He added that they did not wish to speculate about the cause or place blame on anyone until the full investigation report is out.</p><p>The older brother also shared that the car's driver had been seriously injured and was placed under intensive care before regaining consciousness three to four days after the accident.</p><p>The driver's father subsequently reached out to Chua's family.</p><p>"As a Buddhist family, we believe in compassion and forgiveness. During Bing Xuan's wake, knowing that his friends were also seriously injured, we spoke to Bing Xuan and asked him to protect and help his friends," Kris said.</p><p>"At the end of the day, we can only choose forgiveness," he added.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 1536px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/WhatsApp-Image-2026-09-29-at-14.36.36.jpeg" alt="" width="1536" height="2048" class="size-full wp-image-1174724" /> Photo courtesy of Kris.
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</p><p><h2>Was readying for next stage of life</h2></p><p>Kris said that his younger brother was at the "transition stage" before starting his working life.</p><p>The 26-year-old had been looking for jobs, attending interviews and "preparing to begin the next stage of his life".</p><p>The family had also just celebrated his 26th birthday on Sep. 14, the same week of his trip to Malaysia.</p><p>"So, everything happened before he or our family had the chance to properly prepare for his future, including things like insurance coverage," Kris said.</p><p>It has been an "extremely difficult" time for the family, especially Chua's mother.</p><p>"My mother cries everyday thinking about Bing Xuan," Kris wrote on TikTok.</p><p><h2>Remembering his younger brother</h2></p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/WhatsApp-Image-2026-09-29-at-14.36.31.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="640" class="size-full wp-image-1174713" /> Kris and Chua. Photo courtesy of Kris.
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</p><p>On why he decided to share the story on TikTok, Kris explained that he wanted people to know about what happened to his younger brother.</p><p>"Some of his friends may still miss him, and some people who knew him may not even know what happened to him," he remarked.</p><p>He also hoped that anyone who came across Chua's story will realise "just how unpredictable life can be":</p><p><blockquote><p>"We often think there will always be another dinner together, another conversation, another trip, or another opportunity to tell someone we love them. But sometimes, without any warning, that opportunity is taken away.</p><p>"If Bing Xuan’s story can make even one person go home and appreciate their parents, siblings, partner or friends a little more, then I believe something meaningful has come from sharing his story."</p></blockquote></p><p>Tributes have been left on the TikTok posts by those who knew the 26-year-old.</p><p>One user, who said he knew Chua from Basic Military Training, remembered the "nice conversations" they shared.</p><p>"He was a nice presence in our big bunk," the user wrote.</p><p>"Got to know him in NS and was such a joy to be around. Terribly sad that he's gone so soon," another user wrote.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>39 in S'pore, half aged below 30, arrested for alleged drug activities on Telegram channels</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/09/39-arrested-drugs-telegram/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-09-29T15:53:52</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Nicolas Wong ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/09/39-arrested-drugs-telegram/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ 19 of them are believed to be connected to the same drug trafficking network. ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/39-individuals-arrested-telegram-drugs.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>39 individuals were caught in a drug-busting operation conducted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Sep. 15.</p><p>According to a Sep. 29 press release by CNB, investigations led them to multiple channels on Telegram where drug-related activities were conducted.</p>
<p>These channels were also linked to multiple drug trafficking networks.</p><p>Subsequent enforcement operations led to the arrest of 39 suspected drug offenders across Singapore, around half of whom were below 30 years old.</p><p>Of the 39, 19 of them are believed to be linked to the same drug trafficking network.</p><p>The police seized the offenders' drugs and paraphernalia, including cannabis, "Ice", and "Ecstasy''.</p><p>In the Telegram channels, suppliers and clients openly sold and transacted drugs, crafting menus and offering islandwide delivery.</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 334px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-2.59.47 PM.png" alt="" width="334" height="483" class="size-full wp-image-1174729" /> Photo from Central Narcotics Bureau
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</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 316px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-3.00.00 PM.png" alt="" width="316" height="260" class="size-full wp-image-1174731" /> Photo from Central Narcotics Bureau
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</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 324px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-3.00.05 PM.png" alt="" width="324" height="260" class="size-full wp-image-1174732" /> Photo from Central Narcotics Bureau
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</p><p>CNB said that it is "concerned" about how young persons can be exposed to misinformation about drugs and pro-drug content online.</p><p>It will continue to work with the police to issue directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to restrict access by those in Singapore to Telegram accounts and channels linked to drug activities.</p><p>Investigations into the activities of the arrested suspects are ongoing.</p><p>Assistant Commissioner Ng Khai Song, Director of CNB's Intelligence Division, cautioned drug traffickers that online platforms do not shield them from enforcement.</p><p><blockquote><p>"Every online interaction leaves a trail. CNB actively monitors the online space, develops intelligence and acts decisively to detect and disrupt drug activities. Those involved will be traced and dealt with under the law. We also leverage legal powers under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to disrupt online drug activities and restrict access to drug-related content.</p><p>Our message is clear: Drug offenders cannot hide behind online anonymity. Anyone involved in drug-related activities whether online or offline is not beyond CNB's reach.”</p></blockquote></p><p>CNB calls on parents and trusted adults to safeguard youths against pro-drug content.</p></p> ]]>
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