Fika Swedish Cafe And Bistro in Arab Street will close on Aug. 14.

The restaurant announced its impending closure on social media on Aug. 4.

It is turning 17 this week, the post noted.

“If you’ve ever wanted one last plate of our Swedish meatballs or one last fika with us, we’d love to see you before we close,” the post added.

The Swedish term "Fika" means having a break or some time out, including having a coffee with colleagues, friends or family.

No reason was disclosed for the closure.

Fika, founded by Singaporean Tasneem Noor and her Swedish husband, Joakim Smidhagen, is known for its meatballs and lamb stew.

The eatery uses halal ingredients for its Swedish food.

Focus will be directed to bakery Konditori at Bussorah Street following Fika's closure.

Journal entries written by a 35-year-old mother appeared to reveal cries for help before she murdered her three young children.

The incident

On Jan. 24, 2023, Lindsay Clancy, a former labour and delivery nurse, fatally strangled her three children in the basement of their Massachusetts home, CNN reported.

She then attempted to take her own life by cutting her wrists and neck before jumping from a second-storey window into the backyard.

She survived, but was left partially paralysed from the attempt.

Her then-husband, Patrick Clancy, returned home that evening after picking up medicine for their oldest child and a takeout order for his then-wife, reported CNN.

He later found their three children lying motionless in the basement, each with an exercise resistance band around their necks.

Charged

Lindsay is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and could face lifetime imprisonment without parole if convicted, reported the BBC.

The former nurse pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of her three children aged five, three and eight months old.

However, she did not deny killing her children.

Lindsay’s defence argued instead that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis (PPP) and was not criminally responsible, CNN reported.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, PPP is a rare but severe mental health condition that can affect people after childbirth.

Those with the condition face a “much higher risk of harming themselves, dying by suicide or harming their children”, and it is therefore considered a mental health emergency.

Lindsay's journal entries were recently presented at trial, apparently in an attempt to support her case.

Journal entries

On Aug. 3, 2026, excerpts from Lindsay’s journal were presented at her murder trial, offering jurors a glimpse into her state of mind at the time, reported the New York Post.

Several journals were reportedly collected from her home by Massachusetts State Trooper Cory Melo.

On Nov. 18, 2022, around two months before the murders, Lindsay reportedly wrote in her diary:

"It’s like I’m so desperate to get a mental break from taking care of everyone that my mind is trying to make something physically wrong with me."

Lindsay also wrote about her “horrible insomnia and anxiety”, and how she was “completely overwhelmed trying to take care of the three kids every day”.

“I want help. I want to be well,” she wrote.

Ex-husband’s testimony

During the first week of the murder trial, Patrick took the stand and spoke about their three young children and his ex-wife, CNN reported.

Patrick also testified that his ex-wife was a “very dedicated” mother, citing the various things she did for their children.

He also said she struggled with mental health issues following the birth of their third child, which were exacerbated as she prepared to return to work after he was born in May 2022.

According to Patrick, she was prescribed several medications by different doctors between September 2022 and January 2023, CNN reported.

He testified that a "big spiral" began after Lindsay started taking a new antipsychotic medication in early December 2022.

Around the same time, Patrick said she told him she was experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming their children and that she was suicidal.

He added that her mental health appeared to deteriorate after the dosage of the antipsychotic medication was increased, leading her to seek treatment at two medical centres in the following weeks.

However, after spending several days in a locked ward at a psychiatric facility in early January 2023, she allegedly told Patrick that she was no longer suicidal.

"She seemed much better," Patrick testified.

Prosecution

The prosecution acknowledged Lindsay’s mental health struggles but argued that she had “deliberately and meticulously” killed her children, CNN reported.

A Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney told jurors during her opening statement: “This is a woman who acted intentionally, rationally, and swiftly to accomplish a very specific goal – to kill.”

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 (migrant worker): +65 6341 5535  (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS) 

HOME (domestic worker): +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / SMS / Call)

SHECARES@SCWO: Call: 8001 01 4616 | WhatsApp: 8985 5528 (For targets of online harms)

National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH): 1800-777-0000

A pre-wedding photoshoot by Bali-based photographer Lemuriarts trended online — because the opening image gave viewers a fright.

The shoot was for a couple, identified as Teddy and Steffani, taken along Gajah Mada Street in Bali, Indonesia.

The rest of the carousel featured warm and retro shots, showing the couple walking through a heritage building corridor, posing in a vintage truck, and sharing a heart-shaped pizza stamped with "Mr. & Mrs." words.

However, the first photo was something else entirely.

The image showed a pair of feet dangling in the foreground, with the couple walking in the background.

It was put up without context.

Viewers who first noticed the couple before realising the blurred feet in the foreground thought they had stumbled upon a horror movie type of tell-tale discovery.

It appeared as though someone was hanging off the beams.

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A post shared by Bali Photographer | Bali Wedding (@lemuriarts)

Commenters did not hold back

One Instagram user said: "Bro the 1st frame scared me.” @ruizzn_ commented: “Wedding❌ Conjuring✅😭😭"

Another user added: “WHOEVER PUT THAT IDEA OF THE FIRST SLIDE, BIG NOOOOO"

BTS revealed everything

Lemuriarts later posted a behind-the-scenes reel showing how the shot was actually taken.

The footage showed that a worker happened to be up on a ladder nearby, and the photographer simply used the dangling feet as a natural foreground to frame the couple walking below.

The reaction in the comments shifted once it was clear, with one viewer writing: “So this is what that first photo supposed to be.”

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A post shared by Bali Photographer | Bali Wedding (@lemuriarts)

The police arrested a man and a woman, both foreigners, for their suspected involvement in several cases of loanshark harassment.

Muhammad Ziqri Hakimi Bin Nazimudin, 19, a Malaysian, and Nurlatifah Azzahra, 25, an Indonesian, were charged in court on Aug. 4 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

They were brought back to two separate crime scenes on Aug. 5.

They were first taken to Block 635 Bedok Reservoir Road at about 10:05am, and then to Block 606C Tampines Street 61 at 10:50am.

Both appeared to have been crying

Ziqri Hakimi was seen crying when he first arrived in an unmarked police car.

Both suspects had their hands and feet restrained.

Nurlatifah was accompanied by an interpreter.

Investigators were seen asking Ziqri Hakimi questions when he was taken to a flat that had white paint splashed on its gate.

Nurlatifah was also seen being questioned by investigators and she appeared to nod in response to queries.

She also appeared to have been crying.

Island-wide harassment

On Aug. 2, 2026, between 2am and 10am, the police were alerted to a series of loanshark harassment cases island-wide.

The main gates and doors of several residential units were splashed with white, black, yellow and red paints and debtors’ notes were pasted on the door.

10 other similar cases

The identities of the duo were established with the aid of police cameras images and they were arrested within nine hours of the first report.

Two mobile phones were seized as case exhibits.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo are believed to be involved in at least 10 other similar cases of loanshark harassment.

According to Ziqri Hakimi's and Nurlatifah's charge sheets, the duo were instructed by an unlicensed moneylender identified as "Raymond" to cause damage to property at a unit at Block 24 Chai Chee Road.

The charge sheets stated that the duo likely carried out their act and caused annoyance to the tenant of the property, even though the loan was purportedly taken by the tenant's neighbour.

Penalties

For first time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine between S$5,000 and S$50,000, with a jail term of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.

The police said they have zero tolerance for loanshark harassment activities.

Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance or disrupt public safety, peace and security, will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.

Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee's fans in the northeast will have to visit other outlets for a sweet treat as its Punggol store is closing.

The store announced via an Aug. 4 Facebook post that the outlet will operate for the last time on Aug. 31.

"With a grateful heart, we'll be saying goodbye to our Punggol café," the post read.

Opening hours

Its opening hours until then will be 3pm to 10pm from Monday to Friday and 12pm to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday.

On Aug. 10 (Monday), the store will operate from 12pm to 10pm.

Thanking its customers for their kindness and support over the years, the store said it loved this space and "would have loved to stay a little longer".

"If you’re nearby, we’d love to welcome you back before we say goodbye," the post read.

Visit Toa Payoh, Tiong Bahru outlets

It added that customers may continue visiting its Toa Payoh and Tiong Bahru outlets.

According to its website, it specialises in creating premium ice creams and sorbets using its own recipes and unique production process.

Its ice creams are crafted in small batches daily, with over 100 flavours concocted to date.

Local climate advocacy group SG Climate Rally will be organising a gathering at Hong Lim Park on Aug. 16 in response to the government's recent redevelopment plans.

In an Aug. 3 Instagram post on the event, the group said that Singaporeans have spoken out over the past month about the plans for "deforestation across various forests, such as Maju forest, Gillman Barracks, Sembawang N5 and Tengah, Tagore forest, as well as the land reclamation plans at East Coast Park".

They invited the public to gather and discuss issues such as access to nature, the loss of forests and natural spaces in Singapore, and "[demanding] that decisions on land use are made with full transparency and genuine public involvement".

Redevelopment

On Jul. 10, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced plans to develop new homes at Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest along Sunset Way.

The announcement sparked much debate about development coming at the expense of natural spaces and wildlife habitats.

Petitions from the public to save both sites have amassed thousands of signatures.

HDB previously told Mothership that as of Jul. 28, they had received 2,712 responses for Sunset Way, and 860 responses for the Gillman Barracks reports.

HDB's public feedback channels are open now until Aug. 6, 2026, when the formal consultation period closes.

On Aug. 4, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said in Parliament that the government will proceed with the redevelopment of the two sites.

But even after Aug. 6, the government will continue to engage stakeholders and take in views and feedback before deciding how to carry out the plans.

In their Instagram post, SG Climate Rally questioned if the government's actions on redevelopment reflect "a system that the people want".

They said that the people who "stood up for our forests and coasts under threat... still have not received clear answers".

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A post shared by SG Climate Rally (@sgclimaterally)

Jetstar, Australia's budget airline, will start charging passengers to use overhead luggage bins from February 2027.

According to a statement by the airline on Aug. 5, under the new policy, all bookings will include one small personal item that fits under the seat, such as a backpack, handbag or laptop bag, The Straits Times reported.

Charges for overhead cabin baggage

From February 2027, passengers who wish to bring an additional cabin bag that requires overhead locker space will need to purchase Jetstar's Priority Carry-on option.

The add-on includes a second, larger cabin bag that can be stored in the overhead compartment, as well as priority boarding.

Fees for Priority Carry-on will start from A$25 (S$23) for a one-way flight.

Prices vary by route, with charges of A$33 (S$29) for flights between Sydney and Melbourne, A$39 (S$35) for Perth to Bali, and A$52 (S$47) for Cairns to Tokyo's Narita Airport.

7kg limit across two items currently

Jetstar currently allows passengers to bring up to 7kg of carry-on baggage across two items.

Passengers whose cabin baggage exceeds the weight limit may be required to pay additional fees to check their bags into the hold.

According to ST, Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully said the new policy is intended to make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and improve on-time departures.

"We know that weighing carry-on bags at the gate can be frustrating for our customers and for our crew," she said.

Tully added that under the new model, passengers "only pay for what [they] need":

"Travelling with less means paying less, and you can always add more if you need."

The police have arrested two men and two women, aged between 30 and 38, for their suspected involvement in a case of abduction and possession of a scheduled weapon.

An Aug. 5 police news release stated that at about 1:55am on Aug. 4, the police were alerted to a case of a man allegedly being threatened by a group of persons with a parang at a carpark along Canberra Street.

Allegedly threatened with parang

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was confronted by the four due to a dispute over a car rental agreement.

The 38-year-old man from the group reportedly brandished a parang and threatened the victim.

The victim was then asked to sit in the front passenger seat of his vehicle.

He was reportedly driven to another location by the 38-year-old man, together with the 36-year-old man seated as the rear passenger.

Vehicle collided into lamppost

Officers from Woodlands Police Division then acted on information received and located the victim's vehicle.

Upon seeing the police, the 38-year-old man fled in the vehicle with the victim and the 36-year-old man as passengers.

The police gave chase, after which the pursuit ended when the vehicle collided into a lamppost at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 7 and Woodlands Avenue 10.

The 36-year-old man then fled on foot while the 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene, with a parang recovered in his possession.

The 36-year-old man and two women, aged 30 and 38, were separately arrested through follow-up investigations.

Penalties

According to the release, the 38-year-old man will be charged in court on Aug. 5 with the offence of Abduction under Section 362 of the Penal Code 1871 and Possession of a Scheduled Weapon under Section 7 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.

The offence of abduction carries a jail term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with caning, or with any combination of such punishments.

The offence of possession of a scheduled weapon carries a jail term not exceeding five years and shall also be punished with not less than six strokes of the cane, a fine of up to S$2,500, or both.

Police investigations are ongoing against the 36-year-old man and the two women.

A 25-year-old man in Singapore was sentenced to 13 years and four months’ jail and eight strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl with intellectual disabilities.

Muhammad Syafiq faced 12 charges, including sexual assault of a minor and charges under the Children and Young Persons Act.

He pleaded guilty to four charges and was sentenced on Aug. 3, Shin Min Daily News reported.

The remaining charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

TikTok

At the time of the offence, Syafiq was working as a warehouse packer.

Between November and December 2024, Syafiq got to know the victim via TikTok.

In her profile, she mentioned she was studying at a special education school.

Syafiq was aware of her intellectual disability.

On Jan. 3, 2025, he persuaded the victim to meet him after repeatedly asking her to do so.

That was the second day of the school term.

At that time, the victim was practising travelling to and from school on her own.

Meet

Syafiq arranged to meet the victim at Bedok North MRT station.

He then brought her to a staircase of a block located along Bedok Reservoir Road.

As Syafiq was reportedly familiar with the area, he chose a location that did not have surveillance cameras.

After confirming that no one was around, he proceeded to molest the victim and digitally penetrate her.

The victim repeatedly resisted Syafiq’s actions due to severe pain, but he did not stop.

She eventually gave up struggling.

After the sexual assault, Syafiq then requested money from the victim.

He snatched her wallet from her hand and took out a S$10 note.

Syafiq then left the premises.

When the victim returned home, her father questioned her.

He then found out that she had been sexually assaulted.

Her school also learned of the incident and lodged a police report on Jan. 25, 2025.

Separately, during a missing person investigation in January 2025, the police discovered that a 15-year-old girl had engaged in sexual activities with Syafiq on three separate occasions when she ran away from home.

Offences

The prosecution sought 13-and-a-half years to 16-and-a-half years’ jail and eight strokes of the cane for Syafiq.

They stated that he had committed similar offences, such as sexual assault of a minor and molestation.

Syafiq was previously sentenced to 12 months of reformative training in 2021.

According to assessment reports, the victim was worried Syafiq would go to her school to find her.

She needed her grandfather to pick her up from school after classes.

The victim would occasionally have flashbacks of the incident and feared that the same thing might happen again.

She also did not dare to make male friends.

Syafiq was reportedly diagnosed with paedophilia and was assessed to have a high likelihood of reoffending.

His lawyers sought 12 years' jail and eight strokes of the cane.

They reportedly said he acknowledged his offences and pleaded guilty early.

They also argued that his guilty plea spared the two victims the trauma of testifying in court.

A 22-year-old Malaysian man was arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs, including about 8.6kg of cannabis and 1.6kg of "Ice", in a Malaysia-registered car arriving at Woodlands Checkpoint.

On the morning of Aug. 1, 2026, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers directed the car for enhanced checks.

A box, uncovered in the car boot, contained two blocks of substances believed to hold controlled drugs.

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers were immediately alerted to the detection and conducted further checks on the man and the car, the ICA statement read.

More controlled drugs were found in the car boot.

The drugs, with an estimated worth of more than S$361,000, were seized.

It could potentially feed the addiction of about 2,132 abusers for a week.

CNB investigations into the case are ongoing.

Those who import into or export from Singapore more than 250g of methamphetamine, or more than 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty.