A tree shrew was rescued by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) after getting trapped in a retaining wall weep hole at a residential property in Singapore on Jun. 3.

The animal later gave birth while under ACRES care.

The incident came to light after homeowner Ng Suan Eng shared her experience in the Singapore Wildlife Sightings Facebook group.

What happened

Speaking to Mothership, Ng said she first noticed an unfamiliar animal darting from her garden to her backyard earlier that morning.

"I had never seen such an animal in my garden before, though squirrels and birds are commonly sighted here," she said. "I thought it looked something like a shrew, but thought nothing of it."

Later that afternoon, Ng’s domestic helper alerted her that the animal appeared to be stuck in a retaining wall weep hole in the backyard and was motionless.

"I rushed over, and indeed the poor animal looked half-dead or completely exhausted," she said.

After taking a photograph, Ng identified the animal as a tree shrew.

She later offered it water, which it drank as it gradually regained consciousness.

ACRES notified

Unsure how to help without injuring the animal, Ng decided to seek professional assistance.

She said she contacted ACRES after obtaining the organisation's hotline number, and was later asked to send photographs and videos of the trapped animal via WhatsApp.

While waiting for help to arrive, another tree shrew appeared in the backyard.

"It was darting here and there, apparently very desperate for its fellow mate," Ng recalled.

Her domestic helper also reported hearing the calls of several tree shrews nearby.

Based on their observations, Ng believed the animal may have been trapped since the morning and had struggled for hours to free itself.

Oil applied on tree shrew's body

An ACRES rescue team arrived about half an hour after being contacted.

According to Ng, the rescuers carefully covered the animal's head with a cloth while applying cooking oil to its body to ease it out of the narrow opening.

"They were very patient and gentle," she said, adding that the team eventually freed the animal and wrapped it in a cloth for assessment.

While being cleaned, the tree shrew briefly attempted to run, which Ng described as a positive sign of recovery.

The animal was then placed in a cage and taken to ACRES’ Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Gave birth after being rescued

In response to Mothership's queries, ACRES confirmed it had received a call about a rodent-like animal trapped inside a subsoil pipe within a wall, which the team subsequently identified as a tree shrew.

Tree shrews are squirrel-like mammals commonly found across the island, and typically feed on fruits, insects and other small animals.

Upon arrival, rescuers Jeba and Aisyah found the animal wedged inside the narrow pipe.

After unsuccessful attempts to gently coax it free, the team applied oil as a lubricant and managed to remove the tree shrew without injury.

The animal was then brought to ACRES' Wildlife Rescue Centre for assessment, where it surprisingly gave birth shortly after arriving.

ACRES said this suggests the tree shrew may have been searching for a safe place to deliver her young when she became trapped.

Both mother and baby are currently under observation and receiving care, and will be released back into the wild once they are ready.

ACRES also thanked the resident for keeping watch over the animal and awaiting the rescue team’s arrival.

The organisation said it is on track to surpass last year’s number of wildlife rescue cases and reminded the public to contact its Wildlife Rescue Hotline at 9783 7782 if they encounter animals in distress.

Members of the public can also make a donation at this website.

Japanese Italian restaurant chain Saizeriya opened its first Malaysian outlet on Jun. 4 at AEON Mall Taman Maluri in Kuala Lumpur, drawing massive crowds on opening day.

Known across Asia for its affordable Italian-style comfort food, the chain currently operates over 1,600 outlets across Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. The Malaysia outlet marks its latest expansion, according to Says.

What's on the menu

Meals start from RM8.90 (S$2.85), with several pasta and pizza options at that price point, including Spaghetti Beef Bolognese, Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Clams, Spaghetti with Tuna & Mushroom Tomato Sauce, Margherita Pizza, and Double Cheese Pizza. All pizzas are 9 inches.

Pricier options go up to RM13.90 (S$4.45), including a Seafood Pizza, Spaghetti with Squid Ink Sauce, and Spaghetti with Squid & Cod Roe Sauce.

The menu also features localised items, with Chicken Rendang and Beef Rendang making appearances on both the pizza and pasta menus, a nod to Malaysian tastes. The Spaghetti Carbonara is made with beef strips rather than pork.

A free-flow drink bar featuring soft drinks, coffee, and tea is available for RM6.90 (S$2.21). All prices include tax and there is no service charge.

明日正式にオープンするサイゼリヤさんのオープンレセプションに出席して試食😋どれ食べても美味しい！！この味をマレーシアで、しかもこの価格で食べられるとは！

どれをオーダーするか迷ったら各カテゴリの上に掲載されているメニューがお勧めということでした。 pic.twitter.com/PKKnokfQE1

— 【公式】🇲🇾マレーシア ビジネス情報発信【CONNECTION】 (@ShingoAbe6) June 3, 2026

Working towards Halal certification

The KL outlet is expected to become Saizeriya's first Halal-compliant outlet globally, with the company currently in the process of obtaining certification for its Malaysian operations.

Japan's Minister Nihei Daisuke attended the opening ceremony on Jun. 3. In a statement, the Embassy of Japan said the restaurant "is expected to further promote Japanese food and Japanese brands in Malaysia," adding that it "welcomes Saizeriya's new beginning in Malaysia and looks forward to its continued growth and success in the future."

Over 1,000 customers on day one

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Saizeriya Malaysia (@saizeriya_my)

The response on opening day was overwhelming. Saizeriya said on Instagram:

"We're truly grateful for the amazing support. We welcomed over 1,000 customers on our opening day! Thank you for your patience and for waiting with us. We hope you enjoyed our food and service. We truly appreciate all your feedback and will continue to improve for you."

According to several customers on social media, queues were cut off by around 7:30pm.

A total of 30 motorists were caught at Woodlands Checkpoint engaging in queue cutting and other dangerous road behaviour during the Vesak Day long weekend between May 28 and Jun. 1, 2026

This was after officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted stepped-up traffic enforcement operations to detect and deter motorists who commit traffic offences.

What happened

At departure, 30 motorists were detected committing traffic offences, such as crossing double white lines, making illegal right turns, stopping in positions likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience, as well as queue cutting.

A total of 21 vehicles were directed to make a U-turn and re-queue.

Nine drivers of foreign-registered vehicles were subjected to entry ban into Singapore for offences including crossing double white lines, as well as queue cutting.

Out of the 30, 15 motorists were referred to the Traffic Police (TP) for further action.

ICA said it takes a very serious stance against motorists who violate traffic laws or do not comply with our officers’ instructions at the checkpoints, and thus compromise the safety of other motorists.

"We will not hesitate to take firm actions against them," ICA added.

Born with a single ventricle heart defect, Muhammad Rauf spent the first two to three years of his life undergoing several major surgeries.

When he was around four, he got a pacemaker implanted that allowed him to live a fairly stable life for the next 12 years.

Then everything changed in January 2026.

He started getting tired more easily, prompting his parents to take him out of school indefinitely.

He was hospitalised in April due to fluid retention, and that was when his parents realised he might only get worse.

"He will just deteriorate to a certain point where something will give way," Rauf's father, Muhammad, told Mothership.

The surgeon who had operated on Rauf when he was a toddler recommended a procedure that Muhammad called "life-saving".

"It's vital," he said. "[He has] to do the surgery, because if not, [he] will just slowly fade away."

A different heart

The doctors detected the problem when Rauf was still in his mother's womb.

Unlike a healthy heart, which has two ventricles pumping blood, he had only one that worked, preventing his heart from pumping blood to his lungs and body the usual way.

Both oxygenated and un-oxygenated blood mix in his body, resulting in insufficient oxygen.

In his father's words, "the good and the bad blood is flowing all over the body".

The 61-year-old described the condition as a spectrum disease that Rauf got a severe form of. "It depends on your luck," he said.

Before Rauf even turned one, he went through an open-heart surgery to reroute his blood flow.

Not all the procedures went smoothly. When he was two, a surgery triggered a stroke on the right side of his body.

A "normal life"

Though he was not able to lead an active lifestyle growing up, Rauf fought to live as normal a life as he could.

"He goes to school normally, like any other secondary four student," Muhammad said. "He just lives as he can live. What he can do, he does."

Now, Rauf has to stay home and avoid moving too much.

His activities have been limited to mostly watching TV and playing games, in between taking nine to 10 different types of medication.

"I think he wants to be normal," his father said. "He wants to go back to school, because...[there] he has his classmates, and he has school activities that keep him busy. He misses all these activities."

Need to act fast

Although Rauf may only experience symptoms intermittently now, Muhammad described his state as a "suspension just waiting to go down".

"It's not going to improve, it's conditional," he said. "Maybe it's going to stabilise, or maybe it's going to go down, down, down, then eventually, there's a point where the body will just give up."

He and his wife knew they needed to act fast and get Rauf the surgery while he was still relatively stable.

However, they did not have the financial means to afford the S$390,000 procedure that could potentially save Rauf's life.

The couple trusts the surgeon who recommended it, given his close familiarity with Rauf's medical history, but that surgeon has since moved to private practice, raising the cost of the procedure.

Rauf is the only child, and only Muhammad is currently working to support the family.

Seeking help from the public, the couple has put up a fundraiser campaign, and to date has raised over S$109,500 from more than 1,700 donors, nearly reaching the first goal.

"We need the support," Muhammad said with urgency.

You can donate to the campaign here.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be screened live at five ActiveSG sports centres, The Kallang, as well as 52 community clubs (CCs) and integrated community hubs from Jun. 12 to Jul. 20, 2026.

It is free for the public.

No entry tickets or reservations will be required.

People’s Association (PA) will screen the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Jun. 12 at 3am.

CCs and hubs

Bishan CC

Cheng San CC

Ci Yuan CC

Fernvale CC

Jalan Besar CC

Leng Kee CC

Marymount CC

Pek Kio CC

Potong Pasir CC

Radin Mas CC

Telok Blangah CC

Toa Payoh East CC

Toa Payoh West CC

Yio Chu Kang CC

Braddell Heights CC

Changi Simei CC

Eunos CC

Fengshan CC

Geylang Serai CC

Hougang CC

Kaki Bukit CC

Kampong Chai Chee CC (Heartbeat@Bedok)

MacPherson CC

Paya Lebar Kovan CC

Punggol CC (Bedok Reservoir- Punggol)

Siglap CC

The Serangoon CC

Ayer Rajah CC

Boon Lay CC

Bukit Batok CC (Bukit Batok Block 159 Arts Centre)

Bukit Batok East CC

Chua Chu Kang CC

Clementi CC

Hong Kah North CC

Jurong Green CC

Jurong Spring CC

Keat Hong CC

Nanyang CC

Taman Jurong CC

Tengah CC

The Frontier CC

West Coast CC

Yuhua CC

Buangkok CC

Pasir Ris East CC

Pasir Ris Elias CC

One Punggol

Our Tampines Hub

Rivervale CC

Sengkang CC

Tampines East CC

Tampines North CC

ACE The Place CC

Bukit Panjang CC

Bukit Timah CC

Nee Soon East CC

Nee Soon South CC

Woodlands CC

Woodlands Galaxy CC

Zhenghua CC

5 Active SG sports centres

ActiveSG will be screening seven matches at five sports centres.

Bukit Canberra Sport Centre

Sengkang Sport Centre

Pasir Ris Sport Centre

Clementi Sport Centre

Choa Chu Kang Sport Centre

The games include the match between South Korea and Czech Republic on Jun. 12 at 10am, the third-place play-off semi-final on Jul. 19 at 5am, and the finals on Jul. 20 at 3am.

The Kallang

The Kallang will also show the final four matches, starting with the first semi-final match on Jul. 15 at 3am, at the Kallang Wave Mall.

The venue set-ups will feature large-format screens, dedicated fan zones and comfortable viewing areas.

Football fans can look forward to pre-match activities, interactive football-themed games, lucky draws and festive decorations.

Updated details of match screening schedules and activities are available on PA’s website at go.gov.sg/web-pa-wc2026 for screenings at the CCs and hubs and onSportSG’s website at go.gov.sg/worldcup26-sportsg for screenings at the five ActiveSG Sport Centres.

While on the way to the gym on Jun. 3, a man and his friend came across an accident at Yishun Avenue 1.

His friend, who was a former firefighter, asked that they turn back so he could help.

They then joined other passers-by and off-duty emergency responders in the attempt to aid the victim.

The accident victim, a 36-year-old male motorcyclist, was later conveyed unconscious to the hospital, where he subsequently passed away.

U-turned to help

The man, Syariz Affandi, reflected on the incident in a video posted to social media.

He recounted how he and his friend, Fariz, were on the way to the gym when they came across a "bad accident".

"There was so [much] blood," Syariz said.

His friend, a former firefighter, than asked for them to "u-turn" so he could "see what he can do".

Included in Syariz's video is a clip of a man administering cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the victim.

An ambulance was later seen at the scene, with paramedics attending.

Motorcyclist passes away at hospital

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Police Force said that it was alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle that was believed to have self-skidded along Yishun Avenue 1 towards Mandai Avenue.

The 36-year-old motorcyclist later passed away after being taken to the hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Passers-by and off-duty responders rendered first-aid

Speaking to Mothership, Syariz shared that when he and his friend, Fariz, arrived, there were already some people at the scene.

"We saw that the bike was already down and the victim was near the bus stop kerb, facing down," he recounted.

By the time Syariz and his friend got to the scene, another passerby had already retrieved a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED) for use in the resuscitation attempt.

"The moment my friend stepped out of the vehicle, he ran towards the victim and started performing CPR," Syariz shared.

According to him, there was another off-duty SCDF personnel present.

Fariz and the off-duty SCDF personnel took turns performing CPR.

"They were very professional and calm, and the way they coordinated felt very in sync," Syariz recalled.

Syariz said that his friend's sister, who was also an off-duty firefighter and happened to be passing by, stopped to assist as well.

The passers-by and off-duty responders worked together to use the AED on the accident victim and perform CPR.

Syariz shared that he was at the scene for about 20 to 25 minutes in total.

Paramedics later arrived to assist with the emergency.

Praise for frontline responders

Following the incident, Syariz shared that he was shaken and "couldn't really focus much throughout the day".

He praised those who did their best to help the victim that day, saying, "My friend, his sister, the off-duty SCDF personnel, the civilian who retrieved the AED, and the others who helped at the scene were the real heroes."

"They stayed calm, showed bravery, and did what needed to be done in a very critical situation," he continued.

In his video, he praised frontline responders for their ability to remain composed when responding to emergencies.

The man who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen involved in the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, in 2025, was charged with common assault and stalking.

The 44-year-old, identified as Ahmed Al Ahmed, allegedly assaulted his father and put him into a headlock in his own home in March 2026, ABC and 7News reported.

"Apprehended Violence Order"

Local police have taken out an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) against Ahmed to protect his father.

He cannot “assault”, “stalk”, “harass”, or “contact” his dad.

Ahmed also needs to stay 100m away from where his father lives and works.

He will face court on Jul. 29.

Not a violent person

Speaking to local media, Ahmed denied the allegations against him.

"It's fake information, it's not true at all. I don't have any information at all," he said.

Ahmed also said he was not a violent person.

He cited his actions during the Bondi Beach shooting, where he “disarmed the terrorist and take his gun, throw it away” and did not hurt him.

Ahmed claimed his main focus was looking after his health and to “try to work in peace”

Brothers

Ahmed’s two brothers, identified as Sameh Al Ahmed and Hozifa Al Ahmed, face criminal charges after allegedly attempting to extort A$200,000 (S$183,168) from him in May.

This apparently came after A$2.6 million (S$2.4 million) was raised for Ahmed via a GoFundMe fundraiser to support him as he recovered from his injuries from the Bondi Beach shooting.

“I will put your head under my boot, break your other arm and smash your face,” one brother is alleged to have said in a call.

The brothers have pleaded not guilty.

Background

On Dec. 14, 2025, a father and son duo, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and 24-year-old Naveed Akram, killed 15 civilians and injured 40 others at Bondi Beach.

They were armed with sporting shotguns, including what appeared to be a Stoeger M3000 M3K straight-pull model and a Beretta BRX1.

A total of 103 shots were fired.

The shooting occurred during the first day of Hanukkah, in what was believed to be a targeted attack on the Jewish community.

In videos circulating online, Ahmed, who wore a white t-shirt, was seen tackling one of the gunmen and disarming him.

Ahmed then pointed the shotgun at the shooter, who then walked away towards a bridge while glancing over his shoulder.

The shotgun was then placed against a tree.

Ahmed suffered bullet wounds to his arm and hand during the confrontation.

Sajid was shot dead by police.

Naveed, who survived and emerged from a coma, faced 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

The shooting is believed to be the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since 1996.

A Singaporean couple has summited Mount Everest, joining an unofficial group of less than 30 Singaporeans who have reached the top of the world's highest mountain above sea level.

Ng Li Ying and her husband Mark Ng are lead training consultants and instructors at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS), according to CNA.

The pair met at OBS and got married in 2020.

Mark said: "Marrying her, I struck (lottery) because who else would go and climb these kinds of mountains and suffer with me?"

They have been climbing in Nepal since 2022 and attempted Everest in May 2026 during a sabbatical.

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo congratulated the couple on Instagram.

"Quite probably Singapore’s first husband and wife team to complete the climb together, it is a doubly remarkable achievement."

Low oxygen levels

The couple had previously conquered other peaks in the Himalayas, including Mera, Ama Dablam, Manaslu and Himlung Himal.

Before leaving for Nepal, OBS linked the couple with Kumaran Rasappan, a Singapore orthopaedic surgeon who summited Everest in 2012 and provided back-up resources.

The couple also got their wills in order, reported CNA.

The pair made their ascent and navigated the Khumbu Icefall, safely making it to Camp 2, a staging camp for climbers attempting the South Col route.

Their initial plans to ascend to Camp 3 and back down to acclimatise were scrapped after Mark's oxygen levels were found to be low.

He was put on oxygen and had to rest for the entire night.

Mark told CNA: "At that point in time, if they told me that if you summit you might die, I would just say: 'Okay, we don't climb'. The mountain will always be there for you to climb."

Separated at Hillary Step

Li Ying reached the summit first, but after taking it in, worry crept in.

She had been separated from Mark at the Hillary Step, and he had yet to reach the summit of the 8,848m mountain, according to CNA.

The Hillary Step is the final obstacle between climbers and the summit. While only 17m high, it is an exposed sheer vertical rockface.

CNA reported that the area is known to be a bottleneck as climbers ascend in a single file whilst dealing with extreme altitude and frosty winds.

Li Ying's guide secured a line for her first due to the human jam, while Mark had to wait for other climbers to descend.

Li Ying said that she was unable to see her husband, and wondered if he was coming up to meet her.

Mark added that climbers would fall off the side of the mountain if they were not clipped on.

But after waiting for about 30 minutes, the couple was reunited at the summit.

Difficult descent

Mark slipped on the descent, falling a couple of metres towards the end of the Hillary Step.

He recounted that it was due to incorrect foot placement, but thankfully, he was clipped on and managed to grab onto the ropes.

Once returning to Camp 4, Mark was losing coordination in his legs due to the cold and fatigue.

Mark said, "I told her it's cold and miserable here, but at least I'm quite miserable here with you."

The couple told CNA that they hope their Everest adventure can inspire others to summit their own Everests, be it personal challenges, uncertainties, or pressures.

"We hope our journey serves as a reminder that growth does not require extreme environments. What matters is the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone, stay curious, and persevere through setbacks as these challenges are exactly what shape our character and build our grit."

The Singapore police arrested five women, aged between 36 and 51, for various offences, following enforcement operations conducted on Jun. 4, 2026.

Officers from Jurong Police Division conducted raids against vice-related activities at three massage establishments.

One of them was located in a shopping centre and the other two were located at the shophouses in Jurong and Boon Lay area.

Five women were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961 and three operators are being investigated for regulatory breaches under the Massage Establishments Act 2017.

Investigations against the five women are ongoing.

These raids are part of the Jurong Police Division’s efforts to clamp down on illicit activities.

The police said they will continue to conduct regular enforcement checks on massage establishments and will take strict enforcement action to stamp out illegal activities.

Sergius Wat, assistant commissioner and commander of Jurong Police Division, said: “The police have conducted raids at massage establishments in Jurong and Boon Lay. We arrested five persons for vice activities; three operators will be investigated for regulatory breaches."

"The police will tighten the regulatory framework for massage establishments later this year to clamp down on unlawful activities. We will not tolerate the use of massage establishments for illegal activities. Offenders will be dealt with firmly, in accordance with the law."

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is in early-stage discussions with both Airbus and Boeing over a potential purchase of at least 50 large jets, as the airline maps out its next phase of growth from the next decade, according to two industry sources, Reuters reported.

The carrier is understood to be considering either the Boeing 777X, currently the largest commercial jet in service at around 400 seats, or the slightly smaller Airbus A350-1000.

The discussions are at an early stage but could include options for dozens of additional aircraft beyond the initial order.

In response to Reuters, SIA said it regularly reviews its fleet renewal plans, and refused to comment on "any confidential discussions that we may or may not be having."

Neither Airbus nor Boeing responded to requests for comment.

One of the world's biggest long-haul buyers

According to Reuters, SIA has long been among the largest purchasers of long-haul jets globally, with a reputation for carefully guarded aircraft negotiations that often influence fleet decisions across the industry.

The airline was an early customer for the 777X, Boeing's successor to its 777 mini-jumbo, though that programme has faced significant delays.

SIA has also previously said it plans to keep expanding capacity even as some rival carriers pull back on flights amid higher oil prices.

Bigger planes still on the drawing board

Beyond the immediate order, the talks could also give manufacturers, particularly Airbus, a clearer read on demand for larger variants not yet in production, according to the sources.

According to Reuters, Airbus has been considering a bigger version of the A350, tentatively called the A350-2000, which would compete more directly with the 777X. The idea was first floated during an earlier SIA competition a decade ago, though Airbus has since played down reports of an imminent launch.

Boeing, meanwhile, agreed to revisit plans for a larger aircraft after Emirates placed an order for more 777X jets last November, but is said to be approaching the prospect cautiously given limited demand for a new jumbo and its ongoing focus on industrial recovery.

SIA changes

SIA has recently been in the headlines for certain changes to its previous policies, such as limiting business class seat selection by fare type and KrisFlyer membership status.

It also announced enhanced Wi-Fi service to be rolled out across all cabin classes from 1Q2027.

In May 2026, SIA announced a net profit of S$1.18 billion, with total revenue reaching record levels although net profits took a hit.

Air India, which SIA owns a 25 per cent stake in, posted a record loss.