Mr Toilet has turned his sights on a men's toilet at Farrer Park MRT station.

Jack Sim, sanitation activist and founder of the World Toilet Organisation, questioned the design of the toilet in a Facebook post dated Sep. 2.

Super cosy layout

This is the toilet in question:

Its cosy layout results in some practical constraints.

For instance, from Sim's observations, it is "impossible for two persons to stand back to back without touching".

It is "impossible" too, said Sim, for anyone to access the urinals at the back if the front two are occupied.

And if you happen to be the unlucky one using the last urinal at the back, "you'd need to wait for the first guy to finish", he said.

Sim also included this photo of the narrow passageway between urinals:

He went on to question how this design managed to go through layers of "bureaucracy"—from architect to contractor to client—and come to fruition despite its "impracticality".

"We need to also ask the public to send pictures of other similar situations where toilets are arranged illogically or are impractical for use.

You may fulfill the bureaucracy and still make a mistake.

Is this a case where the operation was successful but the patient is dead?"

SBS Transit reviewing possible improvements

Responding to Mothership's queries, an SBS Transit spokesperson said: "We are aware of the matter and are reviewing possible improvements to the layout.

"Any works will need to be carefully planned to minimise inconvenience to commuters."

"We seek commuters' patience and understanding as this may take some time," the spokesperson added.

I don’t even remember when “Grab” went from a noun to a verb in my vocabulary.

And a pretty well-used one at that. More often than I’d like to admit, I Grab to work; I Grab home; I Grab to social events. What’s for dinner? Don’t know, I’m just gonna Grab something.

GrabEverything

As you can imagine, I was pleasantly surprised when I became aware of Grab’s Partner Apps capabilities (which you can find at the top section of the in-app homepage).

With these, you’ll be able to use Grab for holiday essentials as well — think renting bicycles, booking buses to Malaysia, ferries to Batam, and even hotels and eSims.

Here’s what you need to know about the Partner Apps (We’ve also mentioned some ongoing promos, in case you wanna try them out for yourself).

1. Bike rental

Are you a regular shared bike user? You can now access HelloRide bikes on the Grab app.

No need to download multiple apps, plus you earn GrabCoins on every ride, which start from S$1 and are pay-as-you-go.

Promo code: Use <HELLOGRAB> and get your first ride (up to 30 mins) free.

2. Bus and ferry bookings

Planning a trip to Batam/KL/Melaka/Langkawi/etc soon?

You can book your bus or ferry tickets via the redBus partner app on Grab, which encompasses over 200 operators within Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Bus operators include KKKL Express and Transtar, and ferry operators include Sindo Ferry, Batam Fast, Horizon Ferry, Bintan Resort Ferries, Langkawi Ferry and Majestic Fast Ferry.

Promo code: User <RBXGRAB> to get 50 per cent off your first bus or ferry booking (capped at S$7). From now till Sep. 30, 2026, limited redemptions available.

3. Hotel and eSim bookings

While we’re on the topic of holidays, you can also pick up an eSim with Firsty and make a hotel reservation with GrabStays for your upcoming trip.

Pay by Grab, and skip complicated set-ups while you’re at it.

eSims are available for over 150 countries, while hotel bookings via GrabStays offer competitive rates for hotels all over the world (including Singapore!), making it a choice to consider for a spontaneous getaway.

Promo (GrabStays): Earn 1 per cent back in GrabCoins every time you book a hotel via GrabStays.

Promo (Firsty eSim): Get 100 per cent cashback on your first eSim purchased through Grab.

4. Games and entertainment

Bored while on holiday? Check out 600+ free games and short dramas via the Jolibox and PlaysOut partner apps.

Each platform features a different, extensive selection of games. You can also earn rewards on Playout and watch short dramas on Jolibox — all without leaving the Grab app.

Earn GrabCoins

That’s not the end of it.

There are also partner apps for car rental, local experiences, and more.

The best part is that with every booking or transaction made with the partner apps through Grab, you earn GrabCoins, just like you do when ordering food delivery or booking a ride home.

Neat.

Learn more about Grab’s partner apps here.

Writing this Grab-branded article made this writer feel like booking a nice getaway to Batam.

A couple in Taiwan allegedly ran a love scam ring that used photos of attractive women and AI-generated female voices to lure male victims on dating apps into buying overpriced products.

On Sep. 2, a total of 57 people were charged in Taiwan in connection with the sophisticated romance scam.

The scam ring allegedly defrauded more than 20,000 people of at least NT$900 million (S$36 million), Focus Taiwan reported.

A man surnamed Huang and his wife, surnamed Hsu, reportedly divided their operations into several teams: “lead generation”, “new customers”, “public relations” and “returning customers”.

Lured victims on dating app

According to Focus Taiwan, the scam operation began in 2022.

Prosecutors said the lead-generation team created profiles on dating apps using photos and names of women to attract potential victims.

These women included members of the group's public relations team.

Victims who showed interest in the profiles were subsequently handed over to the new-customer team, whose members posed as the women and chatted with them online.

The team then persuaded victims to purchase products priced at around NT$1,000 to NT$2,000 (S$40 to S$80), claiming that the purchases would help the women meet their sales targets.

The products included fish oil, Antrodia cinnamomea and power banks.

Cultivated relationships

Members of the cultivation team will reportedly continue communicating with the victim and cultivate romantic relationships with them, prosecutors added.

Once a relationship had been established, the victims were asked to buy or give gifts, including phones, air purifiers and hair dryers, prosecutors said.

Women from the public relations team would reportedly meet victims in person for dates and sometimes have sex with them.

They would then collect cash, phones, appliances and other gifts, which were returned to the group.

According to Focus Taiwan, the returning-customer team would also solicit money from the victims for living expenses, medical bills, and cosmetic surgery debts, as well as payments for beauty and tattooing courses from businesses run by associates, prosecutors said.

AI voice-changing software

According to prosecutors, an engineer, surnamed Chung, developed AI voice-changing software that allowed members of the group to impersonate women from the public relations team during phone calls with the victims.

According to ET Today, the ring's leaders also subjected members who failed to meet performance targets to physical punishments, including being electrocuted with fly swatters, and coerced into performing sex acts.

The defendants were indicted on charges under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, the Money Laundering Control Act and Criminal Code provisions covering internet fraud committed by three or more people.

Prosecutors are seeking sentences of at least 25 years for Huang and 18 years for Hsu.

On Sep. 2, the USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier belonging to the United States, docked in the Thai resort town of Pattaya.

There, it unleashed nearly 5,000 crewmen, almost all of whom had been cooped up on the ship for over 285 days without setting foot on land.

Their arrival was met with some humour, filled with innuendo and premonitions of trouble.

It came after significant complaints from opposition politicians in the United States, as well as family members of the crew and soldiers.

So how did the USS Abraham Lincoln become the second-longest-deployed nuclear aircraft carrier in U.S. military history, and why have the Thai police spent the days before the ship's arrival trying to quickly clean up the city?

Odyssey

The USS Abraham Lincoln is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with about 5,000 sailors and Marines, not to mention a full complement of fighter jets and other assorted aircraft.

It is currently returning to its home base on the West Coast of the United States, having spent months in or around the Indian Ocean near the Strait of Hormuz in order to support the military campaign in the U.S. war against Iran.

Deployments are usually about seven months, with the ship making occasional port calls, providing opportunities for the crew to relax on land.

The Lincoln was initially deployed in November 2025 and has participated in the combat operations against Iran since they started at the end of February.

The crew of 5,000 sailors and Marines was at sea for 286 days, nearly nine and a half months, out of which nearly 180 were spent conducting over 10,000 combat sorties attributed to the ship.

This means this was not only an especially long deployment, but it was also more strenuous than usual, as reported by The War Zone.

Troy

In fact, it has been the second-longest deployment by a U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier in history, only surpassed by the USS Gerald R Ford, whose 326-day record was set earlier this year.

The Ford also participated in combat in Iran, but for several months fewer than the Lincoln.

There has not been an official reason given for why the Abraham Lincoln spent this much time at sea, with US Department of Defence officials only praising the endurance and resilience of the crew.

Critics, however, have suggested insufficient planning.

The sacred herd

These complaints broke into the mainstream in around April 2026, when leaked photos allegedly from the Lincoln purported to show that conditions on the ship had deteriorated, especially when it came to its food.

The U.S. military regularly touts its logistical capability, so when pictures of mystery meat and reduced portions emerged, along with reports that crew members were losing weight, it was an indication that something was amiss.

Images of food being served to sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli, published by USA Today.

Supplies "are going to get really low" and "morale is going to be at an all-time low," one sailor messaged his mother: https://t.co/di0KUEohvI pic.twitter.com/ZcuBNw1k8i

— Evan Hill (@evanhill) April 16, 2026

But by August, news outlets were reporting that family members of the crew were warning that their loved ones had threatened to jump overboard, with one sailor actually carrying it out, although they were eventually rescued.

That sailor now appears likely to face military justice for his act.

As complaints and criticism about the Lincoln’s deployment length reached a crescendo, it was revealed that the USS George Washington would relieve it, and that the ship would return to its home port of San Diego via Pattaya, Thailand.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth bit back and was quoted by The Guardian as saying that the situation on board had been "completely misrepresented."

The New York Times pointed to a more worrying sign, noting that early in the war, a key logistics hub in Bahrain, Naval Support Activity Bahrain, was spectacularly destroyed, and whose functions have yet to be replicated.

Footage of an Iranian ballistic missile slamming into the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain earlier today. pic.twitter.com/6omkCrLy2u

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 28, 2026

These analysts suggest that this has been a major factor in the U.S. Navy’s logistics woes in the Middle East.

The Sirens

Its official X account has shown that as the ship sailed towards the Strait of Malacca, it had apparently been resupplied, as it was able to hold an on-ship barbecue picnic in one of its hangars.

Barbecue at sea! 🇺🇸 #LincolnNation enjoyed a well deserved “steel cave” picnic in the hangar bay, along with sports, games and music.

Thanks to our Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) team for an awesome event! pic.twitter.com/EM7XQQX6pD

— USS Abraham Lincoln (@CVN_72) August 26, 2026

Over the weekend, it transited the Straits of Malacca, passing Singapore at night and then making its way up to the Gulf of Siam to Pattaya.

Military commentators and influencers, usually ex-military personnel themselves, began to joke that the resort town was in for a wild few days.

One even suggested that the ship’s admin officers begin the process of writing up every crew member for minor offences before they reached port, just to expedite the inevitable paperwork for punishments that would be meted out afterwards.

The suitors

But it appears the paperwork might be unnecessary.

The Thai authorities are looking to limit exactly how much debauchery will take place, as are, presumably, the ship’s commanders.

One official social media post welcomed the sailors, but in bolded text said: “with enhanced security measures.”

Local police have surged numbers to provide security, and are arranging for 40 buses to take sailors to the resort city and back, as well as deploying 600 additional police.

Pattaya has increased significantly the amount of police patrols during the visit of thousands of US military members, as seen tonight on Pattaya Beach. pic.twitter.com/jkrGFZMnn2

— The Pattaya News Thailand (@The_PattayaNews) September 2, 2026

Certain streets, like the infamous Soi 6, are supposed to be off-limits to sailors, and over the weekend, police detained nearly 50 people for prostitution, which is illegal in Thailand.

Khaosod later clarified that the Soi 6 ban was applied by U.S. authorities on the crew members, not by local authorities.

But the history of Pattaya is intertwined with such visits from the U.S. military, with the Independent recounting how it was transformed from a “sleepy fishing village” to a “sin city” during the Vietnam War, when U.S. military personnel would regularly head to its beaches for rest and recreation.

Whether the Thai and U.S. authorities will be able to make the crew behave remains to be seen.

The town’s mayor was seen at the Hard Rock Cafe, welcoming the ship’s captain and other crew members to the city, and at the time of publication, there appear to be no reports of major conflagration, although that will likely take some time to emerge.

Pianist Niu Niu, also known as Zhang Shengliang, has played numerous tours over his 23-year career.

But his next performance will be among the most challenging ones yet, as he presents one movement from eight different concertos in a single VIVA Foundation concert on Oct. 27 at Esplanade Concert Hall.

He still wants to do this as he was "deeply touched" by the foundation's support for children with cancer, he told Mothership.

Trying no matter how slim the chance

Funds raised through this concert will go towards childhood cancer care including research, education and survivorship programmes.

As such, Niu Niu "really [wants] to use this programme to represent [his] most sincere support".

"I really hope music can have some kind of healing power and give some support to all the children with cancer," he said.

While there is no guarantee patients will live despite treatment and other forms of support, he thinks it is worth the shot.

"Even if there's a 1 per cent or 0.5 per cent of a chance, I still want to try."

This also ties in to Niu Niu's philosophy as a musician, that "music must serve some kind of purpose", whether it is making his listeners happier or helping them relieve stress.

If an audience walks out of the concert hall feeling that way, that is "the most satisfying moment" for him.

In that regard, he hopes members of the public will support VIVA Foundation with cancer and have an unforgettable experience at the concert.

Sneak peak

Titled "VIVA Concerti: Where the Twain Shall Meet", Niu Niu gave a preview of what to expect during a Sep. 2 recital.

He showcased a medley of pieces from the eight concertos, specially arranged only for the night, and also performed an original composition.

Prominent guests that evening included former ministers George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua.

Besides the piano, Niu Niu will also debut as a violinist, performing a short version of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto with the orchestra.

The concert will be presented in conjunction with the foundation's 20th anniversary, as it embarks on its next chapter.

Transforming life after childhood cancer

Over the past 20 years, VIVA has been advancing childhood cancer care through research, education and medical care.

Its founder and chair Jennifer Yeo told Mothership that the foundation's 20th anniversary is a "very important milestone".

She said it is time to "take stock of where we are at, and where we want to be".

The foundation looks for unmet needs before calling human and financial capital to meet the need, she added.

Noting that they only look for projects no one else is doing, Yeo said it must be transformational and high impact to benefit more people.

Change in direction

In the years ahead, the foundation is looking to transform life after childhood cancer instead of just improving survival.

Yeo said that will be done in terms of research and building a professional team.

This includes her son, Frederick Yeo, working full time as a research scientist at the foundation's lab.

Having previously survived a childhood battle with leukaemia, the younger Yeo, who is a medical doctor, helped to start the lab with equipment such as a machine that allows one to examine 360° of a tumour.

Driven by love, Yeo said the foundation wants to save the children regardless of race, language, religion, and nationality.

"We keep doing because at the end of the day, we tell ourselves it's not about numbers, not about fame....It's saving that child, that one life is so precious."

That is also her message to those attending the Oct. 27 concert, that "every child matters".

Members of the public may purchase tickets online.

The owners of Bai Nian Food Court at ESR BizPark @ Chai Chee revealed that the business has lost about S$250,000 over the past seven months as they struggle with poor weekday footfall and difficulties attracting stall owners.

"Cannot let it continue like this"

In an Instagram video uploaded on Aug. 25, second-generation owner Tommy Pang, 29, said the family had lost about S$250,000 "just to keep the lights on at this food court".

"We really cannot let it continue like this," Pang said. "If not, I really have no idea how we're going to continue operating this space."

He said one of the food court's units, previously occupied by a Western food stall, became vacant about a month ago after the operator decided to leave and forfeited the deposit, which was a "big amount".

The family initially considered bringing in an Indian food operator to take over the unit, but was unable to do so.

The family had to come up with a fried chicken cutlet rice stall concept at the last minute as they had "no time to R&D", but this was "short-lived" as well.

Once this closed, the unit remained vacant for three to four months on end.

"We were not able to bring in new tenants into this food court to replace the old tenants that left," he said.

Pang said this was part of a broader problem the family has faced over the years — having to repeatedly come up with new concepts to fill vacant units and keep the food court operating.

Poor footfall

In response to queries from 8days, Pang said the food court's biggest challenge is a lack of footfall.

Business began declining after the Covid-19 pandemic and has not fully recovered, he said.

Some companies have moved out of the business park, while more employees working from home has also led to a dip in the number of people coming to the area.

He added that other F&B outlets in the development are similarly quiet on weekdays.

The food court is typically only 10 to 20 per cent occupied during weekday lunch, Pang said.

Though this picks up at the weekend — the food court can be about 80 per cent full during lunch — the lack of weekday customers has made it difficult to attract stall operators.

Pang said his family rents the food court space from landlord ESR and sublets individual stalls to operators for about S$4,000 a month.

"Even if we rent the stalls out cheaply, it's no use," he said to 8days. "Nobody wants to come in."

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bai Nian Food Court 百年食阁 (@bainianfoodcourt)

Not ready to give up on the food court

With vacancies becoming increasingly difficult to fill, Pang and his family have resorted to operating more stalls themselves to keep the food court going, according to 8days.

Citing the high rent, Pang he would rather take a stall up himself and start something new than leave it empty.

At present, only one external tenant remains — ban mian stall The Spice Pavilion.

Despite the losses, however, Pang said the family is not ready to give up on the food court.

The family took over the food court nine years ago in 2017, when Bai Nian Yong Tau Foo had only two hawker stalls elsewhere.

By opening a food court under the Bai Nian name, together with its third yong tau foo outlet, it helped put their then-small brand on the map.

Pang also described the food court as his "home", recalling how his family used to visit it every day.

"We really don’t want to give it up," he said.

The family renewed its lease in October 2025, with the current lease running until 2030.

Pang said the business was still manageable at the time, when there were three external tenants operating at the food court.

The situation only worsened over the past four or five months as more tenants left, he said.

Pang added that closing the food court would also affect its 17 employees, noting that his other businesses do not have the capacity to absorb them.

Trying to draw customers

Pang and his team are now trying to attract customers from outside the business park, and they plan to do so through regular social media posts, campaigns, and promotions.

In an Instagram post on Aug. 28, the food court announced a free drinks promotion.

Until Sep. 30, customers who purchase any main dish from the family's six food brands at the food court will receive a free hot drink.

The choices include kopi, tea and yuan yang, while those who prefer a cold drink can top up S$0.50 for an iced version.

Pang also told 8days that he hopes ESR will consider lowering the food court's rent, though he acknowledged that it may also be facing difficulties attracting office tenants to the development.

When asked how much longer he is prepared to keep the food court going, Pang said he did not know.

He said he wants to assess its performance over the next month, and is also hoping for some relief from ESR.

Another alternative is finding another party to take over the food court.

The 29-year-old added that he was aware that most business owners would hesitate about publicising their losses, but believed that being transparent could help, provided it was done carefully.

"For me, I just want people to know the story behind our food court. And over time, I think that trust and connection are very valuable for the business."

He also hopes to eventually show how they are able to bounce back from their current setbacks.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bai Nian Food Court 百年食阁 (@bainianfoodcourt)

“KARANG GUNIIII!” the karang guni man would holler, occasionally pausing to honk his familiar squeaky horn.

No matter where you lived, you could hear him as he made his rounds. My sister and I would look forward to his visits, and mimic his call ourselves, much to the consternation of our mother.

From our vantage point, standing on the sofa to look out of the window, we could sometimes see our neighbours and other neighbourhood residents coming down, carting along a fascinating assortment of pre-loved goods.

They would bring it to the karang guni man, who would take it off their hands in exchange for a token sum.

I regret never actually participating in such an exchange. My mother was something of a minimalist long before the world knew who Marie Kondo was, and she was always quick to clear out anything that might be considered clutter.

Now sadly, the karang guni man has become an extremely rare sight in Singapore’s neighbourhoods. You might still see one now and again, but it’s no longer a common childhood experience.

That is, until Shark revived the concept with their vacuum trade-in campaign.

Trade in and upgrade to Shark’s latest range of cordless vacuums

Shark, America's No.1 Floorcare Brand, recently launched its latest range of cordless vacuums.

They are designed to take the hassle out of everyday cleaning with smarter cleaning technology and easier maintenance.

​​Their latest range of powerful cordless vacuums, including the Shark PowerClean360, Shark BOOST+ and Shark BOOST, tackles common cleaning frustrations with Reverse Clean Technology, which picks up dirt on both the forward and backward pass.

This gives you twice the clean in every pass and potentially halves the time spent cleaning.

It also features Anti-Hair Wrap Technology to prevent hair and fur from tangling around the brushroll, smart sensors that automatically adjust suction where more power is needed, and an Auto-Empty System that takes care of the mess once you’re done cleaning.

So, if your current cleaning appliance is due for an upgrade, here’s your chance.

From Sep. 4 to 6 and Sep. 11 to 13, don’t be surprised if you hear the familiar call or the horn around your neighbourhood.

Shark is bringing a modern karang guni to Singaporeans with its special fleet of Karang Guni trucks at 24 stops across six neighbourhoods, over the six days mentioned earlier.

Bring down and trade in any old cleaning appliance to unlock an exclusive offer available only at the Shark Karang Guni truck.

Trade-in offers are limited at each stop and available on a first-come, first-served basis, while stocks last. This is limited to one vacuum purchase.

And yes, whether the vacuum is working or not, you can bring it down and trade it in.

With limited trade-in offers available at each stop, check the schedule below to find out when the Shark Karang Guni truck is coming your way.

Remember, the truck will only accept vacuums. Please don’t bring down old washing machines or mops.

How it works

Trade in your old vacuum cleaner of any brand and in any condition, and secure the discount.

Payments must be made via credit card at the truck. Cash, nets, and American Express (AMEX) are not accepted.

Once payment has been confirmed, they can collect the vacuum on the spot.

Not ready to trade in just yet? Drop by anyway.

Still deciding whether it’s time for an upgrade? You don’t have to trade anything in to join the fun.

Drop by the Shark Karang Guni truck, soak in the nostalgic neighbourhood vibes and enjoy a free coconut water while stocks last.

You can also get a closer look at Shark’s latest cordless vacuum range before deciding whether it’s time to make the switch.

The days of the karang guni man may be over, but Shark is paying tribute to his legacy, if only for a little while.

The next time you’re dust-busting with your new vacuum cleaner and enjoying a spic-and-span house, spare a thought for the older gentleman and his cry of “KARANG GUNIIII!”, and his indelible mark on our country’s history.

This branded article by Shark makes this writer want to clean his house ASAP.

A father in Malaysia who was supposed to attend his 10-year-old son's martial arts competition suddenly passed away just days before the event.

The son eventually performed at his father's funeral to bid him a final farewell.

According to Sin Chew Daily, the boy performed earnestly as relatives looked on.

Brain haemorrhage

According to Sin Chew, 45-year-old Chen Junyuan died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage on Aug. 28.

He leaves behind his wife, a son, and two daughters.

His widow, Lin Wenyun, reportedly decided to donate her husband's organs to help patients in need.

The organ donations are expected to benefit 10 patients.

After learning of the family's plight, Malacca City Member of Parliament Khoo Poay Tiong allocated RM10,000 (S$3,147) to the family to help ease their financial burden.

The family is expected to receive RM1,000 (S$314) per month.

The family is also reportedly receiving assistance from social security agencies.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is working to collect DNA samples of the Singaporeans who remain missing in the Nepal floods.

The police have reached out to their next of kin to get the samples, which may help in identifying the victims, they said in response to Mothership's queries.

This work is also part of Singapore's efforts to support the Nepali authorities in their ongoing disaster relief and victim identification operations.

A total of nine Singaporeans have been reported missing after devastating flash floods swept through Nepal's border region with Tibet on Aug. 26.

According to The Straits Times, they have been identified as Rengarajan Prabu, Shalinny Deavy Elan Sozan, Subramaniam Diraviam, Rajesvaran Ayyavoo, Estee Loeh, Ghosh Aditi, Ng Kit Kuen, Shubakshi Rawla, and Sumit Rawla.

At least 1,200 people have died in Nepal, and more than 4,200 are missing, BBC reported on Sep. 2, citing Nepal's disaster agency.

"Of the bodies we have recovered so far, more than half are beyond recognition," a Nepali police officer told Reuters on Aug. 30.

The DNA testing process

On Aug. 29, Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the government would preserve DNA samples and other identifying information from victims whose bodies cannot be identified before their remains are handled by the state.

The government would handle only unidentified bodies, while those identified by their families would be handed over to relatives.

In a Sep. 2 notice, the Nepali police explained that DNA samples collected for testing should preferably be provided by the closest first-degree relative, namely, a parent or child.

If the family member lives abroad, the police requested that they go through their DNA profiling in their country of residence, then send a soft copy of the DNA profile along with a passport-size photograph to the Nepali police for comparison purposes.

Police contingent deployed

The Singapore police also sent a contingent to support the Nepali authorities in their disaster relief efforts.

The SPF shared in a Sep. 3 news release that the effort is in line with Nepal's request.

A team of 17 officers from SPF and two officers from the Health Sciences Authority’s (HSA) Forensic Medicine Division departed for Nepal on Sep. 1 and 2.

Another team of 14 officers will be deployed over the next few days to supplement the relief efforts.

The full contingent of 33 members also includes officers specialising in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and aerial surveillance.

A 59-year-old man was arrested on Sep. 1 after being suspected of loanshark harassment.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said it was alerted to the incident around 8:55pm on Aug. 31, at a residential unit along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 5.

The man had scattered the resident's shoes on the floor outside the unit.

He also left a bicycle lock on the shoe rack.

With further investigations, police later identified the man through images from police cameras. He was found and arrested the day after the incident.

From preliminary investigations, he is believed to be involved in other cases of loanshark harassment as well.

The man will be charged in court on Sep. 3 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

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

The police urges members of the public to stay away from loansharks and not work with or assist them in any way.

Members of the public can call '999' if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in loansharking activities.