An American eight-year-old girl died after reportedly contracting a brain-eating amoeba while swimming in Lake Claiborne, Louisiana, United States.

In a Facebook post, her family announced the passing of the girl, identified as Lilian Smart.

Smart died on Aug. 22, a day after celebrating her eighth birthday.

“The injuries to her brain were too severe for her little body to recover from. Everyone did everything they could to keep her here. We are heartbroken and honestly do not know what to do next.” The caption read.

Naegleria Fowleri

In a press release on Aug. 19, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that a Louisiana resident contracted Naegleria Fowleri, often called a brain-eating amoeba.

Local authorities said it is commonly found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals, and ponds throughout the U.S.

It can cause Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that may result when water containing the amoeba rushes up the nose and reaches the brain.

The infection is apparently rare, but nearly always fatal.

Naegleria fowleri cannot infect people if swallowed and is not spread from person to person.

The amoeba is also not found in salt water or in properly maintained and chlorinated pools.

Symptoms of Naegleria fowleri infection typically start with severe headache, fever, nausea and vomiting and progress to stiff neck, seizures, and coma that can lead to death.

Symptoms typically begin about five days after infection, but can start within one to 12 days.

Local authorities added that Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm, fresh water and grows best at higher temperatures up to about 46°C.

The amoeba is naturally occurring, and there is apparently no routine environmental test for Naegleria fowleri in bodies of water in the U.S.

Support

According to KNOE, Smart was the subject of the Louisiana Department of Health’s press release.

She has been hospitalised since Aug. 15.

A fundraiser, “Love for Lilian”, was held on Aug. 21 to celebrate her eighth birthday.

Local shops and restaurants participated in the fundraiser and donated a portion of the day's proceeds to her family.

The local community also wore “Love for Lilian” shirts in support of Smart during the fundraiser.

Local actor Elvin Ng and his mother travelled to Indonesia to reunite with their former domestic helper, Jumiyati, 12 years after she returned to Indonesia.

The reunion took place as part of CNA's programme “On The Red Dot: Finding,” which follows local personalities as they reunite with people who have made an impact on their lives.

Ng and his mother appeared in the second episode of the six-part series, which aired on Aug. 22.

Lost contact after Jumi returned to Indonesia

Jumiyati—or Jumi, as the family calls her—is now 42.

She worked for Ng's family for six years before returning to Indonesia in 2014.

Ng's mother initially kept in touch with her, but they gradually lost contact.

Ng and his mother travelled to Depok, Indonesia, in hopes of finding her.

Ahead of the reunion, Ng wrote on Instagram that 12 years had passed in the blink of an eye.

“Managed to coerce the mum for a maiden appearance on TV for a special mission. It's been 12 years, and a short-like-alarm-clock but sweet-like-pineapple-tart surprise, hopefully,” Ng wrote on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ELVIN NG 黄俊雄 (@elvinngchoonsiong)

Like a younger sister to Ng

Ng shared on the programme that he had a close relationship with Jumi and regarded her as a younger sister, while his mother treated her like a daughter.

Jumi also played a memorable role in Ng's morning routine.

As Ng was not much of a morning person, Jumi would often knock on his door to wake him up for work, earning her the title of his "best alarm clock”.

Pineapple tarts were another reminder of their time together.

Ng, who enjoys the snack, recalled that Jumi’s pineapple tarts were well received among Ng’s colleagues as well.

This time around, Ng and his mother personally made pineapple tarts for Jumi.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ELVIN NG 黄俊雄 (@elvinngchoonsiong)

Surprised Jumi with pineapple tarts

To keep the reunion a surprise, the programme's production team delivered the pineapple tarts to Jumi before Ng and his mother appeared.

Jumi had apparently been under the impression that the crew was filming a programme about former domestic helpers who had worked in Singapore.

Upon seeing a card accompanying the pineapple tarts, Jumi became emotional while eating them.

She told the production team that she missed Ng and his mother.

Ng and his mother then appeared before her, prompting an emotional Jumi to embrace them both.

Supported family after Ng's father died

Jumi's relationship with the family went beyond her household duties.

Ng's father died from a heart condition in 2012, during the period when Jumi was working for the family.

Ng shared that Jumi quietly supported the family through the difficult period.

As Ng had to return to work, Jumi remained at home with his mother and kept her company.

The pair would take walks together from the family's former home in western Singapore to Chinese Garden.

“I think she helped the family tide over that period in a very silent and quiet way,” Ng said, adding that her actions allowed him to return to work knowing his mother had someone by her side.

Kept Ng's gift and family recipes for years

During their reunion, Jumi revealed that she had kept several mementos from her years with the Ng family.

Among them was a branded wallet that Ng had given her, as well as recipes she had written down while working for the family.

Ng was moved by the discovery and admitted that he could no longer remember giving her the wallet.

“I didn’t know that we held such an important place in her heart,” Ng said.

Ng also brought Jumi and her children on a trip to Jakarta during their time in Indonesia, fulfilling one of Jumi's wishes.

A 32-year-old foreign domestic worker in Singapore was sentenced to 17 weeks’ jail on Aug. 24 after she assaulted an elderly woman under her care.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), Myanmar national Vei Nei Chong pleaded guilty to one charge of assault in court.

The court heard that Vei Nei Chong and the 83-year-old victim were the only occupants of the flat in Bukit Merah at the time of the incident.

Arguing with boyfriend while drinking

Court documents seen by Mothership stated that the victim has moderate Alzheimer’s disease and was completely dependent on Vei Nei Chong for her basic needs.

In the evening of Jul. 28, Vei Nei Chong was at home with the victim while arguing with her boyfriend over the phone and drinking beer.

She drank two cans of beer and became intoxicated.

At 9:11pm, Vei Nei Chong yelled at the victim, who was lying in bed.

The helper then kicked a chair, causing it to hit the bed.

She continued shouting while kicking the chair.

She then lifted the victim’s metal walking frame over her head and threw it across the flat.

The victim feared for her safety; she tried to leave the house. However, Vei Nei Chong pushed her and slammed the door shut before kicking her in the back.

When the victim tried to leave a second time, the helper grabbed her by the shoulders and flung her to the floor.

The force of the impact caused the victim to hit her head against Vei Nei Chong's bed before falling to the floor, where she lay motionless.

A neighbour who heard the commotion alerted the police, and the victim was subsequently taken by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital.

She suffered wounds to her left arm and leg, as well as a bruise on her scalp.

She was hospitalised for about two weeks.

For assaulting a vulnerable victim, an offender can face a maximum of six years' jail, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.

Former Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim is reportedly in discussions with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to return to academia.

In a statement provided to Mothership on Aug. 24, the university confirmed talks are underway regarding the return.

Before joining politics, Faishal was previously an associate professor in NUS's real estate department.

He made his political debut in the 2006 General Elections and took on various portfolios, most recently serving as a Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC after winning his contest in the 2025 election.

Faishal, who was also a Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, resigned from politics and as an MP on Jul. 20, after the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) received an email from a female member of the public concerning her interactions with Faishal.

While no criminal offence had been committed by either party, it was questioned whether Faishal's conduct had fallen short of the standards expected of a Political Office Holder and MP.

Faishal was succeeded by Zaqy Mohamad.

A 57-year-old man has died after he was rescued unconscious from a canal in Rochor on the evening of Aug. 23.

According to 8world, the incident first came to public attention after a video uploaded on social media platform Xiaohongshu showed police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicles parked along the first and second lanes leading towards the flyover.

The video also showed a blue police tent set up on the first lane, with uniformed personnel standing nearby.

No foul play suspected

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed it was alerted to a water rescue incident along Rochor Canal near Wayang Satu Flyover at around 7:45pm.

Upon arriving, an unconscious person was seen floating in the canal, SCDF said.

Its rescuers then used a ladder to gain access to the canal and brought the person out.

The person was subsequently conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Separately, the police confirmed that the 57-year-old man passed away in the hospital.

Based on preliminary investigations, the police do not suspect foul play.

Police investigations are ongoing.

A 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly trafficking etomidate vaporiser pods (Kpods) and being involved in unlicensed moneylending activities.

Chan Zhi Hao Felix was charged on Aug. 20 under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993 (TVCA).

According to The Straits Times, Chan also faces a charge linked to alleged unlicensed moneylending activities under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

Raid

On Aug. 12, Chan was arrested in his rental unit in Marsiling during an operation that targeted members of an unlicensed moneylending syndicate.

Police uncovered more than 300 vaporisers and related components during a search of his unit.

Health Sciences Authority (HSA) officers were alerted and took over the seized items.

HSA subsequently confirmed that 56 vaporisers, 247 vaporiser pods and a vaporiser battery were seized.

Vaped

Chan tested positive for etomidate in an instant urine test and admitted that he had vaped etomidate the night before his arrest.

He was remanded for a week.

Laboratory testing confirmed that the seized pods contain etomidate.

Some of the vaporisers and pods seized were apparently intended for Chan’s personal consumption.

The majority of the seized items were allegedly intended for supply.

Investigations are ongoing.

The case has been adjourned to Oct. 1.

Penalties

Under the TVCA, etomidate and its analogues are listed as specified psychoactive substances in the schedule.

Convicted importers are liable to a jail term of three to 20 years and five to 15 strokes of the cane.

Convicted suppliers are liable to a jail term of two to 10 years and two to five strokes of the cane.

A 57-year-old woman, a Chinese national, was sentenced to six months’ jail and a S$2,500 fine for illegally overstaying in Singapore for 8,081 days, equivalent to more than 22 years.

Wang Youying pleaded guilty to one charge under the Immigration Act and was sentenced on Aug. 21.

Surrendered

On Aug. 4, Wang reportedly went to Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre and surrendered to the police, Shin Min Daily News reported.

She could not produce any documentation proving her legal stay in Singapore.

Wang was subsequently arrested and handed over to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for investigations.

Prior conviction

Investigations revealed that Wang had a prior conviction on Oct. 30, 2002, for overstaying in Singapore for more than 90 days.

She was sentenced to one month’s jail and fined S$2,000.

Wang was eventually released on Dec. 31 and was repatriated to China a few days later.

Re-entered

Wang re-entered Singapore on a flight on Jun. 5, 2004.

In charge sheets seen by Mothership, she was issued a 14-day visit pass the same day.

The pass permitted Wang to remain in Singapore until Jun. 19, 2004.

After the pass expired, she did not leave and failed to apply for an extension of stay.

Wang illegally overstayed for 8,081 days, which is a period of 22 years, one month and 16 days, since the pass expired.

It was not disclosed how she managed to support herself during her overstay or where she resided.

Illness

The prosecution sought six months’ jail and a S$2,500 fine for Wang.

They argued that this was Wang’s second offence of the same nature.

In mitigation, Wang reportedly said she suffered from a serious illness and hoped to return to China as soon as possible.

She pleaded for leniency.

As Wang was unable to pay the fine, she will serve an additional five days in jail in lieu of the fine.

A 47-year-old woman died after being struck by a metal frame knocked down by a car that had crashed into a food court in Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia.

She has been identified as Xiao Shixiang, according to Sin Chew Daily.

The crash happened at around 1:13am on Aug. 22 at a food court in Bandar Mahkota Cheras. A 35-year-old man drove his car into the dining area, then attempted to flee.

Xiao is believed to have tried to stop the car from leaving, and was struck by the metal frame it had knocked over.

She suffered severe head injuries and later died.

"She had already got into the car"

A friend posted a tribute on Facebook, along with several photos of the two of them and a copy of the obituary.

Xiao was described as kind and fiercely loyal to her friends, and that she had already got into a car and was ready to leave when the crash happened, but got out again to check on others.

According to China Press, the friend said she had seen Xiao just half an hour before the crash. Xiao had urged her to head home, and the two said goodbye to each other.

She wrote that she could not understand how a simple goodbye had turned out to be their last, and that she never imagined Xiao would be gone 30 minutes later.

The trip they had planned

The two had arranged to go to Thailand together. They were also supposed to watch a movie together.

She wrote: "My sister, we said we would go to Thailand together, said we would watch a movie together today, said that in 50 years we would travel together with walking sticks. How could you not wait?"

She added: “May you rest in peace. I will always remember you, you are so lovely and kind and so good to me."

A Bangladeshi model and actress was found dead at her home in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 15, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Allegedly argued with her boyfriend

Bhatara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam told local news outlet The Daily Star that police recovered the body of 26-year-old Ridhika Ridhi hanging from a ceiling fan around 6am that day.

According to the case statement, Ridhika was at her flat with two of her friends on the night of Aug. 14, The Business Standard reported.

At about 11pm, she had an argument over the phone with her boyfriend, Hasibur Rahman.

She subsequently asked her friends to sleep in the drawing room.

At about 5:30am, Hasibur arrived at the flat and knocked on the door.

After her friends opened it, he allegedly told them that Ridhi had hanged herself following their argument.

Her friends then entered the room and found her hanging from the ceiling fan with a scarf around her neck.

They took her to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

Accused of abetting suicide

According to The Business Standard, investigators found evidence on her mobile phone indicating that she had been on a video call with Hasibur shortly before her death, according to police.

Her body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Later on Aug. 15, Ridhi’s mother filed a case at Vatara Police Station, accusing Hasibur of abetting her daughter’s suicide.

Police subsequently arrested him from the Bashundhara Residential Area at about 9:30pm that day.

The investigating officer produced Hasibur before a court on Aug. 16 and sought an order for him to be remanded in jail.

The court granted the order.

In its petition, the police alleged that Hasibur had caused Ridhika mental distress through their mobile phone conversations and had provoked her to take her own life.

The petition further alleged that Ridhika, unable to tolerate the alleged abuse and provocation, died by hanging.

Police also said Hasibur confessed during preliminary questioning and admitted his involvement in the incident.

Ridhika's family alleged that she had been in a long-term relationship with Hasibur, and that he had subjected her to physical and mental abuse during their relationship.

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 43-year-old pet transporter in Singapore hopes to abolish the stigma that Muslims cannot touch or handle dogs.

Eiman Abd spoke about his experience starting a pet transport business in an Aug. 10 Instagram video by "petpriorityservices".

No conflict between faith and work

He told Lianhe Zaobao that as a Muslim, he balances his five daily prayers with his pet pick-up and drop-off trips.

Before and after contact with the animals, Eiman also strictly follows religious hygiene procedures.

To him, there is no conflict between faith and work as both carry responsibility.

"My faith teaches me to be patient, clean, honest, and compassionate," he said.

He added: "These are precisely the values ​​I strive to bring into my work every day. I will never let these cleaning procedures affect my dedication to animals."

"I always treat them with the utmost care, patience, and professionalism."

Professional, reliable transportation service

Eiman, who was a delivery driver before founding Pet Priority Services, saw that pet owners were too busy with work to take their pets to the vet or get groomed.

He then decided to switch careers and provide a professional and reliable transportation service, Zaobao reported.

"Logistics experience is very helpful for me in terms of route planning and security, but I can leave packages at the door, but not pets," Eiman said.

"They are living beings with their own personalities and emotions."

His passengers range from cats and dogs to rabbits and turtles, Zaobao reported.

While transporting turtles may sound funny, Eiman pointed out that it is important to make sure the temperature and environment inside the car are safe though "they won't cause trouble in the car".

Observe body language, respect safety boundaries

He noted, however, that he was not naturally good at interacting with dogs from a young age.

As such, he went through a learning phase at the beginning of his career.

Spending each day with dogs taught him to carefully observe body language, respect safety boundaries, and never force interaction, Eiman added.

Before going into the business, Eiman did his own research and went for a dog handling course.

He was told that dogs are playful and not aggressive.

"If they are aggressive, they will show it to you," he said in the Instagram video.

He recalled that a dog he once brought to a groomer was very anxious and would not move forward at the door.

Eiman told Zaobao that he did not force the dog, but soothed it in a gentle tone.

"A few weeks later, it would wag its tail excitedly and run to me as soon as it saw me. At that moment, I truly felt that animals can understand as long as you are patient."

'Be loving towards all animals'

In response to his work, Eiman said his friends and family have reacted positively, noting that he is not afraid of dogs.

He added that there are quite a few Malay Muslims in the Singapore Police Force whom he knows personally that are K9 dog trainers.

"There are actually quite a lot of people from the Malay Muslim community who [handle] dogs for their careers," Eiman said.

"It's 2026, I just want to abolish the stigma of 'Muslims cannot handle dogs'..." he added.

Eiman also urged everyone to keep an open mind and be loving towards all animals.

"Whether it's cats, dogs, or any creature out there. If you can't love them, at the very least, just don't abuse them."