For social media platforms or services that are not willing or are unable to make their products sufficiently child-safe, banning them might be better, despite bans not being the "starting point", Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said.

She was sharing her takeaways from the panel discussions at a forum, titled "Fostering Child-Safe Digital Environments on Social Media", on Jul. 17.

Held at National University of Singapore Society's Kent Ridge Guild House, the forum was organised by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Institute of Policy Studies.

It saw researchers, industry stakeholders, policymakers and youths discuss approaches to protect children from some of the dangers of social media, such as online harms and addiction.

Banning possible if platforms unable to meet child-safe standards

Reflecting on her takeaways from the forum, Teo said she observed "strong support" for government intervention.

However, Teo said that the need to think about the "right forms" of such intervention was also surfaced.

"There is a question of whether child safety has to meet certain standards, and if those standards are not met, whether as a society we support the government saying that the access should no longer be made available to a young person. For example, those under 18," the minister said.

"While we are not averse... for us to block access to under-18s, that is not the starting point. That is not the preferred outcome," she observed.

What the government is working towards is to work with social media platforms and providers to create services that have safety features built in "to the extent that our society finds acceptable and desirable".

She characterised this as a "collaborative" while also "determined" approach.

"It's potentially a differentiated landscape where some services, some platforms, have made it possible for child-safe access, and they continue to offer access to those under 18," she explained.

However, Teo noted that there may be some services that have "not been willing or able to do it".

"Then, as a society, we think that it is probably better to block access for under-18s to these kinds of services," Teo said.

Preparedness more important in the long-term: Teo

Teo also commented that in today's world, there is no separation between the online and offline world.

"What then do we do in terms of helping children navigate the online world, and in particular their activities on social media?" Teo asked.

One recurring point raised during the panel discussions was that social media has a developmental role in children's lives.

Ben Chua, who leads youth-based not-for-profit YouthTech SG and was a panellist at the forum, pointed out how "shared internet culture is how [youths] connect, joke, learn and form a generational identity."

While parents may want to protect their children, Teo said that there must also be a "preparedness" mindset.

She explained, "If we want our children to thrive in any environment, protecting them from harm is only part of it. Preparing them to deal with the realities of that environment is equally, if not more important, on a longer-term basis."

"And so, from this perspective, we propose the idea of tiered access," she continued, which she said she observed "strong" support for during the panel discussions.

Policy in Australia and New Zealand

Present at the forum were also officials from Australia's and New Zealand's online safety agencies.

Australia's social media ban for children under 16, which took effect on Dec. 10, 2025, was the first of its kind globally.

Children under 16 cannot set up new accounts, and existing profiles were deactivated, BBC reported. 

New Zealand's lawmakers have also mooted a similar social media ban for under-16s, while the UK has imposed similar restrictions.

Sharing during a panel discussion, Sarah Fox, acting executive manager at Australia's eSafety Commissioner, noted that Australia's social media regulation was not a blanket ban, but a "delay" in access to social media.

When asked by a member of the audience about lessons from Australia's experience so far, Fox said that there is no silver bullet and that the "ban" is just "one tool in a broader toolkit".

"Meaningful implementation" in Singapore

Since April 2026, the Infocomm Media Development Authority has required app stores to screen for under-18 users and prevent them from downloading age-inappropriate apps.

Singapore's Online Safety Commission began operations on Jun. 29, 2026, giving victims of online harms a go-to agency to seek recourse.

In January, Sembawang GRC Member of Parliament Vikram Nair asked in Parliament about the possibility of an under-16 social media ban being implemented in Singapore.

Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam responded that the Singapore government was "actively engaging our Australian counterparts and assessing the effectiveness of the measures in Australia".

Rahayu added that while a ban sounds like an "attractive" and "obvious" solution, the Singapore government wants to ensure "meaningful implementation".

She also noted implementation challenges experienced by Australia's regulators, such as the migration of under-16 users to social media platforms outside of the regulatory ambit.

Some people reported noticing a "strong gasoline-like smell" across parts of central Singapore on the night of Jul. 16.

Smell detected in several parts of central Singapore

In a Reddit thread published at around 11pm that day, a user asked if anyone had noticed the smell in areas like Nicoll Highway, Haji Lane and around Suntec City.

The user said the odour had persisted since at least 9pm.

Several other users chimed in, saying they had noticed a similar smell in areas such as Balestier and Jalan Besar.

One user also said he had initially wondered whether there was a gas leak in his home before coming across the online discussion.

NEA monitoring the situation

In a Facebook post on Jul. 17, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said it had received feedback regarding a gas or chemical smell detected across parts of the central region of Singapore, including Tanjong Rhu, Kallang, and Novena areas at around 11pm the previous night.

The agency said it has conducted air quality checks onsite, and has also been monitoring the air quality at the nearest monitoring stations.

"So far, the air quality has been within the usual range," NEA stated, adding that it would continue to monitor the situation and investigate the source of the smell.

The agency said it would provide updates if there were any developments of public concern.

It also reminded members of the public that they can report such unusual smells through the myENV app or OneService app.

The defamation suit against Bloomberg and its reporter by Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng saw both being awarded S$230,000 in damages each.

Following the outcome, Shanmugam took to his social media to address some queries and issues raised about the case.

Tan also posted the same clarifications on his social media.

The suit centred on a Dec. 12, 2024, article titled "Singapore Mansion Deals Are Increasingly Shrouded in Secrecy", which mentioned private properties purchased by Shanmugam and Tan.

The article discussed the sale of Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) in Singapore and claimed there was a lack of public records regarding GCB transactions.

The High Court judge ultimately found that the article was defamatory, and the defendants acted with "malice".

Echoing the findings, Shanmugam wrote that it was "comprehensive and unequivocal".

"The Court found that Bloomberg had maliciously defamed and deliberately targeted us. It also found that Bloomberg's claim that the article formed part of a broader story of public interest was merely a 'cover' devised to publish allegations about us," he wrote.

Failed standards of responsible journalism

Shanmugam further noted that the Court had found that Bloomberg had "failed the standards of responsible journalism".

"The article contained multiple falsehoods, made grave allegations without basis, and denied us a fair opportunity to respond," he added.

Following the outcome, Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait said that they were "very disappointed" by the ruling but will "of course respect it".

“We argued at trial that our reporting was accurate and served an important public interest, and we continue to believe that the ministers have imposed an extremely strained meaning on what was a solid story," he said.

“Our newsroom – and our reporter – conducted themselves with integrity, and met all our editorial standards in preparing the story at the center of this trial. We continue to stand by them,” Micklethwait added.

However, Shanmugam noted that if Bloomberg "truly respects" the Court’s decision, then it should address the Court’s findings, as "any responsible organisation should".

"Otherwise, Bloomberg’s professed commitment to accuracy, editorial standards, public interest journalism, and journalistic integrity will ring hollow," he said.

Freedom of expression carries responsibilities

Shanmugam highlighted that the case is not about freedom of the press.

"It is about whether a news organisation can maliciously target individuals, publish grave allegations founded on falsehoods, and deny those accused a fair opportunity to respond. The Court held that it cannot," he wrote.

He noted that some Western media outlets had described such defamation suits as having a "chilling effect".

Mark Cenite, who teaches communication law at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, was quoted by The New York Times (NYT) as saying that while the ruling "largely maintained the status quo", it might have a "chilling effect on speech".

"Cases like the Bloomberg case involve complex fact patterns and nuanced word choices, and predicting how a reasonable person would understand the words involves uncertainty," he told NYT in an email.

Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi of the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent nonprofit organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide, also said the organisation was "alarmed" by the court's decision, which could "chill public interest reporting".

However, Shanmugam disagreed with the statement that defamation suits can have a "chilling effect", saying Singapore's experience "does not bear this out".

He said Singapore supports "robust journalism and vigourous public debate", but that freedom of expression carries responsibilities.

"It does not extend to publishing false and defamatory allegations without basis. That is the principle reaffirmed by the Court in this case," the minister concluded.

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After their condominium unit became damaged by termites, a couple in Singapore sued the building's management for its repair costs.

They argued that the termites originated from common property soil and that the management corporation had failed to prevent the infestation.

The corporation, meanwhile, contested that the damage may have resulted from damp conditions caused by the "unauthorised and illegal" installation of a kitchen.

The court ruled in the couple's favour and they were awarded a total of S$10,978 for the damage, as well as S$42,750 in legal costs and disbursements.

According to the court, the case appears to be the first where the duty of a condominium management corporation has come under question.

Lawsuit

According to the judgement paper, the claimants, Glenford Tan Ming Loon and Loo Hwee-Wen Vivien, owned a fifth floor unit at low-rise condominium development Freesia Woods at 61 Sunset Way.

They discovered a termite infestation some time in December 2023, which had caused damage to their built-in wooden cabinetry in the home.

As a result, the attached basin sink, marble top and backing related to the cabinet also had to be reinstalled as a single unit.

Tan and Loo filed a claim against the condominium's management, claiming that it had failed to ensure that the property's soil was free from subterranean termites.

The couple also claimed the management had failed to undertake anti-termite measures on the soil that would have prevented termites from nesting or making their way to the unit.

While the management accepted that there had been termite damage, it disputed the fact that the termites were subterranean.

They further argued that the couple's allegedly unauthorised kitchen renovations had made the unit susceptible to infestation.

Court findings

The judge accepted Tan and Loo's claims that the damage had been caused by subterranean termites.

The couple's entomologist, Teh Jo Lyn, said she had found widespread subterranean termite activity across the common property, originating from the ground.

However, a pest control company hired by the condominium refuted that it was improbable for these termites to reach the top floor unit, where Tan and Loo's unit was, without affecting any of the lower floors.

Teh argued in response that it was possible for termites to emerged in random units without affecting lower floors first, which the pest control company did not refute.

The court also rejected evidence presented by the owner of the pest control company, stating that he had a commercial relationship with the condo's management corporation and lacked the necessary specialised expertise.

History of termite infestation

The condominium was found to have a history of subterranean termite infestations, a fact the management was aware of.

The judge thus pointed out that the corporation should have been aware of the possibility of a recurrence and had a duty to take preventive measures.

It was also found that the pest control company had mainly conducted visual inspections on the area and treated termites after they were found, but did not carry out preventive termite management.

They also failed to pick up widespread signs of termite infestation despite years of inspection, something Teh did on a single inspection.

As the case was the first in Singapore dealing with the duty of management corporations in maintaining common property, specifically regarding termite management, the court referred to Australian legislation in enacting the Building (Strata Management) Act (BSMA).

Under the legislation in Queensland, Australia, there is a duty imposed on body corporates to maintain common property.

At the same time, the court ruled that there was no evidence that the kitchen works done by Tan and Loo in their unit were illegal.

As the renovations were made within their private property, it was within their right to do so, the judge said.

A man living in Toa Payoh came across a note at the lift lobby about a Primary 6 boy's supposedly less-than-desirable lift etiquette, and later realised the boy mentioned was his son.

The man told Stomp he previously came across the printed note on Jul. 15, and though he did not pay much attention to it at first, he began reading it while waiting for the lift.

The note had been addressed to the family of a primary school student who takes the lift from the 23rd floor at around 7:20am on weekdays, according to Stomp.

It described the student as typically seen wearing "a green school T-shirt" and carrying "an oversized school bag with a small dangling toy".

The note added that the boy "often appears sleepy with slightly uncombed hair in the mornings".

In addition, the note carried a few requests for the boy's family, Stomp reported.

Reminders

Firstly, it asked the family to remind the boy "not to stand directly in front of lift doors after boarding".

"On several occasions, he has remained at the doorway instead of moving further into the lift, blocking access and making it difficult for residents to enter or exit," the note added.

"His oversized school bag did not help with the encounters."

It also asked that the family encourage the boy to "move further into the lift, keep his bag close to him", and "be mindful of others sharing the lift".

The note added:

"We hope he can develop good lift etiquette, spatial awareness, and consideration for other residents.

We appreciate it if this repeated issue can be addressed."

Son frightened

Following this, the man told Stomp that he realised the note was describing his youngest son.

While he initially felt embarrassed by his son's behaviour, he later felt uncomfortable due to the amount of detail the note included.

When he showed the note to his son, his son acknowledged that it was wrong of him to block the lift entrance, but said no one had told him to move further inside.

Noting that his son was frightened by how the note had described him in such detail, the man told Stomp:

"What happened to a simple request to my son by saying, 'Excuse me, boy, please don’t block the lift and move to the back'?"

Though the man agreed that his son ought to be more considerate, he questioned if it was necessary to post such a detailed note publicly.

He said that "it is quite common for a young boy waking up early in the morning to still feel sleepy and blur, and not do the right thing", but questioned if his son's lift etiquette was "really that serious that my neighbour has to go all the way to terrify [him]?"

The man added that unsure of how to respond, he had initially turned to artificial intelligence (AI) for advice.

He is now considering printing his own response and pasting it at the lift lobby.

Since launching crow shooting operations on Mar. 24, the National Parks Board (NParks) has culled more than 500 crows.

Now it has been progressively rolling out this method in other districts, said NParks' group director of wildlife management How Choon Beng in a Jul. 17 statement.

These districts include Bukit Panjang, Marine Parade, and Tanah Merah.

They were selected as they have large numbers of crows, which have been averse to traps in the area, and they were deemed suitable sites to conduct crow shooting safely.

Crow shooting

NParks resumed crow shooting operations in Singapore from Mar. 24 due to an increase in crow population and in public complaints about their aggression.

Such feedback surged from over 460 cases in 2020 to more than 2,000 cases in 2025.

As of June 2026, operations were conducted in nine districts: Bishan, Jurong, Kranji, Punggol, Sembawang, Tampines, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, and Yishun.

Shooters have to adhere to strict shooting protocols, such as ensuring that the shooting trajectory of the pellets is always directed upwards, How said.

At the same time, they also need to adapt according to varying site conditions. Crows can detect and recognise danger, making them difficult to predict due to their adaptability, How explained.

NParks has described crows as an invasive non-native species that poses a threat to Singapore's native biodiversity.

They may also attack residents when they sense that their young are threatened, and can cause noise, soiling, and hygiene issues.

A complementary measure

"Crow shooting is a complementary measure that will augment our existing crow management efforts, which will continue to be carried out on top of the progressive implementation of shooting operations," How said.

These other efforts include removing crow nests, studying their ecology, reducing food sources, modifying their habitat, and monitoring feedback on illegal bird feeding.

How assured that the various measures collectively will "contribute towards a gradual and sustained reduction in crow numbers".

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Singaporean actor Ben Yeo has shut down all six of his Tan Xiang Sliced Fish Soup stalls.

The 47-year-old made the move as the business “failed to meet expectations”, 8days reported.

Unsustainable

Yeo first launched Tan Xiang Sliced Fish Soup in September 2023 with a stall in a Toa Payoh coffee shop.

Nine months later, he shut it down and relocated.

Yeo expanded his fish soup business in 2025 by opening six stalls located at Clementi, Orchard Towers, and Ang Mo Kio.

However, he claimed that “some outlets made money, some didn't”, which made the expansion unsustainable.

“We lost a mid-five-figure sum,” Yeo told 8days.

He gave the business one year to see results, and would cut losses if it was unsuccessful.

The losses eventually led to closures.

Yeo attributed the closures to aggressive expansion.

He said he thought stalls required smaller investments and more people would see the brand with more stalls, and he was following a strategy that worked for other brands.

“Looking back, I don't think that works anymore," he added.

Sliced fish soup is still available at Yeo’s zi char outlets located at Chai Chee and Kallang.

20 dishes only

Yeo is still embarking on F&B ventures with new brands as a diversification strategy.

He launched the “20 Dishes Only” stall in the Block 645 Yishun Street 61 coffee shop in early July 2026.

It serves only 20 dishes, such as Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Egg and Steamed Fish Head.

The prices range from S$6.80 to S$15.

Only four dishes cost more than S$10.

The dishes come in one serving size.

He recommends the Hand-Pulled Sweet and Sour Pork, ABC soup, Grandma Fried Egg, Steamed Fish Head, and Prawn Paste Fish.

Yeo said the menu was inspired by lessons learned from operating Thai eatery, Benkok13.

He wants to keep wastage to a minimum and make the business sustainable.

Mediacorp actor Richard Low has revealed that the health scare which landed him in the hospital back in May 2026 was caused by a colon condition.

The 74-year-old was previously hospitalised for six days after suddenly losing control of his bowel and bladder functions.

"Okay for now"

In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Low said his health is "okay for now".

He shared that his recent hospitalisation was caused by diverticular disease, a condition in which small pouch-like sacs develop in the wall of the large intestine.

In his case, the condition led to intestinal bleeding.

"When I got up in the morning and went to the toilet, I saw blood in my stool. I immediately thought: 'This is bad,'" Low recalled.

"I had a bad feeling that the same thing that happened 20 years ago might be happening again."

The actor revealed that he had suffered from the same condition two decades earlier, making the symptoms immediately recognisable.

Despite this, the actor said he initially felt fine.

"I was feeling okay at the time, and I even filmed a video for 'The OG Gang' (with actors Chen Shucheng and Zhu Houren). Around 3pm or 4pm, I asked my wife to accompany me to the hospital."

Doctors later discovered that diverticulitis had caused a perforation in his intestine, resulting in continuous bleeding.

Low also revealed that he lost 5kg during his hospital stay.

"For the first three days, I had to undergo various tests, so I wasn't allowed to eat anything. I didn't have much of an appetite anyway," he said. "Over the next few days, I could only consume liquids."

According to Low, the condition cannot be completely cured.

Instead, he has to manage it by watching his diet and avoiding fried food and alcohol to reduce the risk of another flare-up.

Upcoming project

The actor's next project is the upcoming Mediacorp drama "Old & Dangerous", which is set to premiere on Jul. 27.

It follows five former elite special forces operatives in their 70s who reunite for a special mission, with Low starring alongside Chen Shucheng, Zhu Houren, Wang Yuqing and Li Wen Hai.

The drama is expected to air on weekdays at 9pm on Channel 8, and will also be available on mewatch.

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) held an all-hands "Ask Me Anything" session with staff after announcing what has been described as the first large-scale government retrenchment in many years.

However, some employees said morale remained low and concerns about job security persist as further job cuts are going to occur.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, GovTech chairman Chng Kai Fong and chief executive Goh Wei Boon held the session at the agency's Punggol Way office on Jul. 16 at 4pm.

The session was attended by around 200 staff in person, with the rest joining online.

Warning before the session began

Before the session started, a message on screen warned employees that sharing the contents of the meeting without authorisation could result in disciplinary action or legal consequences, according to Zaobao.

Technical issues and unanswered questions

The session did not go entirely smoothly, Zaobao reported.

A GovTech employee of three years, identified by the pseudonym Zhang Keling, attended the session and told the paper that technical issues arose frequently, with some online participants unable to hear the proceedings clearly.

Questions were submitted through an internal communications platform, meaning employees could not tell who had asked what, or which questions management had chosen to address.

Scale of retrenchment

GovTech announced on Jul. 15 that it would be cutting 7 to 9 per cent of its workforce, equivalent to about 270 to 350 people, following a shift to a new operating model.

In the first phase, 93 officers will be laid off.

About 110 will undergo retraining and be redeployed to other positions.

The Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE) negotiated an enhanced support package for affected staff, as Mothership previously reported.

The agency currently employs about 3,900 staff, of which around 13 per cent are on contract.

Those most affected in this first phase are employees in their 40s and 50s.

"Everyone is quite worried"

Zhang Keling told Zaobao his own position was currently stable, but that he had no certainty about the longer term given the ongoing restructuring.

He said: "We've never heard of the government doing layoffs, and on such a large scale. Everyone is quite worried. We probably need to keep upgrading ourselves."

He also noted that overall morale among staff was low, with widespread anxiety about job security.

When Zaobao reporters visited the office in Punggol Digital District on Jul. 16, most staff who entered and exited the building identified themselves as contractors or part-time workers and declined to comment.

One employee who appeared to be in their 40s or 50s acknowledged having just attended the session but said only: "I have not been authorised. I cannot say."

An 11-year-old girl who has been missing in Sabah, Malaysia, since Jul. 13 has been found dead on Jul. 16.

The body of Nurjilya Abdullah was reportedly found near a house under construction, Malay Mail reported.

Local police said the body was discovered after they received information from members of the public.

Body decomposed

The body was reportedly found in an "advanced state of decomposition," and she is believed to have died from injuries to the face and back of the head caused by blunt force trauma from a hard object.

The victim’s identity was confirmed by her mother based on the clothing she had been wearing when she disappeared.

2 men arrested on suspicion of murder

Two men, aged 39 and 42, have been arrested in connection with the murder, the New Straits Times reported.

The 39-year-old is undocumented, while the 42-year-old is local, it was reported.

The motive for the killing has yet to be established, police said.

Investigations are ongoing.