19-year-old Odera James has a Nigerian father and a Singaporean Indian mother.

He was born here, attends a local school, and hopes to serve his National Service (NS) after he graduates.

While some may make assumptions of him based on his looks, the soft-spoken youth hopes to rewrite stereotypes and share his experience living as an African Singaporean here.

This is his story.

By Odera James

I was born in Singapore.

A few months after I was born, my family moved to Australia, because my mum was pursuing further studies.

We stayed there for a few years — four to five years. Then I came back to Singapore.

So I've lived in Singapore for 13 years.

My mum is Singaporean Indian, and my father is Nigerian.

Basically, I'm like a Singaporean dish: rojak.

What was your earliest memory of Singapore?

My earliest memory of Singapore was when I was a kid, in daycare.

I attended the PAP daycare, under my block.

I made a lot of friends. I remember throwing quite a few birthday parties in my class.

Then I attended Mayflower Primary School, then Spectra Secondary School.

In primary and secondary school, I was quite laid back to be honest.

So I didn't do well.

What was it like moving back to Singapore?

Actually, moving back to Singapore was quite tumultuous and stressful.

My father is a Nigerian citizen, so he had some struggles with immigration, and had to leave the country every three months.

It was quite hard on my family, because my father wasn't really in my life much.

Whenever I saw kids with their fathers, I saw how they could see their fathers all the time, unlike me.

A few years later, my mother and father got divorced. My father went back permanently to Nigeria.

For almost 10 years, we were estranged, like quite distant from each other.

And a few months ago, my father passed away.

Did you have trouble settling down?

When I was in Australia, I had a hard time adjusting, because I told them I was from Singapore.

But when I went to a Singaporean school, I was also seen as quite different.

People said, 'oh, you're an international student. Aren't you supposed to be in an international school?'"

And I told them I was born in Singapore, I just look different.

People would also have some stereotypes of me. Especially elderly people.

Like sometimes when I try to sit with an elderly person on the bus, they'll look at me, then they will stand up and walk away.

But in my mind I try to see it in a positive way. Like maybe they have just not seen a person like me before.

Maybe if they see more of me, then they'll get used to it.

What about today? Do you feel Singaporean?

Even now, I feel like I'm living between two worlds.

Some people see me as too African, others see me as not African enough.

I felt that I had to prove to myself that even though I may be foreign-looking, I can still be accepted and considered a local.

I do want to serve my National Service, after I complete my diploma. I want to give back to the country.

I'm actually looking forward to it. It's the best way I can give back to my country, at this young age.

Because I've been here for so long, I grew up here, I made a life for myself here.

No matter how I look, how people might perceive me or judge me, Singapore will always be my home.

What are your dreams in Singapore?

When I graduated from secondary school, I wanted to pursue logistics.

I went to ITE and pursued this programme called Nitec in Logistic Services. Then Higher Nitec.

Now I'm doing the Work-Study Diploma at ITE.

[During my Nitec] I was able to do well enough that I became the bronze course medallist, which means I was third place in my course of study.

I felt very grateful that my teachers had faith in me to give me these kinds of awards.

It showed that they really cared. So I also ensured that I did my best throughout my course of study.

After I graduate, I want to work for like 15 to 20 years, and then, I would like to start my own logistics business.

How do you plan to celebrate National Day?

My mum and I are quite celebratory about it. We watch it every single year.

I attended a National Day Parade in 2014, and then also the National Education (NE) show in primary school.

I'm quite curious every year what they're gonna do.

My favourite National Day song is the 2016 one, "Tomorrow's Here Today".

I think it's quite catchy, and it brings people together.

That's why it's my favourite NDP song ever.

To help Singapore families deal with competing demands, the government will undertake a "major review" of how it supports families, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

He was delivering the National Day Message on the evening of Aug. 8.

PM Wong also acknowledged the various challenges that Singapore faces, from the Middle East conflict to advancements in AI.

But while Singapore cannot control developments beyond its borders, it can control how it responds and must continue preparing for the challenges ahead, he said.

"We will always stand by Singaporeans," PM Wong stressed.

"But our responsibility is not just to deal with today's challenges. We must also prepare Singapore for the future."

Middle East crisis

Speaking on the Middle East crisis, PM Wong said that the international environment remains volatile, with geopolitical tensions continuing to reshape the global landscape.

In Singapore, the crisis has driven up energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and increased costs for households and businesses, he said.

Many Singaporeans are also concerned about what the geopolitical environment means for their jobs, families, and the future.

Despite these challenges, Singapore's economy has remained resilient.

Economic growth was robust in the first half of the year, and the labour market has remained stable, PM Wong said.

The government has also introduced another package of measures to help Singaporeans cope with the continued uncertainty.

Embracing advances in technology on Singapore's own terms

PM Wong also spoke about rapid technological innovation, particularly the advancements in AI.

While Singapore cannot afford to stand still as other countries advance, he stressed that it should not "accept every new technology uncritically".

"Singapore will embrace these advances on our own terms.

They must remain tools that serve people, strengthen communities and improve lives."

So far, Singapore is benefitting from the growth of AI, particularly in its semiconductor industry. The government also intends to harness the technology to boost productivity and create better jobs.

At the same time, it will continue to invest in skills upgrading and workforce training to ensure Singaporeans can adapt, grow and thrive amid technological change.

Separately, PM Wong noted that while social media has enabled people to stay connected and exchange ideas, concerns have grown over its impact on children and young people.

To address these concerns, he said the government will strengthen safeguards to better protect children and help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

More support for families

Across the world, couples are facing growing pressure to give their children the best possible start in life.

At the same time, many are also caring for ageing parents alongside work commitments.

PM Wong acknowledged that families are feeling stretched as they balance competing responsibilities.

To this end, the government will be undertaking a "major" review of how it supports families.

"We hear these concerns in Singapore too. And that is why we are undertaking a major review of how we support families — not only at the point of marriage and parenthood, but throughout life's journey.

We are taking a fresh look at issues like the costs of raising children, access to affordable infant care and childcare, and other ways to lighten the load on families."

More details regarding this will be shared at the National Day Rally on Aug. 23.

Building a stronger Singapore for the future

Looking ahead, PM Wong said every generation has a responsibility to build a better future for the next.

To that end, Singapore will continue to strengthen its energy security, make better use of its limited land, and invest in the infrastructure needed for the future.

But nation-building goes beyond physical infrastructure, he said.

It also means remaining open to new ideas, deepening links with the world, and welcoming people who wish to contribute to Singapore and make it their home.

This is essential for a small island state like Singapore.

"When times are uncertain, it is tempting for countries to turn inward. But Singapore cannot afford to do so.

Our openness has served us well throughout our history, and it remains vital to our success in the years ahead."

PM Wong concluded by reaffirming the importance of unity, noting that Singapore has always brought together people from different backgrounds as one nation.

"The challenges before us are real. But so too are our strengths — our resilience, our openness and our unity.

If we keep faith with one another and stay true to the ideals of our Pledge, we will build a better and stronger Singapore together."

Singapore lawyer and politician Lim Tean reportedly crossed into Malaysia by land after failing to surrender to serve his jail sentence, according to a tip-off to Shin Min Daily News.

He then hid in a rental apartment in Johor Bahru, where he was subsequently arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in Johor Bahru on Aug. 6.

The 61-year-old was supposed to begin serving a sentence of three months and one week on Aug. 3 for practising law without a valid practising certificate.

However, he did not surrender as required, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.

His lawyer had earlier said that Lim was uncontactable, while his bailor was also unable to reach him.

Crossed into Malaysia by land

Following news of his arrest, speculation emerged over how Lim had allegedly left Singapore and entered Malaysia.

Some suggested he may have hidden in the boot of a car, while others speculated that he travelled by sea.

However, according to Shin Min Daily News, Lim crossed the Singapore-Malaysia border by land before hiding in the rental apartment in Johor Bahru.

Citing a source, the Chinese-language daily reported that Mohammad Adam Abd Karim, one of two men charged with allegedly conspiring to help Lim leave Singapore illegally, is believed to have rented the apartment where Lim was staying.

An eyewitness told Shin Min that they saw a man collecting the keys to the apartment and claimed that the individual's name matched that of Mohammad Adam.

Refused to open door

According to the source, Lim was supposed to stay at the apartment until Aug. 7 before checking out.

But he was arrested a day earlier.

When Malaysian police arrived at his apartment, Lim allegedly refused to open the door to his apartment for about two hours, and was also unable to produce a passport upon request.

He reportedly appeared dishevelled and haggard when he was arrested.

It was also said that Lim left the apartment only twice a day to pick up his takeaway meals, but was eventually recognised, as the area is frequented by Singaporeans.

Two Singaporeans charged for allegedly helping Lim escape

Earlier on Aug. 8, Mohammad Adam, 44, and Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus, 37, were charged for allegedly conspiring to make arrangements for Lim to illegally depart Singapore for Malaysia.

They were each handed one count of engaging in a conspiracy to do an act that has a tendency to defeat the course of justice.

Their cases have been adjourned to Aug. 14.

If convicted, they face up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.

A 57-year-old fruit seller lied about being widowed and entered a relationship with a woman in her 50s after meeting her online, according to Shin Min Daily News.

He ended up cheating her of over S$930,000, including money meant for her daughter's university fees.

The man, Kong Jun Yi Jonathan, was sentenced on Thursday (Aug. 6) to three years and seven months in jail.

The woman, 54, who declined to be named, told the Chinese media outlet in tears that she had to take out a bank loan to ensure her daughter could finish her education.

She added that the ordeal nearly cost her her relationship with her only daughter.

Met online in 2020

The woman met Kong online in October 2020. He was the first person she dated since her divorce about 20 years ago.

Kong lied that he was a chief executive at a company, and claimed his wife had fallen ill and died, leaving him with a 10-year-old son.

But he was actually a fruit vendor, and married to a woman who is still alive.

Lent him hundreds of thousands of dollars

The two were together for more than a year, during which he stayed at her home from Monday to Friday, and returned home to be with his son on weekends.

She said he borrowed money from her and her sister repeatedly, citing various reasons, such as having acted as a loan guarantor, his company needing funds, and needing money for hospitalisation.

The victim did not suspect anything was wrong, and even lent him money meant for her daughter's tuition fees.

Her sister also lent him money that had been set aside for her child's wedding banquet.

"He showed me his bank account, and there was money in it. He said it was just that the account had been frozen because he was a guarantor," she said.

Charge sheets showed that the woman had transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to him after being deceived, over the span of mere months.

Scam exposed after discovering fake photo

The woman said that their relationship had progressed to the point of discussing marriage, with Kong even taking her gold jewellery without permission.

He'd claimed that his mother needed it to check the sizing before buying "si dian jin" (a set of four gold pieces traditionally given at Chinese weddings).

"I asked for it back many times, but could never get it," she said.

In May 2021, Kong sent his watch for repair, and she passed him her Rolex so he could get it mended too.

But after more than a year, she was unable to get the watch back, with the man constantly making excuses whenever she asked for it.

This would be what caused the man's lies to finally fall apart, she said.

The man claimed that his colleague had gotten into a car accident, and sent her a photo.

But the woman searched online and found out that the photo was fake.

"Once I confirmed I had been cheated, I made a police report immediately," she said.

The woman and her sister later checked their homes for other losses, and discovered that other pieces of gold jewellery had also been stolen.

Charge sheets showed that Kong had stolen 45 pieces of jewellery, worth over S$50,000, and sold them off at pawnshops.

The woman said:

"I spent more than S$7,000 in legal fees trying to recover the money I lost, but in the end only got back a little over S$2,000."

Unable to truly move on even after six years

After finding out she was cheated, the woman could not eat or drink properly, and struggled to sleep for two months, eventually needing to rely on sleeping pills.

She said she once contemplated suicide, but pulled through for the sake of her daughter.

The victim broke down in tears when speaking about her daughter. She revealed that after falling for the scam, she could no longer afford her daughter's tuition fees for her overseas studies.

This strained her relationship with her daughter, whose university fees came up to around six figures a year.

She eventually took out a bank loan to pay her daughter's tuition fees so that the girl could graduate and return home.

Her daughter later told her that she too had thoughts of suicide over the matter.

The woman told Shin Min that even though six years have passed since the incident, she has never truly moved on.

She has stayed strong for her daughter's sake, but no longer dares to trust in relationships.

"This taught me to be more discerning about people, and I no longer help others so readily and without a second thought," she said.

Committed theft, deception, forgery among various crimes

In total, Kong's thefts, scams, and forgeries amounted to over S$930,000 stolen in money and jewellery.

He was arrested on Jan. 22, 2026.

During his sentencing, it was reported that the victim had forgiven Kong's actions and pleaded with the judge for a lenient sentence.

Top image via Canva, Lianhe Zaobao/Shin Min Daily

On Monday evening (Aug. 3), a fire broke out at a fifth-storey flat at Block 684 Race Course Road.

According to Shin Min Daily News, a household of five, aged between 55 and 88, were trapped in the fire.

Police officers managed to force their way into the flat to rescue one of them, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) rescued the remaining four, three of whom were unconscious.

One of the victims, an 88-year-old man, passed away two days after he was taken to hospital, reported CNA.

Elderly woman trapped in flat

Speaking in an interview with Shin Min on Aug. 6, the police officers shared more about the rescue.

The two police officers were Sergeant Rafhan, 35, and Sergeant Afiq, 25, from Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC).

When they reached the scene, they found black smoke billowing continuously from the burning unit.

They saw a woman in her 70s trapped inside, wearing a T-shirt and shorts, her face already blackened with soot.

Rafhan said that the visually impaired elderly woman was in a state of panic, and SCDF personnel had not yet arrived at the scene.

"My first reaction at that moment was that I had to ensure her safety, and I wanted to get her out as quickly as possible," he said.

The area was thick with smoke that would cause discomfort if inhaled, so Rafhan, assisted by his colleague, kept giving the elderly woman verbal instructions to crouch down low to avoid the smoke as much as possible.

Had to get her out of the unit urgently

Once the elderly woman was seated, getting her out became the most urgent task, the officers recounted.

As the metal gate was firmly locked, Rafhan noticed a window next to the gate, and tried to break the glass with his baton to enter the unit and rescue her.

However, after breaking the window, he found metal grilles behind it, making it impossible to get through.

In order to save her as quickly as possible, Afiq made a split-second decision to forcibly pry open the locked metal HDB gate.

Afiq said the situation was urgent at the time, and he simply did not have time to think it through.

Metal gate felt like 'baking tray that had just come out of the oven'

The metal gate had grown hot due to the intensity of the fire. He described the sensation of touching it as like "a baking tray that had just come out of the oven".

"I grabbed the gate and pulled a few times, and the gate actually came open," he said.

Looking back on the rescue, Afiq said it was the most dangerous operation he had taken part in since joining the police force less than a year ago.

After successfully prying open the gate, the two officers quickly entered the unit, each supporting one of the elderly woman's shoulders, and worked together to bring her safely out of the burning unit.

The elderly woman had difficulty moving at the time and her body temperature was elevated, so Afiq carried her directly in his arms and rushed toward the lift lobby as quickly as possible.

The fire had not spread outside the unit at that point, and the lift was still working.

The two officers then took the lift with the elderly woman straight down to the first floor, where they handed her over to SCDF paramedics who had arrived at the scene by then for emergency treatment.

The elderly woman was very quiet throughout the rescue, neither crying out nor speaking, which the officers believe was due to shock.

Continued with evacuation efforts after emergency rescue

After rescuing the elderly woman, Rafhan and Afiq went on to cordon off the area downstairs and helped evacuate the crowd.

About 50 residents from the block were evacuated during the operation.

Investigations into its cause are ongoing.

Top image via SCDF/Facebook & Shin Min Daily News

A 49-year-old woman was arrested on Aug. 6 in connection with an ongoing police investigation into an alleged investment scheme linked to the "Fun Coffee" platform.

The platform is purportedly based in Vietnam and has an outlet in Jalan Besar.

Alleged investment scheme

In a news release on Aug. 8, the Singapore Police Force said the woman had actively promoted the investment scheme and recruited others to join.

To participate, users were instructed to download the "Fun Coffee" application and transfer Tether (USDT), a cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar, to digital wallet addresses provided through the app.

Users could subscribe to various investment plans available on the application, which promised "unrealistically" high returns.

They were also offered additional commissions for recruiting new members.

Police said participants in Singapore were subsequently unable to withdraw their funds through the application.

The woman was arrested for allegedly promoting or participating in a multi-level marketing or pyramid selling scheme, or holding herself out as doing so, under Section 3 of the Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling (Prohibition) Act 1973.

If convicted, she faces a jail term of up to five years, a fine of up to S$200,000, or both.

On its Singapore website, Fun Coffee describes itself as "a lifestyle brand combining coffee, wellness and digital innovation into a community experience".

It operates a café featuring a coffee-making robot at 202 Jalan Besar, and claims to have assets of over US$1 billion and a team of over 5,000.

Arrests made in Hong Kong and Macau

The arrest in Singapore comes after authorities in Hong Kong and Macau arrested eight people allegedly linked to Fun Coffee, according to an earlier report by the South China Morning Post.

More than 220 complaints were lodged after the Fun Coffee application suddenly went offline on Jul. 20.

In total, victims reported losses of HK$94 million (S$15.3 million).

Singapore investor says she lost about S$400,000

A number of investors in Singapore have since filed police reports over the scheme.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, a 48-year-old woman said she had invested about S$400,000 in the scheme.

She said she was first introduced to Fun Coffee by a friend in June 2025, who shared videos of the events organised by the company.

In September 2025, she said she was told she could earn S$100 by bringing 10 friends to a company "fun run", and that each attendee would also receive S$50.

Following the event, she downloaded the application and started investing.

According to the woman, she initially received about S$10,000 in returns, which she reinvested into the scheme.

However, on Jul. 21, one of her friends, who is based in Hong Kong, informed her that withdrawals were no longer possible.

Three days later, she encountered the same issue, prompting her to lodge a police report.

"I feel very guilty, because I introduced (my friends and family members) to this. I even invested all the money from my business (into the app)."

"I now have about $80 left in my bank account. I don’t know what to do," she was quoted as saying.

Public advised not to make further payments to the scheme

The Singapore police urged members of the public not to make any further payments or transfers to the scheme, even if approached by individuals claiming to represent Fun Coffee or through requests made via the application.

They also advised the public to exercise caution before making investment decisions.

This includes avoiding transfers to personal or unregistered accounts, and conducting independent checks on any investment opportunity before committing funds.

A 79-year-old stateless man convicted of trafficking heroin was hanged in Singapore on Aug. 7 (Friday).

According to a statement by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), he was accorded full due process under the law, and was represented by legal counsel during trial and appeal.

His petitions to the President for clemency were unsuccessful.

Arrested in January 2020

On Jan. 14, 2020, Teo Yiu Kin Tee, then 72, was arrested near the junction of Bendeemer Road and Geylang Bahru Road.

He was unemployed at the time.

CNB found 845g of substances, including diamorphine (heroin) and "Ice", as well as cash amounting to S$5,350 in his possession.

After analysis, the substances were found to contain not less than 24.81g of pure diamorphine.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the death penalty is imposed if the amount of diamorphine trafficked is more than 15 grams.

Claimed they were for consumption, not sale

During the trial in 2023, Teo initially claimed that the drugs were entirely for his own consumption rather than for sale.

He alleged that he was a chronic and heavy user of diamorphine, and had purchased the drug in bulk to secure a lower price.

But the High Court rejected Teo's consumption defence, finding his claimed rate of consumption to be medically and financially implausible.

His unemployment at the time also raised questions about his ability to fund a "bulk buy" of the drugs, which were worth thousands of dollars.

Teo was eventually convicted of his charges and sentenced to the mandatory death penalty.

CNB said in its statement that capital punishment is imposed only for the most serious crimes, such as the trafficking of significant quantities of drugs.

Such offences result in very serious harm, not just to individual drug abusers, but also to their families and the wider society.

Top image via CNB & Singapore Prison Services

A 20-year-old Singaporean man turned to ChatGPT and short video content for ideas on how to run a honey trap scheme.

Posing online as a 14-year-old girl, he lured another young man into meeting up, before extorting S$20,000 from him.

The accused, Anthony Xu (transliterated from Mandarin), pleaded guilty to one count of extortion and one count of cheating.

A honey trap scheme is a type of love scam in which an individual uses a false online persona to lure a victim into a relationship, for the purpose of extortion, blackmail, or theft.

Planned to expose and humiliate him

According to Shin Min Daily News, Xu had initially targeted the man mainly to expose Lai's character and humiliate him.

He'd learnt from a female friend in mid-October 2025 that a 21-year-old man named Lai Yuhang (transliterated from Mandarin) had been persistently trying to chat her up on social media.

The pair then referenced content from Instagram short videos to plan a scheme.

Xu also used ChatGPT for help.

First, he first pretended to be a 14-year-old girl. With with his female friend's help, he built a connection with Lai and flirted with him online.

The two eventually arranged to meet at an MRT station on Oct. 21, with suggestive hints as to what would come after.

The court heard that the female friend was unaware that Xu intended to use the opportunity to extort the man.

Pretended to be the "girl's" older brother

After meeting up, Xu lied that he was the "girl's" older brother.

He threatened Lai into taking a condom out of his backpack and filmed the process, before also taking a photo of Lai's identity card.

He claimed that if Lai did not cooperate, he would alert MRT station staff and call the police.

The two then moved to the Toa Payoh area to continue talking. Xu kept threatening to bring him to the police station along the way.

Fearing for his reputation, Lai broke down in tears on the spot and begged for mercy.

Eventually, Xu extorted S$20,000 in "hush money" from him, telling him he could pay it to him over five years at S$300 a month.

Out of fear, Lai agreed, and paid Xu S$100 in the early hours of the following morning.

He made no further payments after that.

Felt guilty afterwards

The court heard that Xu later felt guilty after reflecting on what he had done.

He returned the S$100 to Lai the next day, and sent a message apologising to Lai's mother.

However, Xu was not aware that Lai had already made a police report about the incident.

Xu was arrested the following day, and was subsequently charged.

Cooperated actively with investigations and pleaded guilty early

His lawyer, speaking in mitigation on Thursday (Aug. 6), said Xu did not try to evade responsibility, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

While the offences involved were serious, the lawyer said Xu had cooperated actively with investigations and pleaded guilty early.

His lawyer also said Xu is currently studying at an Institute of Technical Education, and has the support of his family.

He stressed that before the police got involved, Xu had already taken the initiative to apologise to the victim and return the money, which showed genuine remorse, and asked the judge for a lighter sentence.

Thereafter, the judge instructed the prosecution to prepare a report to assess whether he is suitable for probation and reformative training.

The case has been adjourned to Aug. 13 for a further mention, with sentencing set for Sep. 23.

Top image via Ruth Chai/Mothership & Unsplash

The 14-year-old boy who allegedly killed seven people in a school shooting near Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 7 was described as quiet and reserved.

He was raised by loving grandparents, those acquainted with him told The Straits Times.

The shooting

The shooting took place on Aug. 7.

The teen had allegedly used a legally registered firearm belonging to his grandfather in the attack.

Police said he first killed his grandparents at their home before heading to his school, Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi province.

There, he allegedly killed two teachers and three staff members before turning the gun on himself.

At least 23 others were injured.

The teenager later died while being taken to hospital.

At least seven people, including the boy, died in the incident.

Aunt said the boy kept to himself

Speaking to ST, the boy's aunt, Samang Chaisorn, described her nephew as someone who largely kept to himself and had few friends.

"He wasn't particularly cheerful; he was just very quiet," she said.

After hearing reports of a shooting at the school, she said she tried calling the boy's grandfather to ask him to pick the teenager up, but was unable to reach him.

At the time, she did not know that her nephew had allegedly carried out the attack.

Upon arriving at the grandparents' home, they were unable to enter because the door was locked, the aunt said.

After gaining access to the house, they discovered that both grandparents had died.

The subdistrict headman, who was among the first to enter the house, told ST that the grandfather was found near the kitchen with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

The grandmother, who was found in a bedroom, was also believed to have been shot in the head.

"She was still under the blanket, as though she were asleep," he was quoted as saying.

The headman described the couple as kind people who had raised their grandson since he was very young.

Authorities investigating motive

According to ST, it remains unclear if the teen had targeted anyone in particular during the alleged attack.

However, he was reportedly a victim of bullying in school, and is understood to have been locked in a school toilet by some other students a day before the incident.

Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the attack, as well as how the teenager gained access to the firearm.

Preliminary findings indicate that he brought the gun to school in a bag.

Thailand's education minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said security measures at schools would be strengthened "significantly" following the incident.

Education district directors from across the country are scheduled to meet on Aug. 8 to discuss tighter school security measures and additional safeguards for students.

Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents will be able to enter the Science Centre Singapore for free from Aug. 8 to 10.

This is in the light of the launch of the SG Science Fest 2026 over the National Day weekend.

Ocean-themed festival

SG Science Fest 2026 officially opened on Aug. 8, built around the theme of the ocean.

Guests can solve a mysterious shipwreck, catch live science shows, cool off with outdoor waterplay, take part in hands-on marine science activities, and meet mascot Quby, who is marking its 10th anniversary.

Here's a few things you can look forward to:

Shipwrecked: Uncover the Mystery

Guests will examine evidence at a staged shipwreck site, using observation and scientific reasoning to work out what happened.

Robot's Bytes to Bites

A live show combines seasoned hawkers, a robot chef and dramatic science demonstrations. Shows run at The Annexe Hall 1 at 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm.

Admission is included with the festival ticket, but onsite reservations are required due to limited capacity.

Meet Syrena, the Singapore Mermaid

Syrena, founder of the Singapore Mermaid School, will illustrate science, demonstrating the principles of buoyancy, hydrodynamics and human physiology through the art of professional mermaiding.

Marine science stations

Activity stations across the centre will showcase how ships stay afloat, investigate corrosion, and explore how marine organisms colonise underwater surfaces, along with a coral restoration simulation.

Participants can collect locally themed stickers to make a personalised acrylic keychain as a festival keepsake.

Meet Quby

If you're lucky, you may also get to meet popular online mascot Quby at the Science Centre, as part of a new collaboration to make science more playful and accessible to the public.

Planning your visit

The SG Science Fest 2026 runs from Aug. 8 to 10, from 10am to 6pm daily.

Admission is free for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, with standard admission rates applying for other guests.

If you're looking for an even more immersive experience, special bundled tickets are available:

Public transport is recommended due to limited parking at the centre, though alternative parking and a complimentary shuttle service are available at Jurong Town Hall.

Top image via Science Centre Singapore