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

Ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Tommy Koh, will retire from the ministry at the end of August 2026 after "55 happy years" of service.

He announced his retirement in a Facebook post on Aug. 7.

Retiring after 55 years

In his post, Koh, 88, said he had served under every foreign minister since Singapore's first foreign minister, S. Rajaratnam.

"I will be retiring from MFA at the end of this month.

At the MFA National Day Observance, Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan presented me with the inaugural lifetime distinguished service award.

Second Foreign Minister Sim Ann paid a very kind and generous tribute to me."

However, he added that he does not intend to retire fully.

"From the 1st of September, I (will) be based at the NUS Centre for International Law," he wrote.

He is currently emeritus professor of law at NUS.

In an Instagram post the same day, Vivian said he was "honoured" to confer Koh with the award.

Koh's legacy "extends far beyond the milestones he helped achieve", he said.

"Through his intellectual rigour, integrity, generosity of spirit and unwavering commitment to Singapore, he has inspired generations of MFA officers.

His example will continue to guide Singapore's diplomacy for years to come."

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Who is Tommy Koh?

A veteran diplomat, international lawyer and academic, Koh has held several of Singapore's most prominent diplomatic appointments, including Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador to the United States.

He is also widely recognised for his role as the president of Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and for helping to draft the Asean charter.

Among Koh's most notable roles was representing Singapore in the Pedra Branca dispute with Malaysia before the International Court of Justice in 2003 and 2017.

In 2025, he published a memoir of his years in service to Singapore, in which he described himself as "a lawyer with only one client" — that client being Singapore.

“I am certainly not a genius. I have been successful because I have been given the opportunity, by Singapore and by the United Nations, to serve," he told Mothership at the time.

Outside of his work in MFA, Koh was founding rector of NUS' Tembusu College, chairman of the Centre for International Law in NUS, and former dean of the NUS Faculty of Law.

He continues to hold advisory roles at the university, including with the Asia Research Institute and the Institute of Policy Studies.

Koh is also a patron of the arts, heritage, and environment.

He was formerly chairman of the National Heritage Board (NHB) and the Chinese Heritage Centre, and was named "Champion of the Earth" in 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme for his contributions to international environmental cooperation.

The Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) does not have a mandate over land use planning and zoning, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

Rather, it falls under the purview of the Ministry of National Development (MND), which oversees these decisions while balancing various demands and trade-offs across government, including biodiversity.

Fu explained the above in an Aug. 7 social media post, after the Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced plans to develop new housing at Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way (Maju Forest).

She acknowledged that the issues are considered as part of the broader climate agenda, but that "we are different agencies with different roles".

The planned development of both sites had sparked debate over whether it would come at the expense of natural spaces and wildlife habitats.

Gillman Barracks will be redeveloped into a residential estate comprising both public and private homes, while the Maju Forest site in Clementi will be developed for public housing.

"We are all different agencies with different roles"

In her post, Fu said Singapore's agencies work closely together to serve Singaporeans.

"On major national undertakings, such as climate mitigation and adaptation, we come together to formulate a coherent plan with our stakeholders and Singaporeans," she said.

For instance, with the Singapore Green Plan, MSE coordinated the initiative; but it was the result of numerous discussions at the working level, between agencies, and at Cabinet between all ministers.

There were also "many sessions" of public consultation, she added.

Fu also acknowledged the public concerns over the planned developments in Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest.

"I deeply appreciate how much Singaporeans care about our shared green spaces. I do too," she said.

However, she added that Singapore, as a small island nation, must balance competing priorities "to protect our environment, to house our people, build our infrastructure, and keep our economy growing".

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Decisions made in the interest of Singapore and Singaporeans

Earlier in Parliament on Aug. 4, the Workers’ Party’s Kenneth Tiong asked why MSE had "not been seen leading and advocating" for the green spaces in Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks, particularly after designating 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation.

"Many nature observers have expressed to me deep disappointment in what they perceive to be MSE's lack of leadership and ownership in the decisions on Gillman Barracks and Maju Forest," he said.

In response, Fu said it was not the way the government operates for MSE to "make a strong stance" and object to decisions made by MND, stressing that ministries work collectively on national policies.

Minister of State for National Development of Singapore Alvin Tan added that the government makes decisions across different ministries, including the MSE, but ultimately makes decisions "based on the best interest of Singapore and Singaporeans".

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A 22-year-old man was handed eight charges in court on Aug. 8 for driving a deregistered vehicle without a valid driving licence, and for causing the death of a petrol station attendant.

Ray Png AZ allegedly did so while under the influence of drugs, and subsequently fled the scene without stopping to help.

Man reversed abruptly, causing attendant to fall and hit his head

According to an Aug. 8 news release by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the incident took place at about 3:55am on Aug. 6.

Png had driven to a petrol station along Upper Changi Road North, where a 69-year-old male pump attendant had approached to refuel the man's car.

At that moment, Png got back into the vehicle and reversed abruptly.

The open driver's side car door struck the attendant, causing him to fall and hit his head.

The attendant was conveyed unconscious to the hospital. He subsequently passed away on Aug. 7.

Man and female passenger fled the scene

After the incident, Png allegedly abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene together with a female passenger.

Officers from the Traffic Police (TP) established the identities of the pair through ground enquiries, as well as images from police cameras and CCTVs.

Both were arrested on Aug. 6.

Png was arrested for driving without due care and attention causing death, driving under the influence of drugs, and suspected drug-related offences.

The 22-year-old female passenger was arrested on suspicion of consuming a controlled drug, and of abetting the driver in the traffic-related offences. Investigations against her are ongoing.

Preliminary investigations further revealed that the car was a deregistered vehicle, and that Png did not possess a valid driving licence.

The vehicle has since been seized by TP, and the suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

Police warn against deregistered vehicles

The man will be charged in court on Aug. 8 with the following offences:

• Driving without due care and attention causing death
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Driving a motor vehicle without a valid driving licence
• Using a vehicle without insurance coverage
• Using a deregistered vehicle
• Using a vehicle without a vehicle licence
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Failing to render assistance after an accident

In its release, the SPF said deregistered vehicles pose serious dangers to all road users, as they lack insurance coverage and may not meet safety standards.

It added that these risks are magnified considerably when such vehicles are operated by unlicensed or underaged drivers.

The Traffic Police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspected cases of deregistered vehicles or unlicensed drivers, adding that it takes a serious view of such irresponsible behaviour and will not hesitate to take action against those who endanger lives on the road.

Related story

Top image via SPF

Two Singaporean men have been charged in court on Aug. 8 for allegedly conspiring to make arrangements for Lim Tean to illegally depart Singapore for Malaysia.

The Singaporean lawyer and politician was supposed to surrender on Aug. 3 to serve jail time for practising law without a valid certificate.

He'd been sentenced to a jail term of three months and one week.

Police working to secure Lim Tean's return to S'pore

Lim was arrested by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in Johor Bahru on Aug. 6, according to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in an Aug. 8 statement.

The Singapore police is now working closely with the RMP to secure his return to Singapore.

According to a previous report by Shin Min, police tracked Lim down to a rented apartment in JB.

But he refused to open the door to the Malaysian police.

Lim was reportedly only arrested after the apartment's owner was called.

His hair was dishevelled and he appeared haggard.

He was also unable to produce his passport.

Mohammad Adam Abd Karim, 44, and Sulaiman Muhammad Firdaus, 37, were each handed with one count of engaging in a conspiracy to do an act that has a tendency to defeat the course of justice.

The cases against Adam and Sulaiman will be heard again in court on Aug. 14.

If convicted, they could be imprisoned for up to seven years, or fined, or both.

Failed to surrender to court

An arrest warrant was issued for the 61-year-old lawyer after he failed to surrender to court to start his jail term on Aug. 3.

He was initially ordered to surrender to the State Courts on Jul. 20, but requested to defer his sentence to Aug. 3.

The request was granted.

However, he did not show up on the date.

Both his lawyer and bailor were reportedly unable to reach Lim.

According to a tip-off to Shin Min, Lim had arrived at the JB apartment on Aug. 4.

Another person had reportedly helped him to book the rental apartment, and had arrived a day earlier to collect the key.

Lim was apparently supposed to stay till Aug. 7 and check out, but got arrested a day before that could happen.

The source added that Lim only left the apartment twice a day to pick up meals ordered via takeout, but was still recognised as the area is frequented by Singaporeans.

Top images Mothership & Lim Tean/Facebook

A slipper, an umbrella, a nerf gun bullet, and an electronics charging case have been found disposed at the Return Right machines meant to collect drink bottles and cans for recycling.

Such "inappropriate items" can cause disruptions and inconvenience others who are waiting to recycle, said a spokesperson for BCRS Ltd on Aug. 7.

Other litter found and highlighted by the operator of the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) include plastic capsule balls, a plastic wrapper, plastic cup, and paper cup.

Under the scheme that launched in April, over 1,000 Return Right machines have been placed across Singapore.

They are designed to ensure the recovery of a clean stream of high-quality materials that can be recycled, the spokesperson said.

"To keep Return Right machines running smoothly for everyone, we encourage the public to use them only for their intended purpose."

The spokesperson also reminded the public that recycling is a shared responsibility, and caring for the machines helps keep them accessible and reliable for the community.

BCRS Ltd told The Straits Times that inappropriate items are removed during routine maintenance, and the operator does not keep an exact count of them.

Since the launch of the BCRS, the machines have made more than one million successful transactions, with 5.5 million beverage containers returned, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament on Aug. 5.

The government is also on track to increase the number of machines to around 2,000 by April 2027.

Related stories

A 38-year-old man died after the car he was driving hit a traffic light, mounted a divider and overturned along Hougang Avenue 6 in the early hours of Aug. 7.

The driver was left trapped and unconscious inside the vehicle.

He was freed and taken to hospital, where he later died.

The accident happened at around 4:20am, along the stretch of Hougang Avenue 6 towards Hougang Avenue 10, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Roof cut open to free driver

A member of the public, Long (transliterated), 29, was passing by when he came across the overturned car with the driver unconscious inside.

He said he believed the car had first hit a traffic light before crashing into the divider.

Long said around 10 SCDF officers had to saw open the roof of the car: “After the man was rescued, he was lifted onto a stretcher, and paramedics then began emergency treatment.”

Video footage he provided showed several fire engines and police cars at the scene, with paramedics performing CPR on the driver.

Residents heard a loud crash

Residents living nearby told Shin Min they heard a loud noise at the time of the accident.

Lim (transliterated), 60, a renovation contractor, said she went to check.

She told Shin Min: "There were a lot of onlookers at the time, and the driver was inside the car. I heard his head was bleeding. Someone tried to knock on the window, but he did not respond, so we could only wait for the SCDF to rescue him."

She said the car was only towed away at around 8am.

She added that the car only came to a stop after crashing through railings and hitting a tree.

Debris was scattered up to 100m away.

A traffic light about 150m from the crash site was snapped in two.

The accident caused a jam and motorists had to make a detour.

Police and SCDF respond

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said the car was believed to have self-skidded, and that the driver was conveyed unconscious to hospital, where he later died.

Investigations are ongoing.

SCDF said its officers found a person trapped in the car on arrival, and freed him using hydraulic rescue equipment before taking him to Sengkang General Hospital.

The National Parks Board (NParks) has investigated a case of suspected abuse involving a community cat in the Marsiling industrial estate, and found no evidence to suggest an act of cruelty.

Around Jul. 26, the 10-year-old white cat, nicknamed "Bai Bai" (Mandarin for "white"), was discovered by cat feeders in what they initially believed to be black oil.

The residue was inside its ears and on its eyes as well, preventing the cat from opening its eyes, the feeders told Shin Min Daily News.

They added that Bai Bai was crying and looked very afraid at the time.

Concerned that it might have been abused, they reported the incident to the authorities.

In a statement provided on Aug. 7, NParks' Group Director of Enforcement and Investigation Jessica Kwok described the cat to be found with "black residue" on its body.

A veterinarian who treated the cat observed that it was in a dirty condition, she said.

"The residue is unlikely to be oil as it washed off from the cat’s body with water during a shower at the clinic. The cat was otherwise found to be well.

We have looked into the matter and found no evidence to suggest an act of cruelty."

She added that as community cats live in the open and move about freely, their living conditions may not be optimal compared to pet cats.