Thai police are launching an investigation into a man who was seen guiding and advising Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the scene of the deadly Chatuchak fire that has claimed the lives of 32 people.

Khaosod reported that the man, who also gave interviews to the media, was not from any government agency, despite his appearance in military-style garb.

He has since been identified as Chitpong Khattapong, a former candidate for the Bangkok Metropolitan Council.

The council is the legislative branch of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the government of Bangkok city.

Local news organisations captured footage of the man speaking with Anutin at the Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao bar and using a torchlight to explain certain characteristics about the bar's exits.

According to Thaiger, Chitpong is alleged to have repeated an unverified rumour that the bar locked emergency exits to stop customers from leaving without paying.

Man responds

Chitpong told Thairath that he was a civil defence volunteer in the Phayathai district.

"I am not a government official, but I am fully committed," he said.

He also explained that he was dressed in military-style gear because he had travelled to the scene directly from a BB gun competition.

Investigations

A police spokesperson said investigations would determine if Chitpong had falsely posed as a military officer, reported Khaosod.

If he is found to have impersonated an official, police will consider charging him accordingly.

Additionally, authorities are reviewing the statements he made at the scene to determine whether any of the information was misleading while assessing his intent.

As of Jul. 15, the death toll from the fire has risen to 32, with more than a dozen in critical condition in the hospital, according to AFP.

Investigations into the cause of the blaze are ongoing.

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"I've had a very productive state visit," President Tharman Shanmugaratnam concluded in his wrap-up interview with Singapore media on Jul. 15 after his four-day state visit to Malaysia.

Tharman said that both Singapore and Malaysia leaders are investing a lot in this relationship, making efforts to understand each other's thinking and pushing cooperation where possible.

"The healthy state of relations between Singapore and Malaysia is not a matter of luck," he said in his Instagram post.

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Aligned on the need to abide by the law of the sea and to diversify trading links

The two countries "think alike" in areas such as ASEAN's potential and on international issues which include the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, Tharman said to the media at the doorstop

Both countries are committed to ensuring the straits remain safe and toll-free.

"We think alike on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the criticality of abiding by UNCLOS, the law of the sea that ensures safe transit through a strait used for international navigation strait, without tolls or fees."

He added that the way how the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are being managed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore has worked well and achieved "win-win" for all users while abiding by the law of the sea.

His comments came on the heels of his meeting with Malaysian leaders, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with whom he exchanged views on the geopolitical developments, which include the implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict.

With both countries being export-oriented and as the world becoming more divided, Singapore and Malaysia also share a keen interest in diversifying trading links, said Tharman.

Diversifying trading links is important to avoid being forced by geopolitics into either a US-led bloc or a China-led bloc, he explained.

Strengthening bilateral economic complementarity and Asean's potential

Tharman also said that Singapore and Malaysia are "maturing" our economic complementarity, building on the deep relationship we share.

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the RTS Link are examples of such efforts.

While some businesses and service industries may "lose out", on the whole, both countries will be winners.

"We have to accept that, with the larger win, there will be some losses. And that is a mature way of thinking about the bilateral relationship, on both sides."

On Asean, Tharman believes that there is potential to unleash "a lot more" economic value.

"We are not yet there, but we have significant potential in Asean," he said, highlighting the region's prospect of being a "powerhouse" for green energy and processing power.

"We are really raising our level of ambition on ASEAN, and Malaysia and Singapore think alike in that regard. It is in the national interests of each ASEAN member state that we join forces on green energy, in processing power, and in the digital economy. It adds up to making Asean’s value proposition that much stronger in a world that is getting more fragmented."

More prolonged immersions to develop friendships among our students

In addition to the exchange programmes that we currently have, President Tharman believes that there is more to be done to bring together youths from both countries to deepen cultural exchanges.

"We cannot recreate what it was like in the old days – when young people literally grew up together, went to the same schools, and had family moving up and down the peninsular."

One way is to enable more prolonged immersion which may involve just a few schools or universities, he suggested while acknowledging that such immersive programmes are not easy to arrange.

However, Tharman believes that there will be a larger "strategic benefit" in time.

"There is nothing like living together, studying together, and hanging around together over a longer period, or repeated periods, that makes for lasting friendships and a more enduring understanding of each other."

This could be in joint studies or extended internships or entrepreneurship programmes, he added.

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years and seven months' jail and 12 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to two charges of statutory rape and one charge for a scam-related offence, The Straits Times reported.

The man, who was 20 at the time of the offences, lied to a 13-year-old girl online that he was 18.

He later had sex with her at a staircase landing.

He met another 13-year-old girl while under investigation for this offence and had sex with her as well.

The man cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the victim's identity.

First victim

According to ST, the man began chatting with the first victim in November 2023 after responding to her Instagram story.

He initially lied that he was 18 years old, only revealing his real age to her later.

In December 2023, he asked the victim to be his girlfriend. She agreed.

On Dec. 4 that year, the two met for the first time at Jurong Point. They continued to chat after and also exchanged nude photographs of themselves, ST wrote.

On Dec. 14, they met for breakfast near Jurong Point.

They later made their way back to the girl's residence, during which they started kissing.

After arriving at the girl's block, the pair went to a staircase landing where they continued to kiss.

The man asked the girl if she wanted to have sex and she agreed, ST reported.

On Dec. 19, the man asked to break up with the girl.

A few days later, he sent threatening messages to her, prompting her to make a police report on Dec. 28 as she was afraid that he would go to her home.

Second victim

According to ST, while under investigation, the man met another 13-year-old in March 2024.

To the second victim, he told her that he was 17.

They started chatting on WhatsApp after exchanging numbers.

On Apr. 23, 2024, the man stayed over at the girl's home.

The girl went to bed, sharing a room with her grandmother.

The man later entered the room and lay down beside the girl.

He then had sex with her, but stopped after a minute as he felt guilty, ST wrote, citing court documents.

On Apr. 25, the girl found out that the man lied about his age and broke up with him.

The second victim's mother made a police report on May 29.

Scam-related offences

The man was also involved in scam-related offences, in which he surrendered his bank details to a person he contacted via Telegram for cash loans, ST reported.

The bank account was later used to funnel scam proceeds, including S$44,000, which the man unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw and hand over to two unidentified runners.

Prosecution sought 16 strokes of cane

According to ST, the prosecution sought nine years and seven months' jail, 16 strokes of the cane, and a S$3,000 fine.

They cited the fact that the man did not use a condom on both occasions he had sex with the minors, which exposed the victims to sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy.

Following the news of the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore)'s retrenchment, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Choo said that the agency had engaged the affiliated union early to help affected staff.

Choo said the Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE) negotiated for enhancements to the support package beyond the provisions of the collective agreement between the agency and the union.

This included financial support and career transition assistance to help affected workers towards their next opportunity.

"Workforce restructuring and retrenchment are unsettling and always difficult for affected workers and their families. They should never have to go through it alone," he wrote in a post on social media.

The statutory board announced that it is cutting about 7 to 9 per cent of its staff following a shift to a new operating model.

The first phase of the restructuring exercise saw 93 officers transitioning out of GovTech, it said in a press release on Jul. 15.

Fair and just transition

"NTUC is committed to journeying with members and workers through every stage of their careers, especially during periods of sudden change and uncertainty," Choo wrote.

Choo explained that GovTech had engaged AUSBE early, and that made a "meaningful difference".

The agency and the union worked together to identify alternatives to retrenchment, including retraining, apprenticeship and redeployment opportunities, and reduced the impact on officers, he said.

For those who are exiting the agency, AUSBE negotiated for enhancements to the support package beyond the provisions of the collective agreement between the agency and the union.

This included financial support and career transition assistance to help them towards their next opportunity, Choo said.

"Besides ensuring the availability of career coaches, e2i has already curated a tech career fair for them. We are committed to helping the affected GovTech workers for as long as they take to land another opportunity," he added.

Choo explained that when employers engage unions early, the union can better address workers' concerns, prepare and provide timely support to facilitate smoother transitions, and help them find jobs with the support of NTUC’s e2i.

"To all PMEs and public officers, I encourage you to seek out NTUC’s resources, and our affiliated unions, to support you in your career journey."

Union negotiated for and secured enhanced support package

In a statement on Jul. 15, the general secretary of AUSBE, Gabriel Ng, said it was informed of GovTech’s workforce restructuring plans early and has been working closely with the agency to support affected officers.

Ng said the union’s priority has been to mitigate the impact of the exercise and support affected officers, adding that it has worked closely with the agency to identify alternatives to retrenchment, including retraining, apprenticeship, and redeployment opportunities.

Ng said the union also successfully negotiated an enhanced support package that goes beyond the provisions in the collective agreement between the union and the agency.

Besides the collective agreement, AUSBE has partnered GovTech for affected officers to also receive (i) outplacement and transition support in the form of a three-month ex gratia payment; (ii) pro-rated performance bonus; and (iii) six months of paid union membership for AUSBE members.

The union has also connected affected staff to the Labour Movement’s network, including NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).

In addition, career coaches from NTUC’s e2i were on-site to provide personalised career coaching and job matching support for affected Singaporean and Permanent Resident officers, Ng said.

Those who require assistance can reach out to AUSBE at 62972097 or ausbe@ntuc.org.sg.

The police have identified and arrested a 22-year-old man in relation to a case of voyeurism at Compass One mall in Sengkang, the police said on Jul. 15 in response to media queries.

Police investigations are ongoing, they added.

Previously, Sengkang Neighbourhood Police Centre said in a Facebook post on Jul. 13 that an incident was reported at Compass One on May 28, 2026, at about 3:32pm.

The post was accompanied by a photo of a man.

The nature of the incident was initially not disclosed, but the post appealed to the public to provide information on the man.

Shaw Theatres at Lido will be showing limited screenings of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, "The Odyssey", on 35mm film from Jul. 16.

It will be the only cinema in Southeast Asia to do so, Shaw Theatres said in a news release.

"The Odyssey" on 35mm film will only be screened at Lumiere Grand, a large-format hall with two types of seating options, including a section in the middle with 36 Lumiere recliners seats and classic sofa-style seats around the rest of the hall.

The film’s runtime is about two hours and 52 minutes, and it will involve nine film reels to be spliced together.

Watching the title on 35mm retains Nolan's intended cinematic experience of delivering rich analogue colour to viewers by projecting light directly through the celluloid.

Restored projectors

The new Lido 1 and Lumiere Grand halls are equipped with the restored Lido original 1993 Ushio U-Tech 35mm film projectors with DTS and SRD sound formats.

Both halls are also fitted with Barco 4K digital-laser projection and Dolby 7.1 surround sound.

The last screening of a 35mm film for Shaw Theatres was more than 13 years ago, Christopher Shaw, executive vice president of Shaw Theatres said.

The last 35mm film screened at Shaw Theatres, "Hyde Park on Hudson", was on Mar. 13, 2013, at Lido.

Part of the original Shaw Theatres team of projectionists and technicians proficient with 35mm film projectors is still with the company, and more are now being trained in it, Shaw Theatres said.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey is Nolan’s 13th film.

It is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology.

The Odyssey stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron.

The film opens in theatres on Jul. 16.

The Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) is retrenching about 7 to 9 per cent of its staff following a shift to a new operating model.

The first phase of the restructuring exercise saw 93 officers transitioning out of GovTech, it said in a press release on Jul. 15.

GovTech said the move comes as it evolves its operating model to deliver “faster, more secure, and more responsive digital services” for all Singaporeans.

This involves moving from a one-off project-delivery model to a continuous product-ownership model, the statutory board said.

In implementing the workforce transformation, GovTech was able to retain 102 officers in their roles, while 110 will be retrained into new roles through apprenticeships.

Of the 93 affected, 36 are expected to be laid off immediately.

Chairman: GovTech needs to own and run products ourselves

In a note to staff, GovTech’s chairman, Chng Kai Fong, explained that the agency must move from managing projects delivered by vendors to owning and running products itself.

This requires a different mix of skills, he said, adding that critical systems increasingly demand in-house capabilities so the agency can respond and adjust quickly to national needs.

The changes will be implemented progressively over the next two years in three phases.

The first phase covered six Government Digital Transformation (GDT) Forward Deployed Teams and one central GovTech function, Chng said.

The remaining two phases are expected to cover the rest of GDT’s Forward Deployed Teams.

Strategic shift

Calling the shift “strategic,” GovTech said it was driven by the “growing complexity and scale” of government digital services.

“It will strengthen our ability to realise our Smart Nation vision where technology serves the public good,” it said.

GovTech also clarified that the move was not driven by artificial intelligence, adding that it was not a cost-cutting or downsizing exercise.

“GovTech is changing shape, not shrinking… It will be a different GovTech, and not every current role maps onto it,” Chng said.

The affected roles are mainly in traditional project and vendor management, which are expected to become less necessary as more products are developed and operated in-house.

Chng also clarified that the decision on affected roles was not a judgement on an individual’s commitment, performance or value of their work.

“Some colleagues who are leaving have performed well in roles GovTech will need less of,” he said.

The judgement was narrow, based only on whether there is a credible fit with a specific role in the future organisation, he said.

While the change will affect the mix of roles and capabilities that GovTech needs, the overall demand for digital talent continues to grow, the agency said, adding that it is still actively hiring for some positions like software engineers, product managers, and designers.

Support through transition

GovTech has outlined four possible pathways for affected staff: capability development (apprenticeship), alternative public service placement, operational continuity and transition and support package.

Saying that supporting its workers through the change is its priority, GovTech said it has already “successfully redeployed and converted” a substantial number of officers into new roles.

It is also continuing to internally redeploy as many of its officers as possible, GovTech added.

Affected officers in project and vendor management roles will be offered full-salary apprenticeships and structured retraining programmes that combine technical and on-the-job training to enable them to transition into product ownership and related capabilities, GovTech said.

Moreover, GovTech is also standardising some of its services to deliver them more efficiently and effectively to users.

As such, roles tied to these services are being consolidated, with affected officers redeployed where possible, GovTech said.

GovTech said it recognises that not every officer will be able to “make this transition” and is working with the Public Service Division (PSD), the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), and the Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE) to provide them with personalised support.

Those transitioning out of GovTech will be given a support package tailored in partnership with the union.

Chng shared that this includes one month’s salary for every year of service, capped at 25 years, as well as a three-month ex gratia payment to provide additional support.

Affected staff will also continue to receive salary and benefits throughout the six-week handover and notice period.

They will also receive structured career guidance and active job matching, both within the public service and beyond, as well as an additional completion payment for colleagues asked to remain to complete handovers or operate critical systems.

Chng said: “We will support every affected officer with care and respect through this transition, whether they continue with GovTech, take up other roles in the Public Service, or move beyond it. Each of them helped build systems and services that Singaporeans use every day, and for that, we are grateful.”

This was also echoed by Goh Wei Boon, Chief Executive of GovTech.

"Citizens and agencies expect digital services that are more secure, reliable and responsive to their needs. This transformation will help GovTech to deliver such services", Goh said.

Union negotiated for and secured enhanced support package

In a statement on Jul. 15, the general secretary of AUSBE, Gabriel Ng, said it was informed of GovTech’s workforce restructuring plans early and has been working closely with the agency to support affected officers.

Ng said the union’s priority has been to mitigate the impact of the exercise and support affected officers, adding that it has worked closely with the agency to identify alternatives to retrenchment, including retraining, apprenticeship, and redeployment opportunities.

Ng said the union also successfully negotiated an enhanced support package that goes beyond the provisions in the collective agreement between the union and the agency.

Besides the collective agreement, AUSBE has partnered GovTech for affected officers to also receive (i) outplacement and transition support in the form of a three-month ex gratia payment; (ii) pro-rated performance bonus; and (iii) six months of paid union membership for AUSBE members.

The union has also connected affected staff to the Labour Movement’s network, including NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).

In addition, career coaches from NTUC’s e2i were on-site to provide personalised career coaching and job matching support for affected Singaporean and Permanent Resident officers, Ng said.

Those who require assistance can reach out to AUSBE at 62972097 or ausbe@ntuc.org.sg.

MOM's statement

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also said in a statement on Jul. 15 that it is aware that GovTech is conducting a restructuring exercise.

SWDA is working closely with GovTech, PSD, and other public agencies to facilitate redeployment within the public sector through the provision of skills advisory, career coaching and job matching, MOM said.

MOM added that GovTech has also committed to providing a payment package that goes beyond the recommendations set out in the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment (TAMEM) for those leaving the public sector.

SWDA and e2i are working closely with GovTech to support the affected workers. SWDA will provide tailored career coaching, job matching and employment support, MOM added.

This includes curating suitable job opportunities, recommending suitable reskilling pathways based on individual needs, and working with appointed employment agencies to broaden their access to outplacement opportunities.

A couple in Singapore had to scramble to get a new wedding cake just hours ahead of their ceremony after their original cake order was suddenly cancelled.

On the morning of the wedding on Jun. 26, they received a photo of what the seller claimed was the finished cake, which they had ordered for S$145 via Carousell.

Along with this photo, the seller, known as Dream Bakery, informed them of an unexpected problem.

The fridge at their shop was "under maintenance", so they needed to deliver the cake hours earlier than scheduled, according to screenshots of the conversation seen by Mothership.

The couple eventually got help from the wedding venue to receive the cake early, but Dream Bakery abruptly messaged again to say they had refunded the couple's S$75 deposit and would not be delivering the cake.

"I really cannot arrange [the delivery] due to my fridge," they wrote. "My apologies."

This was at 1:04pm, about six hours before the ceremony.

The fridge issue

The bride had been communicating with Dream Bakery about the cake via Carousell.

Initially, she told Dream Bakery she and her fiancé wanted the cake delivered at 3pm on the day of their wedding, she told Mothership.

But after she explained that they could not use the fridge at the hotel of their wedding, Dream Bakery advised that they receive the cake later, at 7:30pm, to prevent any melting.

That would be just an hour before the cake cutting as scheduled, but the couple agreed to this revised time.

At 10:50am on the morning of the wedding, the seller dropped the news about their fridge.

They apologised and said that their fridge "suddenly" had problems, so they had to deliver the cake by 3pm.

Negotiations

The groom then took over communications with Dream Bakery via WhatsApp.

"My fiancé asked if they could speak over the phone, but she replied that she was busy arranging other cakes and would call later," the bride said.

"She then repeatedly asked us to find an alternative delivery location or somewhere with a fridge."

Shortly after, the groom managed to get the hotel to let them use their fridge. At 11:41am, he told Dream Bakery they could send the cake at 3pm.

The bakery allegedly did not respond to his message.

The next time the couple heard from them was a 1:04pm message on Carousell, when the bakery said they had refunded the deposit.

When the bride replied that they could receive the cake at 3pm, the bakery simply apologised and said, "No, I refunded."

They refused to answer any further calls or messages, according to the bride.

As the bride was having her make-up done at the time, she only saw this message at around 2pm.

"I also do not understand why she did not inform my fiancé via WhatsApp that she had decided to cancel the order, especially since he was also communicating with her throughout the morning," she said.

Finding a replacement cake

Fortunately, the couple's wedding went smoothly.

Several other bakeries were willing to take on a last-minute order, and they eventually got a replacement cake.

At S$290, it was twice the cost of their original cake, but it "turned out beautifully" and got many compliments from the guests, the bride said.

"In the end, everything worked out for us despite the experience."

'No responsibility'

Nonetheless, the bride was frustrated by the incident with Dream Bakery.

"I cannot understand the seller's thought process or why she took no responsibility and offered no sincere apology," she told Mothership. "This can be handled more professionally if she was genuinely facing a fridge issue."

She called the bakery's actions "completely unprofessional and unethical", adding that the sudden cancellation created "unnecessary stress during one of the most important days of [their] lives".

Reported

The couple originally thought Dream Bakery would be reliable, given its 4.9-star rating from 91 reviews on Carousell, where it also has a Premium Service badge.

After the incident, the bride reported the seller to Carousell.

According to her, Carousell said they had issued the seller a formal warning in accordance with their policies, and would continue to monitor the account for any future issues.

They allegedly added that there was little else they could do since she had received a refund.

Checks by Mothership on the afternoon of Jul. 15 found that Dream Bakery's account appears to have been deleted on Carousell.

The bakery also did not respond to any of Mothership's WhatsApp messages or calls.

A Singaporean family's flat corridor became home to four olive-backed sunbirds.

This was after the parent birds built their nest in a potted plant there.

According to a Facebook post by Khoo Hoon Teng, he wrote: "The sunbird babies have officially fledged their nest and are exploring the neighbourhood."

The 55-year-old told Mothership that the parent birds started building the nest on Jun. 4, 2026.

He added that his wife saw both parent birds fly into their flat to check out the space a day prior.

The baby birds were then first sighted on Jul. 4, 2026.

Bigger chick flew into flat once

According to Khoo, in one instance, the bigger fledgling flew into Khoo's flat and ended up behind their 3D printer.

When asked if the birds had different temperaments, Khoo said the bigger chick was more active and "not that shy" as it usually looked at them.

He added that the smaller chick would usually hide below the bigger chick.

On Jul. 12, the fledglings took off, only to return later that evening.

As of Jul. 14, Khoo shared that the fledgling chicks were still squeezing in the nest after the mother bird had brought them back.

Khoo said he was "really happy" to have been given the opportunity to watch the birds grow.

He noted: "When they fledged, leaving the nest empty and no more chirping, I felt sad."

What to do when encountering baby birds?

Should members of the public encounter a baby bird, NParks advises them to:

• Stay calm and observe from a safe distance
• Do not feed the bird

If assistance is required for wildlife-related issues, members of the public may contact NParks’ 24-hour Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.

More information can be found on NParks’ website.

A former state-owned holiday chalet site along Jalan Loyang Besar, which had also previously served as a temporary workers' dormitory, has officially been given a second lease of life.

After years of disuse, the roughly 40-year-old property underwent a 10-month restoration to become Coliwoo Resort Changi, Singapore's first resort-style co-living destination.

On Jul. 15, co-living operator Coliwoo Holdings Limited announced that it will open later this month.

The space

The property spans 380,866 sq ft of land area and comprises both living and commercial spaces, and a range of multi-purpose amenities.

According to the group, the resort offers 380 rooms and a variety of accommodation types, including maisonettes and private studio units.

Some of the amenities visitors can look forward to include:

Aquatic and fitness facilities: An adults' pool, a children's pool, a jacuzzi, a fully equipped gym, and an outdoor sports court.

Social and community spaces: A co-working lounge, karaoke rooms, a children's playground, and outdoor event plazas.

Green sanctuaries: Outdoor gardens and a community farming garden.

Sustainability initiatives

The resort also aims to lead in eco-conscious hospitality, integrating sustainability initiatives and infrastructure into its space.

As part of the 10-month restoration, Coliwoo retained close to 40 per cent of the site's existing landscape as part of its commitment to adaptive reuse.

Existing timber screens were also upcycled into toilet privacy screens, tabletops, benches, planter boxes and feature walls.

Other sustainability initiatives include installing solar panels, rainwater harvesting, food composting and EV charging parking spaces.

Coliwoo described the space as “a sprawling, garden-set co-living community in Singapore’s eastern corridor, built for residents who want nature, community and a sense of escape without leaving the co-living fold.”