Indonesia's head of Government Communications Agency, Syahganda Nainggolan, said the government understands the concerns of Malaysia and Singapore over the haze caused by the forest and land fires in Indonesia.

In a report by Kompas, Syahganda said the fires are "beyond human error" and a natural phenomenon.

"We hope our neighbours understand that this is beyond human error; this is truly nature," he said to the media on Oct. 10.

The government continues its efforts to explain the haze situation to both Singapore and Malaysia, as well as the measures being taken to address it.

"When there's no haze, we send oxygen"

"We're not just sending over the haze. When there's no haze, we send oxygen. The oxygen from Singapore and Malaysia is from our forests, right?" he added.

Syahganda said that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had sent a delegate through his foreign minister to discuss the forest fires with Indonesia's foreign minister.

"We are going into detail about the discussions so that we can overcome this situation together. This was just a few days ago, I will look into it."

Indonesia appreciates Singapore & Malaysia's readiness to help

According to The Star, Anwar had also spoken to Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto and expressed his concerns over the haze situation.

Previously, Minister for Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu said that she has been in touch with her Indonesian counterparts to offer her support and that Singaporeans "stand ready to assist".

In an Oct. 10 report by the Straits Times, Indonesian officials expressed their appreciation for Singapore's and Malaysia's readiness to help tackle the haze.

The acting spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Berton Panjaitan, told ST that in terms of assistance from neighbours, ground personnel is preferred over aircraft.

Visibility is low, Berton explained, suggesting conditions might hinder aircraft operations.

With the national Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) now in full swing, a couple of issues have now cropped up seemingly as a result of high usage volume.

Users complained that the machines are often full and have become foul-smelling.

In response to queries, the scheme operator BCRS Ltd. said that the reverse vending machines are serviced and cleaned at least once daily.

Full bins

One user, Guo (transliteration), 57, told Shin Min Daily News that he has seen residents arrive at the BCRS reverse vending machines at Maxwell Food Centre and Whampoa Food Centre with bags of cans and bottles.

However, the machine would light up in red, leaving them unable to return the recyclables.

Guo said many people would show up with large bags of at least 200 bottles and cans.

"The machine would fill up quickly, frustrating those behind in the queue as they cannot return the recyclables," he continued.

Guo also shared that his friend had, on five occasions, encountered a "red light" at the vending machine in Pasir Panjang Hawker Centre, leaving the friend frustrated.

Guo told Shin Min that members of the public would like to support the recycling effort via the scheme.

However, he was concerned that issues with the reverse vending machines might put people off from participating.

"I think the machines need to be treated the same as trash bins. It should be cleared at least once a day," Guo opined.

When Shin Min visited the reverse vending machine at Maxwell Food Centre on Thursday (Oct. 8) afternoon, the machine was functioning normally.

A note on the machine also told the public they could go to the nearest machines if it was unavailable.

A QR code allowed users to check on the machine's status and capacity.

Stench

Apart from capacity issues, users have also complained online of a foul smell emanating from the reverse vending machines.

One user wrote on Facebook that the smell is similar to that of rubbish chutes.

On top of that, flies were also seen at the machine.

Other commenters shared similar observations about smell at the machines.

Machines are cleaned and serviced at least once daily: scheme operator

Responding to media queries, scheme operator BCRS Ltd. said it has received public feedback about odour from the machines.

Referring to a Sep. 30 factsheet, it said that all reverse vending machines are cleaned and serviced at least once daily.

It also said that it works closely with partners, including supermarkets, to ensure bins in the machines are cleared promptly during peak periods.

"Users can help keep machines operating smoothly by ensuring that containers are empty, and, where possible, rinsed before returning them," BCRS said in the factsheet.

"Users are also encouraged to keep the area around return points clean and not leave unreturned containers, litter or spill waste on the ground, so that the return point remains pleasant and accessible for everyone," it added.

A fire broke out at a coffee shop in Bukit Batok in the wee hours of the morning on Oct. 11.

What happened

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire at Block 413 Bukit Batok West Avenue 4 at about 3:50am.

The fire involved the contents of three food stalls at a coffee shop on the ground floor.

SCDF conducted forced entry into the coffee shop and put out the fire using two water jets.

About 30 people from the affected block were evacuated by the police and SCDF as a precaution.

One of them was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

MP Lee Hong Chuang went down to the scene

In a Facebook post, Hong Kah North MP Lee Hong Chuang said he went down to the scene to check on and speak to affected residents.

He said there appeared to be no significant impact on residents living on the second floor, although the floor of one unit was slightly warm.

"I advised the family to exercise extra caution and keep their little one away from the kitchen floor for the time being, as young children's skin can be more sensitive to heat," he said.

Lee added that beyond the physical damage, the lives and livelihoods of those affected must be remembered.

"Behind every stall are hardworking individuals and families who need some time to clear up and start over again.

My thoughts are with the coffee shop owner, all the stallholders, their workers and everyone affected by this unfortunate incident."

He also thanked SCDF, the Housing and Development Board, Jurong East-Bukit Batok Town Council, the police and Hong Kah North grassroots organisations, among others, for their support in this incident.

A group of residents from the Indonesian island of Borneo are taking the Indonesian government to court, accusing it of negligence in the handling of the forest fires that have resulted in thick haze across much of Southeast Asia.

Negligence accusations

According to the Associated Press, the residents are from West Kalimantan, and they call themselves "Nafas Kalbar", which translates to "Breath of West Kalimantan".

They filed their case last month in Pontianak, the capital city of West Kalimantan.

They accuse the government of negligence in handling the forest fires and of allegedly failing to supervise firefighting operations, their lawyer said.

In total, 27 individuals and agencies, including Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto, are being accused.

The first hearing took place on Oct. 8.

None of the accused attended.

According to The Guardian, the group's lawyer said, "We feel sad and regretful about their absence... But on the other hand, we also understand that perhaps this haze condition caused them to be unable to land in Pontianak."

The hearing was adjourned until Oct. 21.

A representative of the plaintiffs commented that the government had ignored warning signs of the fire.

Fires have been raging for more than three months

The forest fires that have blanketed the region in haze have been raging for more than three months, AP wrote.

They have led to school closures for about two months now in West Kalimantan, the lawyer said.

The haze has also disrupted transportation there.

The head of the West Kalimantan Indigenous Peoples Alliance, who goes by Tono, said that the lawsuit is not intended to fault the government, but to urge the state to fulfil its responsibility to protect the people and environment.

The fires are worse this year due, in part, to drier conditions brought on by El Niño.

Water shortages have also made firefighting more challenging, according to AP.

Haze blankets Singapore, Malaysia

As a result of the haze, schools in Johor, Malaysia, have also been ordered to close.

Singapore has similarly announced plans to close schools should the Pollution Standards Index cross into the "Unhealthy" range.

The haze has also triggered protest by environmental activists in Malaysia.

Leaders from both Singapore and Malaysia have expressed a readiness to provide assistance to Indonesia to tackle the ongoing haze issue.

Student Care Centres (SCCs) and Kindergarten Care (KCare) Centres will remain open even if schools close due to the haze, according to a notice sent to parents on Oct. 10 through the Parents Gateway platform.

According to a screenshot of the notice provided by a Mothership reader, it outlined enhanced haze mitigation measures for schools and educational institutions.

The notice was apparently sent to parents of secondary school students.

What happens when the PSI exceeds 200?

When the 24-hour PSI enters the "Very Unhealthy" range of 201 to 300, lessons will continue in well-ventilated enclosed spaces with air purifiers switched on.

Schools will also:

• Avoid outdoor activities and strenuous indoor physical activities;
• Minimise after-school activities; and
• Ensure students eat indoors during recess.

Teachers will also keep an eye out for students who are unwell or have pre-existing lung or heart conditions, and medical attention will be provided if necessary.

Arrangements have also been made for students to take their examinations in enclosed spaces such as classrooms or halls, where air purifiers will be provided.

Those who are unwell and unable to sit for their exams can apply for Special Consideration through their schools.

More information can be found here.

What happens when the PSI exceeds 300?

The Ministry of Education (MOE) would also consider closing MOE Kindergartens, Primary, Secondary and SPED Schools if the next day’s PSI forecast enters the "Hazardous range", which is above 300.

Junior Colleges (JC), Centralised Institute and the JC sections of IP Schools will remain open with enhanced haze mitigation measures.

Any decision to close schools will be announced around 8pm the day before, through schools and MOE's official channels.

SCCs and KCare centres will operate from 7am to 7pm during the closure.

Affected students will switch to home-based learning, while MOE Kindergartens will provide home-based activities for parents and caregivers to do with their children.

Examinations affected by the closure will be rescheduled, and the rescheduling will be announced together with the closure.

"We will monitor the situation and provide updates as needed," the notice read.

"Please check Parents Gateway regularly or contact the school's General Office directly. Thank you for working with MOE to safeguard our students' well-being and continued learning."

Education Minister Desmond Lee said earlier on Saturday that he understood many parents were concerned about the haze, especially those with children who have medical conditions or are sitting for national examinations.

"I assure you that the health and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority," he said.

As of 3pm on Oct. 11, the 24-hour PSI reading sits in the "Unhealthy" range.

The west and central regions recorded the highest readings, at 153 and 148 respectively.

A police vehicle was involved in an accident along Geylang Bahru Road towards Bendemeer Road on Oct. 10.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed that the incident took place at around 7:45am that Saturday.

No injuries were reported, and the 31-year-old male officer who was driving the vehicle is currently assisting with investigations.

In photos of the incident shared on the Facebook group SGRV Front Man, the police vehicle appeared to have struck a green divider and mounted a kerb.

Several police officers were shown standing nearby.

A video of the aftermath was also uploaded onto TikTok.

A 16-year-old Thai teenager has won hearts online for taking his grandfather on a 2,000km train journey from Thailand to Singapore in order to fulfill the latter's dream of visiting the country for the first time.

The teenager admitted that they were not wealthy, but the budget trip was focused on giving his grandfather an experience of a lifetime.

The 16-year-old, who goes by Queue, documented their adventure on Instagram.

Not from wealthy family

According to Thaiger, in one of the captions, Queue wrote, "As a 16-year-old boy, not from a wealthy family, I took my grandfather on a train journey covering 2,000km to Singapore for the first time."

Queue's posts showed the sights he encountered along the way, with transits through various stops in Malaysia before reaching Singapore.

To keep costs down, Queue shared in the comments that he and his grandfather took a third-class train through Thailand.

After crossing into Malaysia, the pair took a bus to Pasir Mas Railway Station before catching a train to Johor Bahru.

The train to Johor Bahru cost them 390 baht per person (about S$15).

From there, they took a bus across the causeway to reach Singapore.

Stayed overnight in JB instead to save on costs

In one of Queue's post, he and his grandfather could be seen posing and taking photographs in front of the Merlion.

The Oct. 6 post has since garnered over 816,000 likes.

Queue appeared to have started posting about his journey on Sep. 30.

According to Thaiger, to further manage costs, Queue and his grandfather chose not to stay overnight in Singapore.

Instead, they headed back to Johor Bahru, spending around 2,000 baht per night (S$76) on accommodation.

An elderly figure whom Queue looked up to reportedly helped pay for their accommodation.

Queue won praise from users in the comments, with some wishing his grandfather good health, Thaiger wrote.

"This is a budget trip focusing truly on a lifetime experience. Thanks for all the support," Queue wrote, according to Thaiger.

Schools and educational institutions in Johor, Malaysia, will remain closed from Oct. 12 to 16, as hazy conditions continue to plague the state.

This was announced by Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali, the Johor Education and Information Committee chairman, on Oct. 10, local media outlet The Star reported.

The state government had earlier shut schools for two days on Oct. 8 and 9.

All eight areas in Johor recorded unhealthy air quality readings of between 151 and 178 as of 12pm on Sunday, according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).

"The state government believes that early preventive measures must be prioritised to reduce the risk of prolonged exposure to polluted air," Naqib was quoted as saying.

"The decision also takes into account the need to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment before face-to-face schooling can resume."

Reasons for the extension

According to The Star, the decision aligned with a decree by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to prioritise the safety, health and well-being of Johor residents.

He said the state government also considered health reports and the risk of respiratory problems among children, students, and education community members.

Naqib also noted that winds forecast to blow from Kalimantan between Oct. 13 and 15 could also carry transboundary pollution into Johor.

With regard to academic assessments and examinations scheduled during the closure, Naqib said these will be postponed and rescheduled.

Where appropriate, students will continue learning at home to minimise disruption.

He added that the state government will keep a close watch on air quality and update the public through official channels.

Should the 24-hour Pollution Standards Index (PSI) cross 200 and enter the "very unhealthy range", the Singapore Government will distribute N95 masks to Singaporeans who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze or who may have limited means of obtaining the masks.

Such persons include individuals with medical conditions, the elderly, pregnant women or children aged seven to 16.

24-hour mask vending machines will complement the distribution effort by the People's Association (PA) grassroots organisations.

The machines will be located at 37 public transport hubs and social services offices.

They will serve the following eligible persons:

• Pioneer Generation (PG)
• Merdeka Generation (MG)
• CHAS Orange card holder
• CHAS Blue card holder
• Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) holder
• Recipients of ComCare Assistance

Each pack consists of two masks and can be collected at the vending machines with an NRIC.

Family members or friends can also make the collection on behalf of an eligible person using their NRIC.

Pregnant women, children aged seven to 16 and individuals with medical conditions may collect masks at PA venues with their NRICs.

These vending machines have been prepared and are on stand-by to be deployed.

As at 11am on Oct. 11, the 24-hour PSI reading for Central Singapore is 149, in the "Unhealthy" range.

Given the possibility of the haze situation deteriorating, the government has convened the Haze Taskforce (HTF), the National Environment Agency said in a media release on Oct. 9.

N95 mask distribution is part of a slew of measures announced in anticipation of a worsening haze.

A strike on an airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 10 has killed at least 12 and left over 300 people injured.

According to a report by BBC, the incident took place at King Khalid International Airport.

Those killed included 4 Saudis, 2 Bangladeshis, and 1 national each from the U.S., Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt.

A Saudi-led military coalition has blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack, calling it a "war crime" and vowing to respond to it.

Footage from Terminal 3 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following an Ansar Allah missile strike.

It remains unclear whether the missile was ballistic or cruise, with conflicting reports on the type of weapon used. https://t.co/OaahGp6xfO

— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) October 10, 2026

Eyewitnesses saw people lying injured on the ground

The Saudi civil aviation authority said in a statement on Saturday that some of the injured were "in critical condition", BBC reported.

It added that damage to the airport was being assessed.

All flights were diverted from Riyadh and operations at the airport were temporarily suspended, Reuters reported.

Speaking to Reuters, an eyewitness at the airport said they saw an explosion, followed by multiple people lying injured on the ground inside.

Several ambulances were also spotted rushing to the scene.

A traveller who was injured told the news agency they saw something fly across the sky outside the airport before part of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed.

The strike came a day after authorities said three Saudis were killed in two Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports on Oct. 6 and 7, reported BBC.

When asked if Washington planned to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis, U.S. President Donald Trump said they may.

"​We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly," he was quoted as saying.

The attacks were also condemned by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He described them as demonstrating "a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life", Reuters reported.

Background

The Iran-backed Houthis have justified the attacks by pointing to Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemen’s government in the civil war.

According to Reuters, a Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 after Arab countries joined forces to stop the Houthis from taking over Yemen.

A temporary ceasefire, which was brokered in 2022, began to unravel in July this year, after the Houthis seized strategically important stretches of the Red Sea coast.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive this week to retake the territory.

The Houthis have since declared Saudi airspace a zone of military operations and warned airliners to avoid it.