The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) elected its 39th Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Oct. 25.

Votes at the biennial internal election were made by party cadres, who make up a small proportion of the PAP's membership and represent the party elite.

They are responsible for electing 12 of the CEC members at the party conference, while another up to six members are co-opted.

The 39th CEC, as PAP's highest decision-making body, will steer the party from 2026 to 2028.

Who's in

The members of the 39th PAP CEC, not listed in order of the number of votes they received, are as follows:

1. Lawrence Wong
2. Lee Hsien Loong
3. Chan Chun Sing
4. Masagos Zulkifli
5. K Shanmugam
6. Grace Fu
7. Chee Hong Tat
8. Edwin Tong
9. Indranee Rajah
10. Ong Ye Kung
11. Vivian Balakrishnan
12. Desmond Lee
13. Tan See Leng (Co-opted)
14. Zaqy Mohamad (Co-opted)

Changes

Chee Hong Tat, who was previously co-opted into the 38th CEC, replaced Heng Swee Keat as one of the top 12 vote-getters.

Typically, the secretary-general will co-opt the members who received the 13th and 14th highest number of votes, in this case Tan See Leng and Zaqy Mohamad (not necessarily in that order).

Zaqy Mohamad was previously co-opted into the 38th CEC, but now is one of the top 14 (at least) highest vote-getters.

The CEC will also have the power to co-opt up to four more members in due time.

After the full CEC is announced, the committee will elect its office-bearers from among its members.

This will include the party's chairman, vice-chairman, secretary-general, assistant secretary-general, treasurer and assistant treasurer, as well as other positions it deems necessary.

Food delivery platform foodpanda has rolled out full-time delivery rider roles in Singapore.

The Employee Rider Programme offers at least S$1,800 per month, complete with full CPF contributions and other employee benefits, according to the platform's website.

Other perks include a six-month retention bonus of S$100 per month, as well as medical leaves and coverage.

Full-time employee riders must work 44 hours a week.

Unlike platform riders, who deliver ad hoc and are protected under the Platform Workers Act, they will fall under the Employment Act.

Requirements

The role is currently open only to bicycle or e-bike users, though the company will provide an e-bike to those without either vehicle.

Those who bring their own e-bikes will receive an additional S$100 in vehicle allowance.

To qualify for the base pay of S$1,800 each month, riders need to achieve a target of 320 qualifying orders, which the platform said is possible in just 100 to 110 hours per month.

Upon reaching the target, they can continue working under a freelance account.

According to foodpanda, those who do not reach the 320 orders target will not lose their basic salary, provided they complete their required 44 hours a week.

However, they may still be subject to remedial actions, including termination.

Complementing current delivery riders

The new scheme, launched on Oct. 21, is meant to complement instead of replace its current fleet of platform riders, the company told The Straits Times.

It said the introduction is part of the platform's "ongoing efforts to strengthen delivery capacity and maintain a reliable service" for customers and merchant partners.

There are sufficient energy supplies to meet Singapore's national demands, said the Energy Market Authority (EMA) in a media statement on Oct. 24.

This comes after the announcement that Indonesia will begin cutting natural gas exports to Singapore from Saturday, in a bid to meet domestic demand.

Cuts less than per cent of total daily gas demand

In response to Mothership's queries, an EMA spokesperson said that, based on information received by Singapore's natural gas importers, the total reduction amounts to 17 billion British thermal units per day (BBTUD) over 18 days.

This is less than 2 per cent of Singapore's total daily gas demand of more than 1,000 BBTUD.

Importers will pursue all relevant recourse under their gas supply contracts, the spokesperson added, and contingency plans are in place to deal with such reductions.

The spokesperson said reductions of 20 BBTUD to 100 BBTUD in recent months, due to planned or urgent maintenance, were replaced with other gas sources without incident.

Singapore GasCo, the country's central procurer and supplier of natural gas, is also operationally ready to import more Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at any time.

The spokesperson also noted that Indonesia is not Singapore's only source of natural gas.

Power generation companies are also required to maintain sufficient fuel reserves, including diesel.

"We therefore have sufficient energy supplies to meet our national demands," the spokesperson affirmed.

"EMA will continue to work with the energy industry and our partners to ensure the reliability and resilience of Singapore’s energy supply."

The cuts

On Oct. 23, SKK Migas chief Djoko Siswanto said exports from Natuna would be reduced by 15 BBTUD, while another 16 BBTUD would be cut from supplies originating in Sumatra, bringing the total cut to 31 BBTUD per day, according to CNBC Indonesia.

Indonesia’s plan to scale back gas exports to Singapore is not new, The Straits Times (ST) reported.

It agreed in 2022 to extend supplies to 2028 at lower volumes, and in April 2025, Djoko said Sumatra exports would be cut while Natuna supplies made up the shortfall.

Review agreements with countries that "did not respect" Indonesia

The cuts also come days after Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia threatened to stop energy exports to countries that "disrespect" Indonesia.

"I will not hesitate to consider stopping exports to countries that do not respect Indonesia," he said on Oct. 22.

He added that he would "conduct an evaluation" of Indonesia's current energy export contracts, and urged countries with issues with Indonesia to discuss them amicably and resolve them on the principle of mutual respect.

Five of the 10 Singapore-based companies that were served legal notices by the National Environment Agency under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) have said they will cooperate with requests for information on their links to fires in Indonesia.

Will comply with requests

Three of the firms, Wilmar International, Bumitama Agri and First Resources, said in filings on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) that they had received the notices and intend to comply.

Wilmar International made its announcement close to midnight on Oct. 23, a few hours after NEA issued a media release on the legal notices.

First Resources followed at 1:15am on Oct. 24, saying it had agreed to provide the necessary details.

Bumitama Agri and its subsidiaries subsequently announced at 1:15pm the same day that they would provide the requested documents and information to NEA.

A spokesperson from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) also told Mothership they are cooperating with the authorities.

"We are reviewing the notices and will respond to NEA as required," the spokesperson said.

The other five companies have yet to respond to the notices:

• Golden Agri International Pte Ltd
• Indofood Agri Resources Ltd
• Kencana Agri Ltd
• TSH Global Plantation Pte Ltd
• TSH Oversea Pte Ltd

Legal notices

NEA said the 10 firms either own land concessions in Indonesia, or have related companies that do.

Through the notices, it is seeking details on the companies' links to associated firms, their land concessions, fire prevention measures, and firefighting efforts by the firms or their associated companies on the ground.

Representatives of firms that do not comply face a fine of up to S$5,000, up to one month's jail, or both.

NEA had also earlier sent preventive measure notices (PMNs) under the THPA to 10 companies in Indonesia for fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan on Oct. 16 and 19.

The 10 companies are:

1. PT Bumi Andalas Permai (BAP)
2. PT Bumi Mekar Hijau (BMH)
3. PT SBA Wood Industries (SBAWI)
4. PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng (PML)
5. PT Sumatera Alam Anugerah (SAA)
6. PT Hutan Lestari Raya (HLR)
7. PT Bangkanesia (BKN)
8. PT Buana Megatama Jaya (BMJ)
9. PT Mananjung Hayak (MH)
10. PT Baratama Putra Perkasa (BPP)

The notices require the 10 foreign companies to:

• Deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of fire on land situated outside of Singapore owned or occupied by them;
• Discontinue or not commence any burning activities on such land; and
• Submit to NEA any plan of action to extinguish any fire on such land to prevent its spread or recurrence.

A teenager in Singapore was dining alone at a hawker centre when an older man he did not know allegedly sat down in front of him and later flung leftover food at him.

The incident first came to light after the teenager uploaded a video of the encounter on Instagram.

Flung pieces of leftover brinjal at the teen

Speaking to Mothership, the teenager, 19-year-old Junbin, said the incident took place at around 7:28pm at Anchorvale Village Hawker Centre on Oct. 22.

He said he was eating alone when the man sat down opposite him without a word and pushed his tray against Junbin's.

The man stared at him for about a minute, then used his chopsticks to flick pieces of leftover brinjal at him, some of which landed on Junbin's food, he said.

That was when he started recording.

In the video, Junbin can be heard asking the man what was wrong and whether he had done something to offend him.

The man did not answer, except to say: "Stop pointing the camera at me ah."

The man then stood up and moved towards the camera, pointing at it, prompting Junbin to try and block him with his hand.

The man appeared to be pushed backwards, but later went in front of Junbin again, raising his hand.

The video ended after the man appeared to jab his hand forward.

After the recording ended, Junbin said he asked people nearby three times if anyone could help.

They either kept watching or shook their heads, he said.

He eventually took his food and bag and moved to another table.

"I encourage anyone who encounters situations like this, please try to avoid reacting rashly and try to de-escalate the situation, especially when dealing with the elderly," he said.

Cleaner and stallholders recognised the man

When a Shin Min Daily News reporter visited the hawker centre the next day, a 70-year-old cleaner said she had seen the man while working at another nearby hawker centre.

"He is always staring at young men. If they ignore him, he'll make gestures to try and get their attention," she said.

However, she said she had never seen him get into an actual altercation.

She added that some people have not taken too kindly to his stares, adding that her nephew was once stared at by the man and nearly got into a physical confrontation with him.

Other hawkers also said they recognised the man, saying he often dined at the hawker centre alone.

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A 26-year-old man was sentenced to 14 weeks in jail on Oct. 23 for assaulting his wife despite a personal protection order (PPO) against him, according to Shin Min Daily News.

PPO granted in 2022

Investigations showed that his wife was granted a PPO on Jun. 28, 2022, which prohibited him from using any violence against her.

On Feb. 11, 2025, the man received a message from his wife that their four-year-old son had suffered an epileptic seizure, and the pair took him to the hospital together.

After initial checks in the emergency room, doctors first told them the boy could be discharged, but later said a lump on his head needed further checks and that he would have to be admitted.

Upon hearing this, the man allegedly lost his temper and got into a heated argument with his wife. When she reached out to cover his mouth, he punched her in the mouth.

He was arrested by the police, but was released on bail.

Grabbed wife by the neck and shoved her

On Nov. 27, 2025, the wife learnt from a friend that the man suspected her of cheating on him. She was angry and asked him to meet to confront him.

On the afternoon of Dec. 27, the two met at Block 415 Serangoon Central to talk. They also had sex in the stairwell, according to Shin Min.

Afterwards, they got into another argument. When the wife told him she no longer had feelings for him and hoped to marry someone else, the man grabbed her by the neck in a rage and pushed her away.

He also gripped her hands tightly and questioned her harshly. The wife eventually escaped and ran to an MRT station to seek help from staff, and the man was arrested again.

The man pleaded guilty to two of seven charges, which included voluntarily causing hurt, theft and breaching a PPO.

A 61-year-old woman was found dead at the foot of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Jurong East on Oct. 23.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for assistance at Block 286A Toh Guan Road at around 11:25am.

A person was pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic.

Separately, the police said that based on preliminary investigations, no foul play is suspected.

Investigations are currently ongoing.

A video purportedly of the incident on TikTok showed several police vehicles parked at a HDB block.

In another part of the video, a blue police tent could be seen at a common area below the block.

In the caption, the TikTok user said their mother had heard the "sound of something heavy being dropped, followed by someone crying loudly".

A 38-year-old Taiwanese woman named Ching Yun-jung was found dead at a hotel near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, on Oct. 19.

Police arrested a Taiwanese woman, Yang Ming-han, 27, who was found in the same room with a bloodstained knife, Japan Today reported.

Both women were guests at the hotel, located on the eastern side of Lake Kawaguchi.

It is unclear what the relationship between the two women was, and police investigations are underway.

Died from excessive blood loss

At around 8am on Oct. 19, a hotel employee found Ching lying on the bed and bleeding, according to The Standard. Hotel staff were checking her room as she had failed to show up at the meeting point for her tour group.

Police and paramedics confirmed her death at the scene.

An autopsy confirmed she died from excessive blood loss after a deep stab wound to the left side of her neck reaching the carotid artery.

Suspect found in the room possessing knife

Yang was found in the room at the time, possessing a blood-stained kitchen knife with a 12 cm-long blade. She was arrested on suspicion of violating the Swords and Firearms Control Law, according to Japan Today.

Police have not confirmed whether she will face murder charges.

Yang reportedly admitted buying the knife during the trip, but has not admitted to killing Ching, reported The Standard.

The two women were members of the same tour group, according to Focus Taiwan. No further information on any link between the two has been shared.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Oct. 20 that it has contacted the families and will provide any assistance needed. It declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing investigation.

Victim is daughter of head of Taiwan's National Air Service Corps

Taiwanese media reported that Ching is the daughter of Ching Yen-yuan, head of Taiwan's National Airborne Service Corps, The Standard said.

He had been scheduled to attend a Legislative Yuan session on Oct. 22, but took leave to fly to Japan to handle his daughter's affairs.

A portion of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi's legs and a small section of her spine were still attached to legs found inside a refrigerator, a court heard on Oct. 22, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

On Feb. 24, 2023, police discovered parts of the 28-year-old's dismembered body at a Hong Kong property her ex-husband's family was renting.

Her head was later found in pots containing soup and minced meat.

Choi's ex-husband Alex Kwong, 31, his father Kwong Kau, 68, and brother Anthony Kwong, 35, were subsequently arrested and jointly charged with murder and with preventing the lawful burial of a body.

Alex and Anthony pleaded guilty to the latter charge, but Kwong did not.

All three denied murdering her and have been on trial since September 2026.

Cut mark on spine consistent with electric saw blade

According to a report by SCMP, senior government chemist Tam Cheok-ning, who specialises in video and tool mark analysis, told the court he found a cut mark on the spine that was consistent with the blade of one of two electric saws found in the flat.

The prosecution earlier said the defendants had bought items like a meat mincer and an electric saw days before the murder.

While the alleged murder and disposal of Choi’s body were not captured by security cameras, the prosecution said that at around 3pm on Feb. 21, 2023, the three men could be seen through a car window's reflection carrying a heavy-looking plastic box into the flat.

Tam also said he believed two boxes found inside the flat were the same ones the defendants allegedly used.

Bought meat mincer before the alleged murder

Kwong earlier admitted to visiting a kitchenware supplier and purchasing a commercial meat mincer, a soup pot, a wooden chopping board and a frying sieve for HK$8,700 (S$1,416) on Feb. 8, 2023, SCMP reported.

He had also asked about an industrial-grade bone grinder, but did not go ahead with the purchase due to its high price, according to a saleswoman at the shop.

According to a resident who lived above the flat rented by Kwong, the flat’s windows were sealed between Feb. 15 and 18, 2023.

The resident added that he heard heavy objects being carried into the flat at around 3pm on Feb. 21, 2023.

He also heard electric saws being used and noises resembling renovation work.

The flat's landlady, Hui Yan-yan, said Kwong agreed on Feb. 2, 2023 to rent the property for HK$10,000 (S$1,628) a month and signed the agreement three days later.

He allegedly told her he wanted a place to spend time with his wife after retiring, and had also asked if there were surveillance cameras installed inside the rental flat.

Financial dispute

The prosecution earlier argued that Kwong enlisted his two sons to help kill Choi after he became "extremely resentful and angry" over her insistence on selling a HK$72 million (S$11.7 million) flat where he had been living.

According to SCMP, Choi's mother previously alleged that the Kwong family had been living off her family's wealth.

The trial resumes next week.

A 41-year-old man who has been repeatedly jailed for filming upskirt videos of women was once again sentenced to 28 weeks' jail on Friday (Oct. 23) for voyeurism.

Repeat offender

Gary Huang Kunjie has been convicted at least eight times and jailed at least seven, including this latest sentence.

The court gave him a longer term than the prosecution had sought and warned him that he could face caning if he reoffends, CNA reported.

Huang pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism for an offence on Jun. 20, 2026.

He was on his way home from work when he saw a woman he found attractive, followed her onto an escalator at Northpoint City, and filmed a video under her skirt.

He used the video for his own sexual purposes before deleting it.

Between May and June 2026, Huang also admitted to filming videos of around 20 different women.

During this period, he would film the videos about twice a week.

After watching them for sexual gratification, he would delete the videos so police could not recover any of the recordings.

Timeline of Huang's past convictions

Huang was first convicted in 2010, when he was sentenced to two years' probation for taking more than 90 video clips of women with his phone over five days, according to a past report by The Straits Times.

In 2018, he was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail after pleading guilty to three of eight charges of taking upskirt videos of females in Yishun.

In 2019, he repeated his crime and was arrested at his then-workplace, Seagate Technology, for taking an upskirt video, and continued offending while released on bail, according to Yahoo.

He was jailed eight months after pleading guilty to taking upskirt videos on 46 separate occasions between December 2018 to April 2019.

In 2020, he was jailed again for similar offences and was released on Sep. 11, 2020.

Three weeks after his release, in 2021 he was once again jailed for the same offence, according to CNA.

In 2022, he was jailed for 36 weeks after pleading guilty to two counts of voyeurism.

He was also convicted in 2025. One of his earlier jail terms exceeded 60 weeks, CNA reported.

Given a longer jail term than the prosecution sought

The deputy public prosecutor (DPP) sought 22 to 25 weeks' jail for Huang's latest sentence, arguing that both general and specific deterrence were needed given Huang's previous convictions for similar offences.

The DPP said caning was not sought as a sentence because Huang faced only one charge, and he added that 22 to 25 weeks' jail was appropriate, reported CNA.

Considering Huang's long criminal history, the judge continued to press the prosecution on whether that term would be enough to deter Huang from reoffending, which the prosecution said it would.

However, the judge found the prosecution's suggested sentence to be on the low end.

For voyeurism, an offender can be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or given any combination of these penalties.

Judge expressed concern that Huang would reoffend

The judge also asked Huang, who was unrepresented, why the court should not impose caning given his repeated offences.

Huang said he was remorseful and claimed he had committed the offences due to stress from work, even though he has been seeking psychiatric help.

He said he felt "disappointed and sad" for himself because he could not secure a stable job.

The judge said he was concerned that Huang would keep reoffending, to which Huang responded that although work would keep him busy, he needed to "slow down" and take part-time work to "release mentally" and reintegrate into society.

Although the judge accepted that Huang was sincere in changing for the better, he warned that this was his last chance and that caning should be considered if he reoffended.