Community clubs in Singapore will distribute N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans following the worsening haze situation.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said the government has commenced the phased distribution of N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans through the People's Association's (PA) Community Clubs.

In addition, haze mask vending machines will also be available at selected public transport hubs, Social Services Offices and PA venues.

N95 masks will be made available progressively at the designated collection points and may not be immediately available at all locations, NEA added.

The vending machines are being progressively deployed across the island from the evening of Oct. 14, and stocks at all collection points will be replenished progressively and regularly, the agency said.

Those eligible include Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors, CHAS Orange and Blue cardholders, Medical Fee Exemption Card holders and ComCare Assistance recipients.

Pregnant women, children aged seven to 16, and people with medical conditions such as asthma may also collect masks at People's Association (PA) venues by presenting their NRICs.

Family members or friends can also collect the masks on their behalf using the eligible person’s NRIC.

Residents can find their nearest collection point at gowhere.gov.sg/hazemask.

Member of Parliament (MP) for East Coast GRC and Mayor of South East District Dinesh Vasu Dash also announced the news in a Facebook post on Oct. 14.

"Dear Residents, in view of today’s haze situation, all Community Clubs, including Bedok and Siglap CCs, will be distributing N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans from the following groups"

Haze shelters

Air-conditioned rooms in CCs and selected Residents’ Committee (RC) and Residents’ Network (RN) Centres will be set up as haze shelters, NEA said.

This is so that members of the public can "seek respite from the haze" at these haze shelters.

Residents may contact their nearest CCs on the operating hours and location of the haze shelters.

If the 24-hr PSI crosses into the hazardous range, the opening hours of the haze shelters in the CCs will be extended to 10pm, NEA shared.

Haze Task Force

The government's Haze Task Force (HTF) had announced last Friday that N95 masks would be distributed to more vulnerable individuals should the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) enter the very unhealthy range.

Mask vending machines will also be made available at selected public transport hubs and social services offices, the government had said then.

NEA said N95 masks are generally not required for short outdoor exposure, such as commuting between home and school or work, or when indoors.

It advised vulnerable persons to consider wearing an N95 mask when the air quality forecast is in the very unhealthy range (PSI > 200) and if they have to be outdoors for several hours.

However, vulnerable persons with difficulty breathing at rest or on exertion should consult their doctor before using an N95 mask. Any person who feels discomfort when using a mask should take a break from using it.

NEA reassured the public that there are sufficient stocks of N95 masks in retailers' warehouses and government stockpiles.

United States President Donald Trump will travel to the Philippines in November to attend the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila.

The summit will be from Nov. 16 to 18.

Malacañang confirmed Trump’s planned visit on Oct. 14, Manila Bulletin reported.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed the visit at a Palace briefing, but did not elaborate on Trump’s schedule or any possible agreements.

The Philippine government’s confirmation comes after the White House said Trump would participate in the ASEAN summit in Manila on Nov. 16.

He will next travel to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit from Nov. 17 to 19.

Trump’s previous trip to the Philippines was in 2017, when he attended the ASEAN Summit in Manila during his first term.

Three teenagers, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old, suffered an electric shock when the flag they were carrying in a Nine Emperor Gods procession touched a main power supply line.

All three suffered burns to their body, with one currently in a coma.

The procession was held in Kedah, Malaysia, on Oct. 13.

At about 8:45pm, the flag was blown off course by the wind, causing it to touch a high-voltage power line.

There was a loud noise followed by sparks, reported Oriental Daily.

Burns on body

Ambulances were reportedly on site beforehand, and first aid was performed at the scene by paramedics.

The three injured teenagers were then taken to the hospital for further treatment.

The police said in a statement that the control centre was alerted to this incident at about 9:20pm that night, Sin Chew reported.

The 16-year-old sustained burns to 80 per cent of his body and is currently in a coma.

One of the 17-year-old boys sustained burns to 20 per cent of his body, including both his hands, while the other sustained burns to 40 per cent of his body, including his face and hands.

The two of them have regained consciousness and are under observation in the hospital, according to local police.

May have been caused by weather

The general affairs officer of the temple, Xie (transliteration), said in an interview that such an accident had never occurred before, and believes that the incident was caused by the weather that night, Oriental Daily reported.

Xie said that it had rained that night, and strong winds followed.

He did not rule out the possibility of the flag getting wet from the rain and being blown up by the wind, causing it to touch the high-voltage power line.

Xie emphasised that the incident was accidental and hoped that the public would refrain from speculating.

He also added that they will do their best to provide necessary assistance to the injured and make sure they receive proper care.

They will also follow up on any subsequent needs and provide support for the injured and their families, reported Oriental Daily.

I was in a supermarket rushing to get groceries when the vibrant red caught my eye.

I had to stop and get a closer look.

Hanging on the shelf was a red-and-white tote bag that felt like a little piece of home — the Merlion and the iconic dragon from the dragon playground cozying up with coffee.

Having never been to the dragon playground myself, I asked a colleague about it during work.

He shared that he had visited the place just about a year ago, and the conversation flowed from the history behind the playground to our childhood games.

I didn’t expect a simple tote bag to spark so many great stories.

Sometimes we need to take a pause in our hectic lives and connect with the people around us, whether it’s our friends or even strangers.

That’s what Nescafé hopes to do with their coffee — and now their new tote bag.

A daily companion

This tote bag is large enough to carry what you need for a day out — your essentials, groceries, or laptop.

Hook it over your shoulder and you’re ready to run your errands.

But its functions extend beyond that.

If you’re going to a party and you’re nervous about making small talk, let this bag be your social wingman.

Inspired by familiar local icons, the bag’s design invites curious glances and questions that could turn into delightful conversations.

How to get it

You can bring this tote bag (worth S$20) home for free with a purchase of either the original or less-sugar version of the Nescafé 3-in-1 coffee bundle.

Each bundle includes two packs of the coffee.

This promotion is available now at FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Giant, and Cold Storage supermarkets across Singapore.

Grab yours today and who knows what memories you might jolt and what conversations you might spark?

This branded article by Nescafé Singapore made this writer want to run around in a playground.

Transboundary haze has affected everyday life in Singapore, and air quality has often fallen into the unhealthy range.

The haze is a regional problem, reaching beyond Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

It also bears repeating that Indonesians are ultimately the worst affected, breathing air that is often an order of magnitude more polluted.

Root causes

The current haze is attributed to forest fires in Indonesia, specifically in Sumatra and Kalimantan, with the latter being the main focus for this year’s outbreak.

Added to this is the fact that the world is currently experiencing one of the strongest El Niño events in recent decades.

This means that Southeast Asia is expected to experience less rain in the coming months, making it less likely that the air will be cleared and the forest fires will be extinguished soon.

Blame has rightly been targeted at humans and corporations. That mostly covers why the forest fires happen, but it might also be helpful to look down and explore how it burns.

What is peat?

According to the International Peatland Society, peat is the surface organic layer of soil, mostly consisting of decomposed organic matter, usually made from plant material.

It often develops under conditions of oxygen deficiency and waterlogging, and in areas like Southeast Asia, peat is usually formed by fallen leaves and branches from rainforest trees.

This results in an energy-dense material, and in the past, northern European countries like Ireland made extensive use of peat as fuel for electricity and heating, to lower reliance on imported fuel, although it no longer does so for environmental reasons.

Kalimantan and Sumatra, which are covered in dense rainforests, are also rich in peatlands.

Indonesia, according to an article in Frontiers, is home to 23 per cent of the world’s tropical peatlands.

32 per cent of Indonesia's peatlands, about 45,000 square kilometres, is found in Kalimantan.

Slash and burn

In Indonesia, slash-and-burn methods are traditionally used to clear land for small-scale agriculture.

While not considered good for the long-term health of the forest, it allows small-scale farmers to cultivate otherwise difficult-to-farm land for a few years, before needing to move on.

It is also a very cheap way to clear land, essentially lighting the undergrowth on fire and waiting for the results.

Perhaps in small amounts, the land clearing might be less problematic, but at this time, the land is used by more than just local small farmers.

DW reports that large tracts of land have been cleared in preparation for industrial-scale agriculture, usually for palm oil plantations, or for paper production.

In an especially dry year, such as the super El Niño-affected 2026, fires can quickly grow larger than intended.

But perhaps the most alarming aspect of this is the peatlands.

The peatlands

In order to make peatlands acceptable for agriculture, it is necessary to drain them of water using canals dug through them.

AFP estimates that over 285,000 kilometres of canals have been cut into peatlands in Indonesia, an amount it says is seven times the circumference of the Earth.

When the peat catches fire, it doesn’t just burn at the surface, but spreads underground and continues to burn after surface fires are put out.

This means that after firefighters leave, a fire can reignite, starting the process all over again.

Worse still, once the peat has been dried out, it becomes hydrophobic, making it difficult to rewet and extinguish those underground fires.

Underlying problems

DW’s report on the fires notes that in the aftermath of the 2015 fires, Southeast Asian countries took measures to try to prevent such a serious outbreak of both fires and haze from occurring again.

But despite Indonesian and Asean efforts to restore peatlands and monitor fires, Indonesia has placed a permanent moratorium on new concessions in primary forest and peatlands, there remains a significant amount of drained or degraded peatland.

An expert DW spoke to, David Mark Taylor of the National University of Singapore, said these areas can become highly combustible during periods of prolonged drought.

“The underlying problem hasn’t gone away, and neither has the driver," Taylor said.

Singaporeans planning to perform Umrah are advised to consider postponing their trips to Saudi Arabia while security risks remain heightened.

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) issued the advisory on Oct. 14, following an updated travel advisory from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) a day earlier.

MUIS said it was engaging Umrah travel agents and encouraging them to assist affected pilgrims with postponing or rescheduling their trips where possible.

Travel agents urged to offer flexible arrangements

MUIS said it was mindful that pilgrims with existing bookings could be affected financially.

In the statement, MUIS said:

“We recognise that pilgrims may face financial implications through no fault of their own, and urge operators to handle such cases with care, fairness and understanding.”

MUIS said an Umrah journey can be deeply personal for pilgrims and their families, particularly for those who have spent time saving and preparing for it.

However, it urged the community to exercise caution as the security situation continues to develop.

Travel to Saudi Arabia

MFA advised Singaporeans on Oct. 13 to defer all travel to Saudi Arabia due to heightened security risks.

Since July 2026, the kingdom has experienced an increase in missile and drone attacks targeting civilian aviation and energy infrastructure, MFA said.

In past weeks, airports in Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, Khamis Mushait, Najran and Jizan have been hit.

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) has also been attacked repeatedly, resulting in airport operations being suspended and flights being diverted.

MFA also noted that airspace closures have become more common.

Singaporeans already in Saudi Arabia should stay away from KKIA and other areas considered high-risk, and avoid non-essential travel within the country.

Travellers with flights to or through Saudi Arabia are also advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates and reconfirm their flights on the day of departure.

Singaporeans already there should stay in touch with travel operators

MUIS also advised Singaporeans currently in Saudi Arabia to follow instructions from local authorities and MFA and remain in contact with their travel operators and airlines.

“We understand that these developments may be worrying, especially for those travelling with elderly family members or children,” MUIS said.

MUIS said it would continue monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant government agencies.

“We pray for their safety and well-being, and that they will be able to fulfil their intention to perform Umrah safely and with peace of mind when circumstances permit,” it added.

Indonesia aims to extinguish within a month all forest and land fires that have caused haze to cover much of Southeast Asia, its environment minister has said.

Within a month

According to Indonesian news agency Antara, Indonesia's Minister of Environment Jumhur Hidayat said that the intensity of fires has started to decline.

"Based on discussions with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, it should take a few weeks (to extinguish the fires). But since intensity is already starting to decline, hopefully it will be less (than a month)," Jumhur said on Tuesday (Oct. 13).

However, obstacles continue to hamper firefighting efforts, including limited water supplies and operational challenges for water-bombing aircraft.

The minister was speaking to the press after a forum in Jakarta.

He also said that the Indonesian government is initiating the removal of a law that allows households to clear up to two hectares of land by burning.

Aid offers have to be assessed for effectiveness

Regarding offers of assistance from other countries, the minister said that the government would assess potential aid based on its type and effectiveness in accelerating firefighting operations, Antara wrote.

Small deployments may have a limited impact, since Indonesia has already deployed large numbers of responders.

Indonesia president Prabowo Subianto recently announced stepped-up measures to combat the fires.

Over 60,000 personnel have been deployed to support ground operations.

The spokesman for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency had suggested that aircraft may have limited effectiveness due to low visibility.

Both Malaysia and Singapore have expressed their readiness to assist with tackling the fires in Indonesia.

Malaysia said it was ready to provide 55 firefighting personnel, three helicopters, and a plane to battle the blaze.

However, it said it has yet to hear back from Indonesia on the offer.

Two Chinese nationals was charged on Oct. 14, 2026, for their involvement in two separate cases of theft onboard an aircraft.

According to chargesheets seen by Mothership, Shu Zaijun, 54, and Dong Bangjun, 59, were found in possession of three bank cards that did not belong to them.

Shu allegedly stole two debit cards from a passenger’s bag at around 8:30am on Oct. 12.

About half an hour later, Dong allegedly stole a credit card from another passenger’s bag.

Chargesheets did not state if the two men were working together.

The police said in a press release on Oct. 13 that the men were arrested during an operation at Changi Airport Terminal 4 targeting theft cases onboard aircraft.

Stolen from passengers' bags

Further investigations revealed that the men had stolen the bank cards from two passengers’ bags on a flight from Ho Chi Minh to Singapore.

They had taken the bank cards from bags stored in overhead compartments, and were able to disembark without the victims realising their cards were missing.

The two men was charged in court on Oct. 14 with the offence of theft onboard an aircraft.

The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine, or both.

The police reminded members of the public to keep their valuables with them instead of placing them in the overhead luggage compartments.

The public is also reminded to look out for passengers exhibiting suspicious behaviour and alert the cabin crew immediately.

"The police have zero tolerance for theft onboard an aircraft and will spare no effort to apprehend such offenders and bring them to justice," the police said.

A Qantas flight between Italy and Australia got cancelled after passengers reportedly got bitten by bedbugs on the aircraft's earlier journey.

Passengers aboard the QF5 flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, from Perth to Rome on Oct. 9 were given antihistamines to treat the bites.

However, the medication reportedly ran out, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

The return flight from Rome to Perth on Oct. 10 was cancelled.

The aircraft was then sent for deep cleaning.

Affected passengers were provided with accommodation and rebooked on flights over the next 48 hours from their initial departure.

“We sincerely apologise to customers for the cancellation of Saturday’s Rome to Perth service, which allowed our engineers and maintenance teams to carry out a deep clean of the aircraft after an issue was identified on a small number of economy seats,” said a Qantas spokesperson.

Planes regularly cleaned: Qantas

Qantas added that their planes are regularly cleaned to a high standard, and are disinfected every 50 days as a precaution.

A deep clean of a plane to get rid of bed bugs requires fumigation.

This puts the plane out of service.

Perth to Rome popular

The Perth to Rome route is popular among passengers who are willing to pay extra for a non-stop flight between Australia and Italy.

Qantas has extended this service until Oct. 23, adding 40 extra services in that time.

Bed bugs on plane not uncommon

Bed bugs are small and not believed to transmit diseases to humans, but those allergic to their bites will experience swelling, welts and itchiness.

Their bites are known to be painless and cause welts that fade to a red spot.

Bed bugs on airplanes are uncommon, but not unheard of.

They were found on a British Airways flight from Vancouver to London in 2017, and again in 2024 on a Turkish Airways Flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul.

From Oct. 12 to 16, 17 students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics, and universities will be in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China, as part of Mendaki's overseas learning journey.

This marks Mendaki's inaugural overseas learning journey, sparked by growing demand in emerging industries like artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies.

The learning journey aims to expose students to sectors that may shape future jobs and careers.

According to Mendaki, the programme includes company visits to Huawei and GAC Aion, as well as dialogue sessions to help students better understand these industries.

Mendaki's press release mentioned: "Through meaningful exposure to global developments and industry practices, participants will be better equipped to navigate future challenges and opportunities."

Learning to be ahead of the curve

Speaking to Mothership, Mendaki CEO Feroz Akber explained that China was chosen as the first country for this learning journey programme due to its technological and AI developments.

"It was important that we understood where things were moving, especially in the development of AI, with big companies in China still leading a lot of AI developments in the world," he said.

Feroz, who also joined the students on this trip, said that he hopes students can understand what it means to be ahead of the curve and learn how to communicate with people they've never worked with before.

"If they can do and take away these, I'm quite confident that they would have the confidence and ability to actually be even better than the better version of who they are."

Feroz said in a previous interview with Berita Mediacorp that another overseas learning journey to Jakarta, Indonesia is in the works, slated to take place at the end of the year.