Singapore schools have been taking precautionary measures amid the worsening haze, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said on Oct. 16 during a press conference on the haze situation.

Lee said Ministry of Education (MOE) schools and Special Education (SPED) schools have been adjusting activities and deploying air purifiers.

They have also been paying "extra attention" to students who report being unwell and/or have pre-existing health conditions, and taking practical steps to reduce exposure to haze where necessary.

School continuity measures

Lee also set out school continuity plans, having taken into account "ground considerations... and stakeholder impact".

Lee said schools will take reference from the National Environment Agency's (NEA) 24-hour PSI forecast the evening before to plan for the next day’s activities.

The forecast will determine whether preschools and schools should continue operating the next day, and guide what measures to adopt, he added.

On the actual day, schools will look at the PM 2.5 hourly readings to adjust the measures on the ground, Lee said.

If the PM 2.5 hourly reading is in the Elevated range (56-150), Lee said schools will avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities.

While indoor non-strenuous activities may continue, students who are unwell or have pre-existing heart or lung conditions will be excused from these activities.

Meanwhile, schools will also deploy air purifiers in indoor spaces, such as classrooms, labs, school halls, and indoor sports halls, Lee shared.

If PM2.5 is High

When the one-hour PM2.5 reading reaches the High range (151 - 250), schools will operate as per normal school hours, but students will avoid both outdoor activities and strenuous indoor activities, and have their meals indoors.

Schools will also replace outdoor activities (such as CCAs and camps) with indoor activities where possible, Lee said.

If PM2.5 is Very High

However, if the PM2.5 reaches Very High levels (251 and above) during school hours, schools will scale down lessons, such as by reducing the intensity of indoor activities, and suspend all physical and after-school activities.

Some schools may close if Hazardous range forecasted

Lee said that MOE will consider closing schools and transitioning to home-based learning for younger students from preschool to secondary level if the 24-hour PSI forecast for the following day is in the Hazardous range (301 and above).

Parents and guardians are also strongly encouraged to keep their infants and young children at home.

Kindergarten programmes, Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC and EIPIC-P) services, and preschool-based early intervention programmes, will also be suspended.

"We understand that this can be challenging for parents who cannot work from home or who cannot find alternative arrangements for their children," Lee said.

As such, MOE Kindergartens and Kindergarten Care as well as ECDA-licensed preschools will remain physically open, he said.

Appropriate haze mitigation measures, such as the use of air purifiers in enclosed rooms, will be put in place for children who report to the preschools.

Primary and secondary schools (including SPED schools), as well as student care centres and special student care centres in schools, will also remain physically open to take care of students who do not have alternative care arrangements, Lee said.

Meanwhile, tertiary institutions and autonomous universities, as well as the University of the Arts Singapore, will generally continue in-person lessons, while taking reference from actual circumstances.

This is because the students are older, Lee explained.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be making a state visit to Sweden from Oct. 17 to 21 at the invitation of the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf.

It will mark the first state visit to Sweden by a Singaporean president, and reciprocates the Swedish king's visit to Singapore in November 2024.

It also commemorates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Ceremonial welcome

President Tharman will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Royal Palace in Stockholm by King Carl XVI Gusaf and Queen Silvia, who will also host him to a state banquet.

He will meet with several of Sweden's political leaders: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Speaker of the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) Andreas Norlén, and other Members of the Riksdag.

Business engagements

Much of the itinerary for the visit will focus on economic and business exchanges.

While in Stockholm, President Tharman will deliver a lecture at the Stockholm School of Economics, and will be hosted to lunch by members of the Stockholm City Council.

He and King Carl XVI Gustaf will engage with Swedish entrepreneurs and business leaders from various sectors.

They will also speak to those from Fryshuset, a Swedish non-profit organisation working on youth empowerment.

In Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city, President Tharman and King Carl XVI Gustaf will visit the World of Volvo to talk to businesses about the future of transport.

They will also visit the Chalmers University of Technology.

Entourage

On his trip, President Tharman will be accompanied by his wife Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, as well as political office-holders and government officials.

They include Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, and Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Manpower Foo Cexiang.

Government agencies Enterprise Singapore, the National Research Foundation, and the Economic Development Board will also join them, along with a business delegation.

60 years of diplomatic relations

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1966, Singapore and Sweden have built strong economic, defence, education, and research ties.

In defence, Singapore buys Swedish defence equipment, and Sweden is an active participant in Singapore's military project tenders.

The defence ministries of both countries have been exploring ways to enhance collaboration.

In May 2026, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam visited Sweden to engage Swedish officials on security and defence.

Sweden also has a solid economic presence in Singapore, with almost 600 Swedish companies currently in the country.

Additionally, the two countries have been working together on research and innovation, including on quantum technologies.

A Greenpeace report published on Oct. 5 linked Singapore-listed palm oil companies Bumitama Agri and First Resources, as well as privately held First Borneo Plantations, to Indonesian plantation concessions where fires and smoke were detected between August and September.

In a statement posted on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Oct. 15, First Resources disputed suggestions that the fires originated on its plantations, saying some began outside its concession boundaries before spreading into areas it manages.

It also pointed to this year’s El Niño event as a factor for the increase in fire risk.

A plantation concession is an area of land that a company is allowed to use or develop with agreement from the government.

In response to queries from Mothership, First Resources said it will continue to work closely with government authorities, local communities, and other stakeholders to mitigate fire risks and support suppression efforts.

First Resources' statement

First Resources said it is "important to note that the identification of hotspots or other satellite-based observations within or near a concession does not, by itself, establish the origin of a fire, responsibility for its occurrence, or any deliberate use of fire for land clearing by the concession holder".

The company added that such determinations require "detailed ground verification and a thorough assessment" of the circumstances surrounding each fire event.

Consideration should also be given to the chronology of hotspot detections and fire development, including the location and timing of the earliest detected hotspots, as well as the manner in which subsequent fires spread over time, it said.

"Accordingly, the presence of hotspots within a concession should not, in itself, be interpreted as an indication that the concession holder caused, initiated or condoned a fire,” it added.

Fire risk heightened due to El Nino

First Resources stated that severe El Niño conditions in 2026 have affected Indonesia, with West Kalimantan among the regions most significantly impacted.

As it operates in this region, the company said it is closely monitoring the situation and remains highly vigilant regarding reports of fires across the area.

"The elevated fire risk during 2026 has been influenced by prolonged dry conditions associated with El Niño," it said.

It explained that fire incidents may arise from activities occurring on surrounding lands, including small-scale burning for traditional land preparation by local communities for subsistence farming.

These are subject to specific fire prevention and mitigation measures prescribed under local government regulations and designed to minimise the risk of fires spreading, it added.

"While such activities can generally be managed safely under normal conditions when the prescribed safeguards are adhered to, this year's severe El Niño-related drought has significantly increased the risk of fires spreading unintentionally and escalating into uncontrolled wildfires that can affect vast areas," the company said.

Hotspots outside its operating boundaries

The company also said effective fire risk management remains a "top priority", acknowledging that fires pose a risk to their plantation assets, biodiversity conservation, and the safety of their employees and neighbouring communities.

Through monitoring, the company has identified hotspots in the vicinity of its concessions in West Kalimantan.

Many of which, upon verification, were determined to be located outside its operating boundaries, it said.

"Our investigations indicate that the vulnerability of our plantations in the region varies, with areas located near concession boundaries, community-owned lands and unmanaged areas facing higher fire risks," the company added.

Firefighting teams were on standby at the perimeter from the first detection of hotspots in the vicinity, it said.

There have been instances where fires originating outside our boundaries subsequently spread into areas under its management, it added.

But the fires originating outside the concession were, in some cases, "too massive and fast-spreading to be fully contained", even as the on-site firefighting teams responded as vigorously as possible to manage and contain these incidents, the company added.

The company said they are remaining "highly vigilant" and maintaining close coordination with government authorities to ensure strict compliance with regulations.

Mothership has reached out to First Borneo Plantations and Bumitama Agri for comment.

Stocks fell

When trading on SGX opened on Oct. 16, 2026, First Resources fell as much as 9.1 per cent to S$3.71, The Business Times reported.

Meanwhile, Bumitama Agri dropped 7.5 per cent to S$1.73.

According to CNA, Bumitama Agri requested a trading halt on the same day.

Singapore looking into companies responsible

In an Oct. 15 Facebook post, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore is looking into which companies may be responsible for the haze-causing fires in Indonesia.

Where warranted, Singapore will take action under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act and explore joint action with other countries, PM Wong added.

Enacted in 2014, the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act allows the government to prosecute any entity found guilty of engaging in conduct that causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore.

Such conduct may take place in or outside of Singapore.

While struggling with her marriage, a woman had an affair with another man, and later broke up with him before finalising her divorce.

The man, feeling used and upset, decided to expose their affair online along with several intimate photos he had taken of her, Shin Min Daily News reported.

He also sent the photos and an intimate video to her ex-husband.

The man, 31, recently pleaded guilty in court to three charges related to distributing intimate photos without consent, while five other similar charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The court sentenced him to a year and a month in jail.

To protect the woman, there is a gag order on any information that could lead to her identification.

How they met

The pair met in 2021 through an online game and through introductions from mutual friends.

The woman was going through a difficult marriage and would confide in the man about it.

They gradually grew closer and ultimately entered into a sexual relationship.

The intimate photos

While the pair were dating, the man took seven intimate photos and one intimate video of the woman with her consent.

However, in August 2025, she asked him to delete all of them from his phone. He agreed and did so in front of her.

Afterwards, though, he recovered the deleted media and kept them in his phone.

Retaliation

On Oct. 3, 2025, the woman was in the middle of finalising her divorce with her husband when she told the man she wanted to break up.

This upset the man, who decided to retaliate by sharing her photos online, according to Shin Min.

Just 10 days later, he posted about their affair on his Instagram stories. He also claimed that he had paid for their staycations and trips.

On the 17th, he texted her, threatening to send the intimate photos and video to her ex-husband. He did so in the same month

He also uploaded the seven intimate photos of the woman to an online forum, where he also shared her name and Instagram handle.

A former Malaysian minister was one of two people detained by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) over a suspected khalwat, or close proximity, offence in Petaling Jaya.

New Straits Times reported that the man was a former minister, while the woman involved was believed to be the founder of a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The man was also described as a "senior political leader."

JAIS has not publicly identified either individual.

Detained at around 6pm

The two were detained at around 6pm on Oct. 15 in Petaling, Selangor, JAIS confirmed.

The Star reported that the politician is 44 and was found with the woman at a residence in Petaling Jaya.

Both were subsequently taken to the JAIS office for documentation.

The pair were detained to assist investigations, JAIS director Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said.

Up to 2 years’ jail if convicted

Those convicted under the provision can be fined up to RM3,000 (S$944), jailed for up to two years, or both.

Shahzihan also urged the public not to speculate about the case, spread defamatory claims or publicly shame those involved.

A woman in Singapore donated one of her kidneys to her husband after he developed kidney failure, hoping to give him a better quality of life and more time with their children.

In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, 39-year-old Lin Simei (transliteration) said she volunteered for a compatibility test after her husband's father and brother were found unsuitable donors.

This came after she gave birth to their second child.

Kidney disease

Her husband, 43-year-old Lin Zewei (transliteration), was diagnosed with hereditary polycystic kidney disease as a teenager.

His kidney function worsened sharply in late 2023, and he began dialysis three times a week in 2024.

The treatment left him physically and mentally exhausted, he told Zaobao.

He often finished dialysis at around 9pm, leaving him with little time or energy to spend with his children.

A kidney donation

Simei and Zewei were found to be a suitable match and underwent a successful kidney transplant at Singapore General Hospital in October 2025.

“I don't want him to spend the rest of his life on a dialysis machine. I only hope that my partner can have a better quality of life and that he can be there for our children as they grow up,” Simei told Zaobao.

Reflecting on her decision, Simei said she had weighed the risks as both a wife and a mother.

Ultimately, she chose to focus on what they could do in the present rather than worry about the uncertainties of the future.

A new lease on life

After a year of recovery, Zewei has returned to his daily routine and is enjoying more time with his family, Zaobao reported.

He has more energy to play with their two young children, although he will need to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life and remain vigilant about food hygiene to prevent infections.

The personal assistant of Kim Lim stole a Patek Philippe watch worth S$73,000 and used the company card to spend nearly S$20,000 while clubbing.

Nearly a year after the incident was first reported, Tey Jing Wen, 33, pleaded guilty to five charges including embezzlement, breach of trust, and drunk driving on Oct. 8, according to Lianhe Zaobao (Zaobao).

Previously, on Oct. 21, 2025, Lim shared about the incident on a social media livestream where she claimed that the "drama" had deeply hurt her.

The case has been adjourned until Nov. 2 for sentencing.

What actually happened?

According to Zaobao, the court heard that Tey joined Lim's beauty and health company, KL Health, as a human resources (HR) assistant in 2022.

She rose through the ranks, becoming a HR manager after just two years, and was subsequently promoted to regional coordinator.

Tey took on a key role in the company and worked closely with Lim, with employees often asking for directives through Tey when Lim was not in the office.

In August 2024, after Lim's personal assistant resigned, Lim told Tey the combination code to the company safe which contained some of her personal belongings.

However, Lim later forgot the combination, leaving Tey as the only one who could open the safe.

Drink driving

On Jun. 3 2025, Tey was stopped by traffic police for driving against traffic, and was found to have a blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit.

She was also found to have been driving without a licence and third-party insurance.

It was also discovered that the car she was driving belonged to Lim.

One of her responsibilities as regional coordinator was to look after Lim's car.

Lim was not in Singapore at the time of the incident.

Tey was later released on bail.

Investigated

After Tey's arrest, Lim began to notice that her work performance was slipping, and launched an internal investigation.

It revealed that in May 2025, Tey had used a company credit card to spend S$19,191 at several luxury nightclubs on eight occasions.

She also found that her Patek Philippe watch, as well as a stack of red packets containing S$8,000 had disappeared from her safe.

In her social media livestream in October 2025, Lim claimed that the red packet money was her son's.

Police investigations later found that Tey was the one who stole the items, having sold the watch for S$16,500 to a purported secondhand dealer while on bail.

She used S$13,280 of the money to repay part of her unauthorised credit card spending, and kept the remaining sum, as well as the red packet money, for herself.

She also stole nearly S$74,000 worth of other valuables, such as cash, jewellery, and perfumes.

For committing criminal breach of trust as an employee, she could be jailed for up to 15 years, fined, or both.

SportSG is closing all outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at all ActiveSG Sport Centres due to the evolving haze situation, it updated on its website on Oct. 16, 12pm.

Indoor and air-conditioned facilities will remain open.

In an earlier update at 6:30pm on Oct. 15, the sport organisation had announced closures of outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at ActiveSG Sport Centres in the east, south, west and central, with the exception of the north.

The public can refer to the ActiveSG website for more updates on facility closures.

The closure comes after all regions in Singapore hit the High band for the hourly PM2.5 at 12pm on Oct. 16.

This is the 12th consecutive day Singapore has had unhealthy air, the longest since the 2015 haze crisis.

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight that was bound for Singapore ended up getting diverted back to San Francisco due to an unruly passenger just a few hours after takeoff on Oct. 14.

Passenger injured himself

An SIA spokesperson told Mothership in an Oct. 16 media reply that the unruly passenger on flight SQ31 had injured himself in the incident but did not reveal further details of his actions.

Returned to San Francisco

The SIA spokesperson said the pilots "assessed the situation and decided to return to San Francisco".

"The aircraft landed uneventfully at San Francisco International Airport at 8:41pm local time," the spokesperson added.

After the flight landed, the passenger was handed over to local authorites.

Checks by Mothership on flight tracking website FlightAware showed that at about 11:51am local time on Oct. 14 (2:51am Singapore time on Oct. 15), the flight had departed San Francisco.

It had been scheduled to land in Singapore at about 7pm on Oct. 15.

Following the incident, the plane landed uneventfully back at San Francisco International Airport nearly nine hours after takeoff at 8:41pm.

"SIA is working closely with the relevant authorities on this matter," the spokesperson added, noting that the flight departed from San Francisco at 11:18pm local time with a new set of crew members.

Safety is top priority

SIA sincerely apologised for the inconvenience caused and said it is providing the necessary assistance, including rebooking of connecting flights.

The spokesperson said: "We thank our customers and crew members who assisted in managing the situation on board the flight.

"The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority."

A 24-year-old BYD Seal driver accused of causing a six-vehicle crash that killed a five-year-old girl in Kuala Lumpur has pleaded not guilty to three traffic offences.

Raeven Goh Wey Haur, a bank employee, entered his plea at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court on Oct. 15, reported New Straits Times (NST)

He faces three charges, namely causing death by reckless driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop after the accident.

The offences were allegedly committed along Jalan Kuching, heading from the city centre towards Segambut, at about 3:44pm on Oct. 10.

Goh pleaded not guilty

Goh entered his plea after the charges were read to him before magistrate Aliaa Anwar.

"I understand the charges. I plead not guilty," he said, NST reported.

He had been arrested on Oct. 14 after being discharged from hospital, where he received treatment for a concussion.

Asiah’s parents attended the proceedings but declined to speak to the media. Goh’s father was also present.

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Three charges

According to Kosmo, the first charge alleges that Goh drove his BYD Seal in a manner dangerous to the public, causing Asiah’s death.

The charge was brought under Section 41(1) of Malaysia’s Road Transport Act 1987, which carries five to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM20,000 (S$6,282) to RM50,000 (S$15,705) upon conviction.

The second charge, for dangerous driving under Section 42(1), carries up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM5,000 (S$1,571) to RM15,000 (S$4,712).

The third charge concerns his alleged failure to stop after the accident under Section 52(1), punishable under Section 119(2) of the Act. Kosmo reported that it carries a fine of RM2,000 (S$628) or up to six months’ imprisonment.

Goh's father paid for his RM36,000 bail

The prosecution sought bail of RM50,000 (S$15,705) for all three charges, citing the seriousness of the offences.

It also requested that Goh surrender his passport and have his driving licence suspended until the case concluded.

Defence lawyer Kailash Sharma sought a lower bail amount, arguing that Goh posed no flight risk.

He said Goh’s father, a 55-year-old businessman, would act as his surety. He also cited the family’s cooperation with police, including providing the investigating officer with Goh’s hospital, ward and bed details within 24 hours of the crash.

The court granted bail of RM36,000 (S$11,308) with one surety for all three charges, and imposed the additional conditions sought by the prosecution.

According to Utusan Malaysia, Goh’s father paid the bail, with the process completed at about 11:30am the same day.

Goh was subsequently seen leaving the court complex with his father and lawyers, wearing a cap and face mask.

The case will return to court for mention on Nov. 19.

Crash involved six vehicles

Goh's BYD Seal allegedly rear-ended a Perodua Bezza driven by Asiah’s 30-year-old father along Jalan Kuching on Oct. 10.

The collision also involved a motorcycle. The Bezza then spun into the lane on its right and collided with three other vehicles.

Asiah, who was seated in the backseat, suffered severe head injuries and was subsequently pronounced dead at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Her father sustained injuries to his right hand, while the 33-year-old motorcyclist suffered head injuries.

The BYD driver allegedly fled the scene and was later located by police at a private hospital in Damansara, where he was receiving treatment for a concussion.