Most employees at a dinner and dance (D&D) event look forward to cash prizes or other lucky draw benefits.

However, a migrant worker in Singapore got something different — a reunion with his family members whom he had not seen in four years.

At the annual D&D event organised by mechanical crane company Pollisum, Russel Jagathesh, 47, was invited on stage to receive a prize.

Unbeknownst to him, his company had secretly flown out his wife and two children from India.

Ahead of the D&D event, the company selected Jagathesh through a lucky draw among employees whose families had submitted videos to express their appreciation for their loved ones working abroad.

During the event, selected employees were invited on stage to view the videos that their families had recorded for them.

However, for Jagathesh, the event emcee instructed him to close his eyes and turn around.

When he looked back, he saw that his family had entered the hall and walked on stage.

"Couldn't believe" it

Jagathesh, who works as a mechanic for Pollisum, has been with the company for 14 years.

Speaking to Mothership, he said that he "couldn't believe [his] eyes" when he saw his family walking on stage, adding that being away from them was one of the hardest parts of working abroad.

When his family was contacted, they initially thought the invitation was a scam.

At the time, his son did not even have a passport, and had to apply for one without his father's knowledge.

“Having them here, even for a few days, meant more to me than any cash prize. It was a moment I will never forget.”

The company sponsored not just their flight tickets, but their accommodation and expenses for a four-day, three-night stay.

Jagathesh was also given four days off to spend time with his family, and a S$500 allowance to spend on their trip.

He took them to visit the Merlion, the Singapore Oceanarium, and the Singapore Zoo.

Other prizes

While other employees at the event did not receive such prizes, Pollisum allocated a sum of S$150,000 for cash rewards for approximately 400 employees.

Every employee received a cash reward, with more opportunities to win larger prizes in various activities.

First-prize winner Lee Kar Yoong, 34, won S$13,810 after successfully completing a cash-counting challenge.

Lee, a Malaysian who had been working in operations for Pollisum for the past five years, recently obtained his Singapore permanent residency (PR).

He said that he has been saving up for a HDB flat for the past three years, and that the money would go towards that goal.

"I am very grateful for this opportunity," he added.

A 20-year-old competitive bodybuilder died in 2024 after taking a banned weight-loss substance.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda ruled the youth’s death a substance-related accident on Oct. 16, CNA reported.

The youth, who was a polytechnic student at the time, cannot be named due to a gag order.

Investigations could not establish where he obtained it or whether he knew what he was consuming.

Died from DNP toxicity

The youth died on Dec. 22, 2024 from dinitrophenol (DNP) toxicity.

He had complained of difficulty breathing and was hospitalised the same day.

Despite treatment, he deteriorated and suffered a cardiac arrest.

He could not be resuscitated.

DNP is listed under Singapore’s Poisons Act and is prohibited for use as a weight-loss agent because of toxicity concerns, CNA reported.

The Straits Times reported that it has no legitimate medical use in humans and no effective antidote.

It is falsely marketed by illegal sellers as a fast and safe weight-loss drug.

Toxicology tests conducted after his death detected a fatal amount of DNP in his system.

The substance was found in samples of his stomach contents, and the coroner found it probable that he had consumed it shortly before his death.

Had been stressed over competitions

The youth had been training intensely for bodybuilding competitions and hoped to become a professional bodybuilder.

His mother also planned to open a gym for him to run so he could pursue his passion, the report noted.

He would spend long hours training intensely, and was very disciplined about his diet while preparing for competitions.

During a clinic visit in August 2024, he reported struggling with uncontrollable binge-eating, which he attributed to the stress of preparing for competitions.

He sought and was prescribed weight-loss medication, but that medication was not linked to the DNP that caused his death.

In the early hours of Dec. 22, 2024, he was admitted to hospital after experiencing heart palpitations and difficulty breathing.

While at the hospital, the youth had told hospital staff he had taken “fat burners”.

It could not be determined whether the youth knew he was taking DNP.

A medical report cited by the coroner said bodybuilders may use medicines off-label in pursuit of a muscular, “shredded” physique.

Bodybuilders are also highly vulnerable to muscle dysmorphia, said the report.

Source of DNP unknown

During investigations, police found 34 types of medication and other substances at his home, but none contained DNP.

Many were used to manage the side effects of performance-enhancing steroids, and some were prescription medications for conditions there was no evidence the youth had.

Police seized the youth’s mobile phone during investigations, but were unable to unlock it.

As a result, they could not establish where the substances he had been taking, including the DNP, came from, ST reported.

The coroner said his family knew he had been taking supplements, but did not question him as they trusted him.

Mother questions how he obtained drug

In court, the youth’s mother questioned how her son had been able to obtain DNP.

She raised the possibility that he could have been “encouraged” or coerced to take it while preparing for a bodybuilding competition.

He was “under tremendous pressure to keep to a certain weight and a physique”, she added.

She also said there was a person from the bodybuilding community behaving suspiciously at her son's wake.

Despite the mother's concerns, the coroner said there was no evidence that DNP had been given to the youth against his will.

Police did not suspect foul play.

He advised the mother to make a police statement, adding that the inquiry could be reopened if the new information warranted it. She agreed.

A follow-up court session is scheduled for Oct. 26.

The judge said that the youth's drive and dedication to his sport was apparent, and called his death a "profound tragedy".

A senior government official with Cambodia's mines and energy ministry reportedly grew irate when he saw his wife driving another man in a car, thinking that she was having an extra-marital affair.

He gave chase and whipped out a pistol to shoot at them.

One of the bullets struck the man.

The man turned out to be his son.

Mistaken

According to Khmer Times, the incident occurred on Oct. 14 at 8:20pm in a village on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Residents reportedly saw a Toyota Prius being chased and rear-ended by a Ford.

When the vehicles reached a dead end, the vehicles stopped and the parties in them began to argue.

The government official then whipped out a pistol and fired several shots, with one round striking the man in his abdomen.

He then rushed over and realised that he'd struck his own son.

The official reportedly believed that his wife was having an extra-marital affair, according to Sin Chew Daily and Cambodian news platform TNAOT.

When he saw her driving with another man in her car, he decided to confront them.

The son was rushed to the hospital, while the official was subsequently arrested by police.

A Singaporean man was seen jumping over the rooftops of Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), prompting some backlash and criticism.

He was captured in a TikTok video on Oct. 12, with the caption reading, "Saw a siaolang (crazy person) flipping over a roof at my hotel at @rwsentosa".

@deeenester Saw a siaolang flipping over a roof at my hotel at @rwsentosa 😱 @Red Bull Singapore ♬ original sound - ROLI Create

Some users were quick to decry his actions, with many saying his stunts were illegal and calling for the police to arrest him.

Unbeknownst to them, the poster was in fact the man featured in the video — a parkour practitioner with nearly two decades of experience.

He was also performing parkour legally, as part of a collaboration between RWS and Red Bull.

Who is he?

In response to Mothership's queries, Denester, whose real name is Koh Chen Pin, revealed that he has been practicing parkour since 2007.

Originating in France, parkour is a sport that involves traversing an environment through acts like vaulting, jumping, or rolling.

He first came across the sport while watching the movie "Yamakasi" — based on the real-life group which popularised the sport — with his secondary school friends.

Inspired, they imitated what they saw in the movie, practicing at void decks and playgrounds.

He eventually stumbled upon an online forum called parkour.sg and met with other "traceurs" — the term for a parkour practitioner — which became his proper introduction to the sport.

While he received guidance from other community members, he claimed that the process was very much "trial and error" as tutorials and lessons were less common at the time.

He added that he would watch online videos and study other athletes frame-by-frame.

The actual video

Now 32, Koh runs his own academy, Lion City Parkour, with the goal of introducing people to parkour in a safe and accessible way.

He also clarified that his stunts at RWS were performed legally, as part of a collaboration between RWS and Red Bull.

The video featured various locations around the resort and showcased how the athletes maneuvered and traversed the grounds, using an array of tricks such as rolls and flips.

He was one of four international parkour athletes who were part of the video project, with the others being from Australia, the Netherlands, and Thailand.

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Calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity, Koh revealed that the video was an idea that he'd nursed for "many years" now, with RWS and Red Bull giving him the chance to make it happen.

From storyboarding to completion, it took five to six months for the video to be completed and posted.

It was "no simple feat", he added, listing obstacles such as permits, insurance, and budgets.

Koh later uploaded a behind-the-scenes video detailing how the video was filmed over multiple days, with safety briefings that began as early as 6am.

The danger?

Despite all his precautions, Koh often gets comments online criticising him for undertaking such dangerous feats.

In response, Koh told Mothership that he has learnt to "take them with a pinch of salt".

"I can understand how they may think it’s me playing with my life, but I know for sure I worked really really hard on myself to be able to ‘play with my life’ like that.

I know how much I treasure my body and life, more than any online commenters would know!"

On his social media accounts, Koh regularly posts videos practicing parkour around HDB estates, traversing structures around the void deck or scaling walls multiple storeys high.

He claims that these "concrete jungles" are "amongst the best parkour spots in the world".

He also emphasised that he does his best to leave the space intact, wiping the area down with wet wipes after he is done.

While he has had run-ins with members of the public, he added that complaints are getting less common as parkour is gaining recognition internationally.

In fact, he often receives positive reactions from the public.

"I do think they can tell it takes a lot of practice to be able to execute the things that I do!"

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A South Korean army officer has been suspended for two months after he left his post multiple times without permission, verbally abused other soldiers, and delayed approving their requests for leave.

Left base without permission

According to Korean media, the officer had driven out of the military base in a private vehicle 64 times during weekday working hours over a 10-month period.

He did so without applying for leave or informing his commander.

A guard commander testified that the officer frequently gave excuses such as needing to feed his lizard or wash his car, as reported by The Korea Herald.

He was also found to have delayed 698 requests for outings, overnight passes, and leave submitted by 26 soldiers between October 2023 and November 2024.

As a result, some soldiers were unable to obtain military-supported train tickets and had to pay for their own transportation.

The officer also verbally abused soldiers who asked him for leave approval.

In one instance, he told soldiers to get lost after questioning whether the military base was a community service centre.

Upheld suspension

The officer proceeded to file a lawsuit against his unit commander to overturn his two-month suspension.

However, the Busan District Court dismissed his lawsuit.

The court noted that the severity of his misconduct could have warranted dismissal from military service under disciplinary regulations, and the multiple violations could have justified expulsion, which also cuts retirement benefits.

His two-month suspension was upheld.

Two SMRT staff members helped an injured cyclist outside Labrador Park MRT station and paid for his Grab ride home.

This was after the injured rider declined the offer to call for an ambulance.

The cyclist's older brother, Amos Oh, 55, told Mothership that the incident took place on Oct. 5, 2026, at around 5:15am.

Fell from bicycle

Amos said his youngest brother, Michael Oh, 53, had fallen from his bicycle outside Labrador Park MRT station.

He could not remember how he fell, but guessed that he ran over something and fell with his head and face first onto the ground.

"A few young chaps who passed by then, tried to wake him up and told him his forehead was bleeding very badly," Amos said.

Michael then struggled to get up and walked to the toilet of the MRT station, where he tried to wash away the blood stains on his face, but to no avail.

Amos said Michael did not know how badly he was injured at that point.

At around 7am, a foreign worker, who saw Michael bleeding badly in the toilet, went to alert the station’s staff members, Amos said.

The station manager and assistant manager quickly rushed to attend to Michael then.

They administered first aid and tightly bandaged Michael's head wound to control the bleeding.

Amos said the staff also offered to call an ambulance, but Michael declined as he did not realise how seriously injured he was.

Instead, the staff paid for a Grab ride to send Michael home.

Declined reimbursement for Grab fare

The following day, on Oct. 6, Amos visited Labrador Park MRT station at around 1pm to reimburse the staff for the Grab fare.

However, the staff declined his offer.

Amos eventually bought snacks for the staff and insisted they accept them as a token of appreciation for helping his brother.

He expressed his gratitude to everyone who had assisted Michael, saying that their kindness deserved recognition.

"I just want to take this opportunity to say a great thank you to all of them who had helped Michael, when he fell, in one way or another. Words can’t express our gratitude, please keep up the good work guys," Amos said.

He added that he felt their actions deserved to be commended and also serve as an encouragement to everyone to "lend their helping hands whenever possible".

Mothership has reached out to SMRT for comments.

Recovering well

Amos shared that after Michael reached home, their other brother Sean quickly drove Michael to KTPH emergency department.

He was then diagnosed with multiple facial bone fractures and fluid in his head.

The fall also left Michael with a deep cut on his forehead, which caused heavy bleeding, as well as significant swelling and bruising around his left eye.

He had two operations and was hospitalised for almost 10 days from Oct. 5 to 14.

He was eventually discharged from the hospital on Oct. 14 and is in stable condition.

However, a full recovery will take a few months, Amos shared.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called off plans to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, following widespread criticism of the proposal.

In an Oct. 15 Truth Social post, Trump said Hasan would still be executed by firing squad as scheduled, but the event would not be streamed.

Hasan, a former US Army psychiatrist, killed 13 people and injured 32 others at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in 2009.

His execution is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2026, and would be the first U.S. military execution in more than 60 years, according to the BBC.

Trump says people would rather not watch

In a Truth Social post, Trump maintained that streaming the execution could have served as a deterrent, showing how the U.S. deals with terrorists.

However, he acknowledged that “many very good and well-meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device”.

“He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed,” Trump wrote.

He added that the immediate families of the victims could still witness the execution in person if they wished.

“They deserve to witness JUSTICE!” he said.

Pentagon had announced livestream plans

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously announced that Hasan’s execution would be open to public viewing.

“We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public,” he said, arguing that people needed to understand the serious consequences of such acts.

A Pentagon official subsequently confirmed to Reuters that the execution would be livestreamed.

Widespread criticism

The proposal drew criticism in the U.S. and internationally, including from human rights groups and the United Nations, which called the plans “abhorrent”, BBC reported.

Vice-President JD Vance said he would not watch the execution, while Trump had previously expressed approval of the livestream.

Following Trump’s reversal, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth had discussed the decision with the president beforehand.

“The Secretary supports the President’s decision, and they are completely aligned,” Parnell said.

Sentenced to death in 2013

Hasan opened fire on Nov. 5, 2009, in a crowded medical building at Fort Hood, where soldiers preparing for deployment were awaiting medical checks and vaccinations, according to the BBC.

A military jury sentenced him to death in August 2013 after finding him guilty of 45 counts of premeditated murder and attempted premeditated murder.

The execution is scheduled to take place at the same Texas military base where he carried out the shooting.

Protecting workers from the haze is not optional, said Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau during an Oct. 16 press conference on the haze situation.

Lau added that under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, "employers must take reasonable and practicable measures to keep their workers safe".

This includes protecting them from the haze, she said.

Monitor situation

In that regard, Lau pointed out that employers ought to monitor the haze situation and assess the risk it carries for their workers.

They should then follow the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) guidelines.

"If the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast is above 200 in the Very Unhealthy range, employers should implement measures in line with MOM guidelines, and these include to avoid prolonged or strenuous work outdoors, to minimise outdoor work for vulnerable workers," she said.

They include older workers and pregnant women or those with heart and lung conditions, Lau added, noting that N95 masks should be provided to workers as well.

Hazardous range

If the PSI forecast crosses 300 and enters the Hazardous range, employers should implement additional measures.

This includes minimising outdoor work for healthy workers as well.

It also includes adopting additional precautions such as reducing work intensity, providing indoor rest breaks, and deferring non-essential work.

"Employers should plan for these measures now, so that they are well prepared if the situation worsens," Lau said.

She added that MOM will issue additional advice on how employers can use the one-hour PM2.5 readings to decide on immediate outdoor work activities and measures to be taken, which may include pausing outdoor work completely for vulnerable workers.

This is to help employers make decisions on the ground operationally, as the haze conditions change throughout the day.

Inspections, platform workers

Since September 2026, MOM has carried out more than 400 worksite inspections, Lau said, noting that most employers "have done the right thing" with haze management plans, and providing N95 masks and regular updates to workers.

"And for the worksites that have fallen short, we have directed them to put that right, and we will check again."

MOM has also reminded all platform operators to advise their workers on protecting themselves and to ensure that workers are not penalised for taking longer to complete jobs during this period.

"This includes not penalising them through incentive schemes, reduced job allocation, or paid deductions."

Lau highlighted that platform operators such as Grab and foodpanda have partnered with the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA) to distribute N95 masks to their members.

"We welcome such proactive efforts by platform operators, and I hope more will do the same," she said.

Workers with concerns about safety and health during hazy conditions should raise them with their employers, she added.

They may use the SnapSAFE platform to report workplace safety and health violations or lapses to MOM.

Flexible work arrangements

In addition, Lau encouraged employers to let their employees work from home where the job allows, considering the haze creates "practical problems" at home.

This work from home arrangement is especially so for those who are more vulnerable to the haze, she said.

Lau added that possible scenarios from the haze situation could include a child falling sick, a parent requiring more care, or schools moving to home-based learning at short notice.

She emphasised that employers must properly consider work from home requests under the Tripartite Guidelines for flexible work arrangements, including from parents whose children are on home-based learning.

Lau said:

"We recognise that flexible work arrangements may not be feasible for all jobs.

Some jobs can only be done on site, and in those cases, we urge employers to allow their employees to use their annual leave or childcare leave when applicable."

When that runs out, employers are encouraged to be flexible and grant paid time off or allow employees to draw on the next year's annual leave in advance without affecting their wages.

Lau added that unwell employees should see a doctor, with medical leave applying as usual.

Acknowledging that these are exceptional conditions, she asked that employers and employees discuss early and find arrangements that work for both sides.

"MOM will continue to work with our tripartite partners to safeguard workers' safety and health," she said.

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The National Environment Agency (NEA) will send preventive measure notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to seven companies in Indonesia, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Friday (Oct. 16) at a press conference.

This comes after investigations have suggested that some of the haze experienced in Singapore orginated from fires on the lands of these companies.

The names of the seven companies will be shared with the public, Fu said.

Fu was speaking at the press conference with Minister for Education Desmond Lee and Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau.

More action to be taken where warranted: Fu

The seven companies are:

• PT Bumi Andalas Permai,
• PT Bumi Mekar Hijau,
• PT Paramitra Mulia Langgeng,
• PT Sumatera Alam Anugerah,
• PT SBA Wood Industries,
• PT Hutan Lestari Raya,
• PT Bangkanesia.

Of these seven companies, three of them — PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau and PT SBA Wood Industries — were similarly served prevention measure notices in 2015.

According to Fu, the preventive measure notices will inform these companies to:

• Deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them,
• Discontinue or not commence any burning activities on such land,
• Submit to NEA their action plans to extinguish any fires on their lands and/or prevent their recurrence.

Fu said that NEA will issue preventive measure notices to more companies and consider other measures under the THPA if there are indications that they have caused fires that resulted in transboundary haze.

Fu also said that the government will continue to monitor the situation and the companies' responses to the notices.

Where warranted, it will take further action under the THPA based on information and evidence available.

Enacted in 2014, the THPA allows the Singapore government to issue a fine of up to S$100,000 to an entity found guilty of causing haze for every day or part of a day that there is haze pollution in Singapore.

If it is proved that the entity had failed to comply with preventive measures notice given in relation to the haze in Singapore, the government may impose an additional fine not exceeding S$50,000 for every day or part of a day that it fails to comply with the preventive measures notice.

The cap for fines imposed on an entity under the THPA is a total of S$2 million.

Seven companies located in Sumatra: Fu

In response to media questions, Fu revealed that the seven companies are located in Sumatra and were identified for the haze episode on Oct. 8 and 9.

The investigations relied on information from concession maps, meteorological data and satellite imagery, some which are open-sourced.

As to their owners, links and relationships, Fu said such information cannot be disclosed at this time as they have to be investigated.

On this, Fu said that lessons were learned from the 2015 case as to how evidence is gathered and how more can be found out about those responsible.

NEA previously said that investigations into four companies suspected of being involved in causing the 2015 haze episode are still ongoing.

Apart from announcing the issuance of the preventive measure notices, Fu also said that Singapore should be prepared for the ongoing haze episode to persist for some time.

However, some respite might come in three to four weeks as the inter-monsoon period begins around the end of October.

The Singapore government will consider rescheduling O-Level papers if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast reaches hazardous levels (above 300), said Minister for Education Desmond Lee.

During a press conference on the haze situation on Oct. 16, Lee outlined plans for national examinations should the haze situation worsen.

The potential rescheduling of O-Level papers is in line with the health advisory for younger students, he said.

A-Level papers are generally less likely to be affected, as the students are older, he added.

However, the government will also consider the actual circumstances when deciding whether the examinations should proceed.

National examinations

Lee said students taking the O- and A-Level examinations will sit for their papers in enclosed, air-conditioned venues equipped with air purifiers.

"I know that students have been working very hard to prepare for their national exams, and we want to minimise disruption for them," he said.

Details of any rescheduling will be announced publicly by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), Lee said.

Schools will also inform students and parents directly, if any national examination needs to be rescheduled.

Lee noted that fake news about school closures had circulated on social media, causing confusion and anxiety.

He urged parents and students to refer only to updates from the Ministry of Education's (MOE) official channels and Parents Gateway.

More information about any changes in the scheduling of O- and A-Level examinations will be available on the SEAB website.